The Possible You: Life-Long Learning

Life-Long Learning: A Valuable Investment in Yourself!

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/William Britten

Many of us are very stingy with ourselves when it comes to life-long learning. There are several reasons for this:

~We have financial constraints.

~We have time constraints.

~We don't feel worthy, or are afraid of failure.

~We fear it will obligate us to then go to work in that field, or at least use what we learned somehow.

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Janne Ahvo

~ We think we're too old or too young.

For this last one, I remember a great story mentioned by Julia Cameron in one of her books on creativity. It goes something like this: One friend says to another, " I'd love to learn to play the piano!" Friend #2 says, "That's great! Have you signed up for lessons yet?" Friend #1 says, "Oh, no, of course not! I'm too old to learn to play the piano. It could take years to get really good at it!" Friend #2 says, "Well, you'll be 70 in 5 years, right?" Friend #1 agrees. Friend #2 says,"And how old will you be in five years if you don't learn to play the piano?"

Coach, author, and speaker Cheryl Richardson, knows that most people are too hard on themselves about learning something new unless they have clear plans for how they'll put the new skills to work. In one of her workshops, she said the best advice she could give them in that moment was for everyone to give themselves permission to try anything new that they wanted, regardless of whether they would they would use it again or not.

Often, our intuition is what's nudging us toward a new experience well before we know why. I wouldn't want to miss an opportunity like that!

But what about the time problem? Take a look at what's on your plate right now. Is there anything you've been doing out of habit that perhaps has perhaps worn out its welcome? That's one place to look for extra time.

Take a look at what activities you could delegate or just pain dump! Does that sound a little audacious? Good! Try making a Not-to-Do List and see what you can get off your plate.

And there are lots of ways to get around the financial restraints. Don't forget about libraries, book swaps, used book stores, and sites you trust on the Internet! And of course, I hope you'll start with this site and join in on some of the complimentary and low-cost things we have going on in the Audacious Self-Care Community!

Please leave a comment, question, suggestion, or success story in the comments section of creative4life! I want our community (both local and global!) to be as interactive and inter-developmental as possible.

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. The next global event aside from the blog are the 8 complimentary hours of Hot- Line Coaching by me, on Wednesday, March 16, from noon to 8:00 pm Eastern! Just call at the top of one of these hours for a session of approximately 30 minutes. (First to call, first to be served at the top of each hour.)

Your only responsibility is to pay any long-distance charges from your phone service provider. So, if you're on an unlimited long-distance plan that includes Pennsylvania...even better! The Hot-Line Number is 610-385-3766. This type of exploratory session is a $35 value!

P.P.S. The next local event is Audacious Self-Care presented as a 4-week class that I'll be teaching for the Boyertown Continuing Education Program. There will be four 1-hour classes on Monday nights, starting March 14, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. For details, contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766. It's reasonably priced and definitely fun!

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

***Proud and active member of the TriCounty Community Network at

http://www.tcnetwork.org/.***

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/William Britten

From Recession to Renaissance

When something starts to unravel, as our economy has in the past two years, its future can look pretty bleak. But I believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

There's a natural law at work here that I learned from author Julia Cameron. That is, when something or someone becomes unraveled, they eventually end up reintegrating at a higher level than ever!

Leadership expert Seth Godin talks about this in his book, "Tribes." He speaks of changes that are taking place in our culture that will lead us into what I like to call a modern Renaissance.

Master Coach Dave Buck calls it the "Inspiration Economy," where personal fulfillment trumps fancy titles and earning, earning, earning to the point of burn-out. In the economy that has just crumbled, many folks got caught up in trying to earn way more than they needed so they could buy more "stuff" for their external environments in order to fill their echoing internal voids.

Granted, there are people with high incomes who love their work and maintain balance in their lives. The cultural changes that are happening now will be an easier shift for them. They may even make good mentors for the rest of us!

Several current thought leaders are predicting a shift in how folks spend their disposable income. The trend is expected to be moving away from spending it on material things and more toward investing it in themselves. They may pursue life-long learning, hire a coach to assist them in reaching a meaningful goal, develop a latent talent, etc.

According to several experts, "old school" corporate middle management is going to have to dangle something more than 14 "carats" of gold in front of folks to keep up employee retention. Workers are putting a higher value on the other factors that contribute to a high quality of life.

I'm delighted with the prospect of this new mindset rippling through our culture! For over 50 years, I have not fit into the flow of the old way of doing things....

"S.C. Phone Home"

I've felt a bit like E.T., with at least some curiosity about my "home planet" because this sure didn't seem be it! :-) When this modern Renaissance takes hold, I may still want to "phone home" occasionally. However, the emerging cultural mindset will be much more friendly to people like me who want to live balanced, creative lives.

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Can you relate? Our time has come!

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Excitedly yours,

Susan

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P.S. Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a "First Step Forward" coaching session by phone or in person...at a reduced rate! Then we can decide together if you would benefit from setting out on the coaching journey.

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P.P.S. to Locals...Attend my complimentary workshop in Pottstown, PA, on March 16! Topic: "Think Better, Thank More, Feel Great!" Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for details.

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services non-profit organization, at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.***

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Fear and the Economy: Not a Good Mix!

If you are a Law of Attraction fan like me, I'm sure you'll agree that fear just adds fuel to the fire of an economic downturn. And of course fear can put out the fire of creativity.

I can't tell you what you need to do about the current economic situation. We've all had to make adjustments and maybe change some habits in response to the downturn. But take a look at how you feel about it. Replace any fear and feelings of victimhood with gratitude for what you have now and for what you intend to have in the future.

The Test

The following is a true account of how my husband, Stew, was repeatedly tested by the Universe in the last 6 months leading up to his recent retirement at age 55, all the while resolving not to let the media and the current climate of the economy keep him from this long-term goal.

We had a parade of unexpected expenses come into our lives over those 6 months, too. Our hard drive crashed, and so did our printer. I had a tooth that had to be crowned in December, even though we had used up most of our dental insurance allowance for the year.

We spent quite a bit of money on car and truck repairs in November, only to have the car's engine go permanently ka-put...one week before Stew's retirement in January!

Part 2 of the test came in the form of several several job offers in his field that might have pulled him back in. But Stew stood firm. He was retiring, and that was that! He didn't let anything scare him out of it or tempt him to change his mind.

Stew's response to "the test" may not be right for everyone, but I think Stew knew at a deep level that he was doing the right thing for himself. Law of Attraction expert, Dr. Joe Vitali, calls this "inspired action."

"The Test" Comes in Many Guises

It's often what keeps people in dysfunctional relationships, for example. Or it may keep someone stuck in some other pattern of behavior that they want to change, such as over-eating or smoking. Or you may get a "pop quiz" just as you're about to move across the country.

Author and creativity expert Julia Cameron calls this phenomenon "the escape-velocity test," because it reminds her of the earth's gravitational pull on a space shuttle that is being boosted into space. What a great analogy!

Check in with your intuition before letting yourself assume that "the test" is somehow "proof that it wasn't meant to be." (Whatever "it" is for you.) Maybe, but maybe not. Look deeper!

Please share your experiences with "the test" in the comments section.

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. Are you looking for a unique and fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day with your partner? Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766 to set up a prepaid appointment for my Cupid's Bow Valentine Special! It's a one-time couples-coaching session that's available for the month of February.

You'll leave the call (or visit) with a fresh perspective on what's right with your relationship! In honor of the special day, your session is just $14 US per couple, when prepaid and scheduled for the month of February. This offer has no calories and does not wilt! :-)

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

Another Look at My Bookshelf

Here's some commentary on my Cameron collection favorites. If you're not a fan of Julia Cameron yet, take a look at these.

The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

This book, which Cameron wrote with Mark Byran in the early nineties, is still in print and has become a modern classic.

Here's my history with it in a nutshell:

• 1994: I resisted it.


• 1995: I read it.


• 1996: I lived it. I loved it.


• 1997: I went to Omega Institute for a great workshop with Cameron.


• 1998 to the present: I recommend it whenever I can; it has been pivotal in my own development!

It has what was for me a whole new way of looking at creativity. It also has lots of great exercises. My favorite is called "Blasting Through Blocks," which is about how fears and resentments get in the way of our creativity.

Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance

This is a very personal account of Cameron's financial, emotional, and artistic challenges over the years, which made mine look small by comparison. At the same time, it is very instructive and inspiring. Sometimes we forget that we are not the only ones who have struggled to make our artistic lives work.

Supplies: A Pilot's Manual for Creative Flight

This is a playful book with lively illustrations by her sister, Elizabeth Cameron. It contains thought-provoking questions and warnings of pitfalls to avoid.

My only complaint is that Cameron's comments on the usefulness of therapy were somewhat one-sided. Almost by definition, creatives see and feel more deeply in this world. I feel that for the balance we need to function and feel at this level, many of us find therapy to be very helpful, and I would not want to discourage anyone from seeking the help of a skilled, compassionate therapist.

The Vein of Gold: A Journey to Your Creative Heart

Here Cameron uses the metaphor of a journey through the kingdoms of Story, Sight, Sound, Attitude, Relationship, Spirituality, and Possibility. It contains lots of activities that take you along this path.

Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity

This is the sequel to The Artist's Way, and it takes you through 12 weeks of discoveries. Again, there are lots of activities to assist you with those discoveries. I especially like the one called the "Ta-Dah!" List.

Please comment on your experiences with these books or others that you love!

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. My guided journal, The Whispering Heart, makes a great holiday gift for Cameron fans or even for beginning journalers! Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for details.