August — 2009 — Third Thought

Rolling Dimes

30th of August ~

A friend and I talked years ago as we were preparing for another rigorous school session. We had multiple papers to turn in and lots of reading to complete. I asked her how she was doing and she said that she was sorting her coins and putting them in rolls for the bank.

I was doing equally vital work–cleaning out my junk drawer. Anything to avoid the dread schoolwork.

Since then I have referred to such avoidance tactics as ‘rolling dimes’.

Although I could be finishing preparations for my client work this week in Chicago, I am instead wandering the internet…hopping from one link to the next.

Here’s my favorite site this evening: http://creativeeveryday.com/

And, as I am a coach for the creative process, I’m going to call this INCUBATION.

Leverage the Mind-Body Connection

10th of August ~

Perhaps you’ve noticed that you are really natural and effective in some activities. And there are other things you do poorly or never seem to get to? It’s frustrating to realize that you can’t be good at everything. But wouldn’t you like to improve your soft spots enough to get out of your own way?

Earlier I introduced the FEBI as a tool to understand your Body and Mind connection. I cited a client who is an Idea Machine. This woman works in a traditional organization and has a well-deserved reputation as a highly creative person. She also struggles with accuracy and follow-through. Discipline to do the ‘boring’stuff is preventing her from being the whole package. Occasionally, she was shooting herself in the foot as her good work gets lost amid an impression of sloppiness.

This woman had little access to her Organizer energy. She might have made changes with cognitive discipline and grim determination but she opted to use her brain AND her body. For a three month trial she enrolled in yoga classes at her health club. Initially, they seemed excruciatingly slow and dull to her. But she stuck with it. And after three months she came to crave the quietude and opportunity to be still. She learned to pay more attention to the little things, the value of mindfulness.

As her body gained access to the Organizer energy her mind did as well. She was able to pause appropriately and attend to aspects of her work in a more methodical way. It will never be her ‘home pattern’ but she’s no longer sabotaging her creative work with lack of accuracy and follow-through.

She is more versatile in her job now. And she does powerful Warrior pose!

(photo credit: http://www.yogatic.com/)

How will the Baby Boomers be Remembered?

9th of August ~

source: Zogby poll American Adults 2009

August — 2009 — Third Thought Third Thought