Hero's Journey, Part 2: Resisting Change

In the previous post from 11/17/12, I wrote an overview of the "Hero's Journey" cycle  of growth and how it affects all of us.  Of the nine parts I listed there, I want to take a closer look at the first four parts today.

Step 1: What happens to the hero or heroine shortly before the Journey begins?  You'll probably notice the structure from books you've read, movies you've seen, and, well,...life!  The cycle begins at the status quo.  The hero-to-be is entrenched in his current comfort zone, although he doesn't know that yet.  

Step 2: As a new Quest begins to tap him on the shoulder, the potential hero's comfort zone begins to feel like a tight pair of shoes.  The comfort zone may even show signs of crumbling altogether, causing him confusion and fear.  

Step 3: He begins to resist the changes.  At this point, he has self-doubt that he could be of any help on an important Quest...he feels like his own life is falling apart.  This stage is sometimes called Divine Discontent,  but the hero-to-be sees nothing divine about it yet!

Have you experienced Divine Discontent?  I know I have.  If you're willing to share the experience with my other readers and me, please add your comments at the bottom of this post.  You may be amazed by how you can help someone else just by sharing your story!  It's very powerful. 

Photo (c) iStockphoto/DNY59

Step 4: The Call gets too loud to ignore.  Something or someone dear to the prospective hero is at risk.  His confusion and fear escalate to very uncomfortable levels.  Of course he has free will, but the Call is so compelling now, he must make a decision that's in line with his values.

Photo (c) iStockphoto/Marek Uliasz

Still shaking in his boots, the hero-to-be feels a heavy mantle of responsibility and stewardship.  He also continues to carry the self-doubt.  Quests arrive without instructions, much like babies do.  Yikes!

Photo (c) iStockphoto/lionvision

In my next post, we'll look at the possibilities for our hero-to-be's experiences as he takes his next shaky steps.

Until then, please leave your comments and questions below!

Thanks,

Susan 

P.S. What I Bring to Our Coaching Relationship, Part 2 

In my 11/17/12 post, I shared the main points with you on this topic.  Today, I want to elaborate on the first topic, I enrich your "thinking environment."  Below are four of the services I deliver in this area:

• I listen deeply with trained ears.
• Our high-energy sessions are fun!
• You feel emotionally supported through sincere validation and caring.
• I provide prospective.

In my next post, I'll discuss how I'm a catalyst for positive change.

P.P.S. My post from 2/22/12, "Stewardship, Self-Care, and...Multi-Tasking?" is one of my current top-ten posts, according to my Blogger stats.  It begins with this relaxing photo.  I hope you'll check it out. And it's never too late to comment or ask a question!

Photo (c) iStockphoto/ooyoo

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are (c) Susan Cleaver.***

***Member of the TriCounty Community Network at www.tcnetwork.org.***

Stewardship of Ideas in Your Environment

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Creativeye 99

"True wisdom is the integration of knowledge." ~Lise Janelle, Coach


I love this quote! I love to learn from big ideas and worthwhile knowledge, and then synthesize them into wisdom that I can share with others and use to improve my own life.

For my last post on environments, I'd like to talk about our environment of ideas. Ideas like to hitch-hike from one mind to the next, then the next...you get the drift.



While they're traveling, ideas usually change in some way, big or small, at each hop from mind to mind...and they leave their mark on each mind they hop from.

So, what kind of ideas are we allowing into our environment? Not only do they leave their mark, but ideas take up thinking space in our minds! Let's keep the space available for uplifting ideas; let's not waste the space on negative, destructive ideas that drag us down.

Remember, ideas wilt, grow, or mutate as they hop from mind to mind. When you encounter an idea that you see as positive and useful, give it a safe place to grow, and allow others that you trust to help you tend it. And don't forget to give the same care to your own ideas!

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Andrei Nicholaevich Rybachuk

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Special Event Announcement for Local Women....

"Ladies' Night Out...A Time to Indulge"

Friday, August 19, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm

Created and Hosted by McCormick Chiropractic

92 Kemp Road, Pottstown, PA 19465

Wine Tasting ** Manicures ** Chocolate Fondue Fountain ** Hors d'oeuvres

Mini Tutorials on Make-Up, Image, Fashion, & Accessorizing!

:-) I'll be there to offer Reiki and Coaching :-)

$10 Registration Deadline is August 11! Call McCormick's at 610-705-0201 ASAP.

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**All of Susan's posts are (c) Susan Cleaver.**

**Active member of the TriCounty Community Network at http://www.tcnetwork.org/**
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Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Warchi
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2011: The Year of Audacious Self-Care!

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Ann Marie Kurtz

Welcome!

I'm hosting a year-long program of Audacious Self-Care to build a community that will soften the blow of the recession somewhat for all of us. It really bothers me that now, when folks are looking for ways to rise above the recession and have to great lives anyway, many of them can't afford assistance with their goals!

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I don't want us living "lives of quiet desperation," as Henry David Thoreau put it. I like this quote by Thoreau much better:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

I know we can all do this despite the recession! Even if you've suffered losses because of the recession, I believe in your power to overcome them and "Live the life you have imagined."

I developed the Audacious Self-Care program so that you can participate in many no-cost and/or reasonably-priced activities. It's this simple: if you want in, you're in! The program itself has no enrollment fee, and you are not obligated to participate in any part of it that has a fee if you're not comfortable with that.

I discussed the Audacious Self-Care program in my 11/22/10 post, along with some goal-setting tips. I encourage you to take a look at that post, too. And later this month, I'll be posting more about goal setting and how to pick the best goal-setting system for you.

Audacious Self-Care is a theme that I'm very passionate about, and I believe it's the perfect one to focus on during the recession! We'll be covering four topics, one for each quarter of the year, keeping in mind that self-care is world-care, and world-care is self-care!

1) The Possible You

2) Take a Look Around: Your Immediate Environment

3) Boundaries and Bridges: Your Interactions with Others

4) Audacious Contribution and Stewardship

Please note: I am not harvesting emails through this program, and there is no official sign-up. Just jump in wherever and whenever you want!

I would love to hear from you in the comments section of this blog! I know we can help each other by reporting our success stories, asking questions, giving advice, and making observations right here on the blog.

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The Audacious Self-Care Community needs your input! I know it will be worth your time to support and be supported and inspired by this community.

I'd like to call upon my five blog followers to step up and get the conversation started. Many thanks to spiritcoach, denagrad, decory, Hazel Dugz, and pf_black44!

For blog followers and non-followers alike, please share your thoughts with us about our current topic, The Possible You. Here's some food for thought: Close your eyes and imagine the best possible you. Describe the scene, including sounds, sights, who is with you, what you're doing, and how you're feeling.

At what level of belief are you that you are actually heading there? 50%? 85%? (If it's zero, don't worry. We'll help you bump it up!) What evidence is currently in your life or in your personal history to support your belief? And finally, what will your self-care need to look like in order to support the possible you?

Most of us have a desire to make the world a kinder and gentler place, and that starts with being kinder and gentler to ourselves! As Daniel Pink, the author of Drive, says:

"...the secret to high performance and satisfaction in today's world is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world."

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If you would like a more personal venue, I also encourage occasional brief email exchanges (scleaver@dejazzd.com) at no cost and with no strings. You can even send snail-mail if you wish! :-) The address is Susan Cleaver, P.O. Box 586, Douglassville, PA 19518-1121.

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Speaking of snail-mail, I publish a quarterly, two-page newsletter that is complimentary. (If you live outside of the domestic US, I may ask you to help with the postage, though!) Just let me know if you'd like to receive it and where you'd like it to be sent.

The Audacious Self-Care Community is going to be a great inter-developmental source of fun and support, even if I do say so myself. ('See? I'm already a bit audacious!)

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All my best,

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Susan

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P.S. to local folks: I'll be teaching an accelerated, reasonably-priced version of Audacious Self-Care for the Boyertown Area School District's Continuing Education Program. We'll meet for one hour on each of the four topics.

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We'll cover one each week for four Mondays, starting on March 14. Contact me (scleaver@dejazzd.com) or the District for details.

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***One more thing: Please spread the word about The Audacious Self-Care Community! The more people we have involved, the more wisdom we'll have to share and the more folks we can help. Thank you!***

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

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***Proud, active member of the TriCounty Community Network, http://www.tcnetwork.org/.***

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A Holistic View of Feng Shui and Your Work

Your Physical Environment

Take stock of the physical environment of your home, office and/or studio. Is clutter or disorganization blocking the free flow of energy in these areas?

Also check for items that don't serve you in your current stage of life. Even worse are items that remind you of a difficult time and bring down your energy when you see them.


Psycho-Spiritual Feng Shui

Your physical work environment may be great, but if your psycho-spiritual environment is out of whack, you will feel out of whack. Shore up this part of your environment by getting a handle on your emotions. You'll also need to clear up any unfinished business with other people.

Take your spiritual temperature and see if your are aligning with your own current beliefs. Also take a look at your integrity. Are your thoughts, words, and actions aligned with each other?


Your Physical Body

As the saying goes, "The body doesn't lie." What is going on in the two areas I discussed above, will affect the energy that your body is taking in and giving out. You will feel it in your level of wellness and in how others respond to you.

And of course your work (creative or otherwise) will be affected. Ask yourself: "Am I an energetically sound vessel for the creativity and productivity I am seeking?" If not, check out the areas above and make the needed changes.


It's a Cycle....

In turn, the state of your body's energy will affect the other two areas above. Be sure to apply mindful stewardship to all aspects affecting your energy. There will be a snowball effect, so be sure the snowball is rolling in a positive direction for you!


Shameless Plug of the Week....

Being coached leverages the benefits of living with a holistic perspective! Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for a complimentary trial session by phone or in person.


Best of luck with your personal energy management!

~Susan

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

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***Member of TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at http://www.TCNetwork.info.***

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