March 9, 2010 | Posted by Lisa
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ~Anais Nin
Okay. Let’s get this straight. I’m uncomfortable with putting myself out there. When it comes to publicizing my art or my coaching practice and retreats and workshops, I’d much rather make a ton of posters and hang them up when no one’s looking than shout out to the world, “Here I am! Here’s what I have to offer! Come and join me!”
Of course, my kids have no problem with it. Almost daily, I hear one of them declare (sometimes at the top of their lungs) how wonderful they are at spelling or riding bicycles. Noah has told me that one day, he is going to make “one heckuva race-car driver”, and Zoe, she is always wanting to share the stories she writes due to her very own, pure, unadulterated pride. They haven’t yet learned what most of us grown-ups have in our society… that to proclaim our gifts and advertise our self-assuredness is a no-no… that drawing attention to ourselves can be interpreted as shameful and pushy.
Yes, many of us grown-ups remain in that tight little bud and never venture outside to blossom. We halt our visions because perhaps they demand too much help or time or attention. We douse our light so that we don’t cast lofty shadows. We shrink so that we don’t make others feel small.
Do you see what is wrong with this picture?
I invite you to…
~ Celebrate who you are and what you dream about. Give value to those visions that are subtle and soft, and allow them to have a voice. Remember that tooting your own horn naturally means first tuning in and becoming centered within your own unique song!
~ Give yourself permission to step into the spotlight, to stand out, to shine, and to ask for help if necessary. Doing this can only add to the brightness of everyone around you- friends, family, and even complete strangers. Not doing so doesn’t only do a disservice to you, but it actually does a disservice to the world!
~ Stop waiting for others to discover your greatness. Oprah might call… and then again, she might not! This very moment is an opportunity to embrace your own specialness without comparing it to anyone else, and without needing proof that you are worthy of it.
~ Remind yourself that comfort is overrated. When we reach for comfort, it often means we’re settling for something that doesn’t stretch us, that is safe. But if we don’t risk being uncertain and topsy-turvy from time to time, if we don’t dip our toes into the unknown, then we likely will not grow and expand into our fullest potential. When there’s a little bit of fear or discomfort involved, it’s often an invitation to express your boldness and fierceness, to exercise your courage and to dive into the adventure!
~When you receive a compliment, soak it up and pass it on. Sometimes, when we’re complimented, we put up shields and deflect kind words, because the light is shining on us. Instead, breathe it in… notice how it feels in your body and draw it up into your heart. Express your gratitude, and then send it out into the universe by either reflecting it back to the person who gave it to you, or imagining it floating through the air touching everyone that passes by.
Won’t you toot your horn with me? What an amazing orchestra we’d make! What’s one thing that you’re proud of doing or being today? Please share your wonder with me!
I’ll start… (deeeep breath)…
Did you know that I’m going to be facilitating the most awesomest women’s retreat this April? If you come, I will be your guide as we take a journey together toward building your dreams and celebrating your visions. This is my passion. This is what tickles me and delights me, and I promise you that my love for what I do will be contagious! I will share many years of accumulated resources and experiences with you as an artist and life coach. My wish is that this will be life-altering/evolving for you, and that you will walk away with clarity, vision, and hope, plus lots of tools to keep you moving forward on purpose, being the superstar that you are.
So there.
Oh, and hey, I’m also going to be offering one scholarship spot at the retreat, because I honestly feel like there might be some of you reading this who would like to come, but aren’t able to see the light in yourself to know that you are worth the expense and the time and the energy to get here. So I’m making it easy for you. Just email me and I’ll get you an application. And it’s not a hardcore win or lose application… I just want to know what your intentions are and where your heart is, that’s all.
Want more info? Click HERE.
I hope to see you there!
Categories: Creativity, Living Mindfully, gratitude, inside out, life purpose | 
Tags: action, authenticity, Creativity, Lisa Rough, retreat, risk, trust, truth | 
5 Comments »
March 5, 2010 | Posted by Lisa
This is my son Noah a couple of years ago… he used to be REALLY into meditating… or atleast copying me while I was meditating!
Today on the way home from school, our conversation went like this…
Me: How was your day?
Noah: Well, my brain just wasn’t working this morning.
Me: What do you mean?
Noah: It kept going to different places.
Me: Where’d it go?
Noah: Cuddled up on the couch with you.
(Please excuse me while I clean up what’s left of my melting heart).
Sigh.
Today is “happy day,” a day to roll around in smiles and giggles and gratitude along with the Happy Book adventurers. To be honest, my happiness has been a bit more quiet these last couple of days. I think hormones and exhaustion and feeling as though I’m fighting a cold all have me a tad bit weepy, and I think that the uncertainty of what’s to come has me slightly in a tizzy.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes happiness can be a little more subtle? The wonderful thing about contentment is that we can feel this way… we can allow ourselves to visit with the melancholy and the angst, try them on like they’re an old pair of boots, all the while knowing that we also feel grateful, that we feel the vibrancy of possibilities, the excitement of mystery, and the quieter whispers of joy… Sometimes happiness is a little less palpable in the immediacy of our lives… but it still lies underneath, supporting us, encouraging us to keep moving, reminding us to listen and reach for its sweet song.
We don’t have to let our emotions define us. We can allow them to pass by like clouds in the sky, knowing that we are the brilliant blue underneath.
So for now, I’m going to go kick off my boots and snuggle on the couch with my little Zen master…
Categories: Living Mindfully, The Happy Book, gratitude, inside out | Tags: authenticity, gratitude, happiness, Jamie Ridler, Lisa Rough, The Happy Book, The Next Chapter, trust | 11 Comments »
March 1, 2010 | Posted by Lisa
This week, in honor of the Full Snow Moon, is a wonderful time to tune in to what lays beneath the surface of your life, buried deep down beneath the snow, waiting to be thawed by the gentle promise of springtime. Our dreams can grow sleepy with the call to hibernate… without our even realizing it!
How willing are you to dig them out and wake them up?
For me, I realized that I needed a fresh perspective. I needed to reignite a sense of belief in myself and in my visions, so that I can continue to stretch past my comfort zones and dare to trust in what I have to offer the world.
You see, once you’ve opened the door, there’s no turning back, and your dreams will continue to grow whether or not you are mindful of it, and even if you pack a foot of snow on top them in hopes of freezing them! The journey becomes less about the dance of one-step-forward-two-steps-back, and more about allowing our thoughts and judgements to dissolve with the melting snow to reveal the resilient buds that are hidden away, waiting to be born.
I invite you to become inspired by the other full moon dreamboards created by my wonderful creative cohorts over at Jamie Ridler Studios!
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To be “creative” is far more than being able to paint a pretty picture or sculpt a perfect vase… to be creative is to exist with presence, wonder, clarity, and trust… from the inside out. The Spirit Quake Women’s Retreat is for women who long to live more authentically and wish to create lasting changes that support their deeper visions and imaginings. Creativity will be defined more by how we awaken to our dreams while gracefully moving through the obstacles, and less by the urge to be perfect, accomplished artists. By mingling with nature, exploring rituals and practices that inspire a sense of whimsy and wholeness, and forming connections with other like-hearted women who want to step into their lives in a bigger way, each woman will have the opportunity to build a new foundation for her life that celebrates and honors who she is and the unique gifts that she brings into the world… no artsy fartsy experience necessary!
Do you dare to shake things up?
SPIRIT QUAKE WOMEN’S RETREAT
Categories: Creativity, Full Moon Dreamboard, Living Mindfully, dreamwheels, gratitude, inside out, life purpose | Tags: action, authenticity, Creativity, dreamwheels, full moon, Full Moon Dreamboard, Jamie Ridler, Lisa Rough, retreat, trust, visionboards | 8 Comments »
February 25, 2010 | Posted by Lisa
“Banish care, it’s not time for it now- on with the dance, let joy be unconfined is my motto.”
~Mark Twain
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about how many of us tend to confine ourselves in our happiness. We allow ourselves to feel a little bit here and little bit there, but inviting in more can sort of feel scary or vulnerable even. Perhaps we’re afraid we don’t deserve it, or we question its sincerity. Or maybe if we risk feeling joy, then there’s that much more to lose.
Writing a bunch of happy blogposts can almost bring on a sense of guilt, as if, oh dear, perhaps I’m not supposed to be so doggone happy. I think that’s what I like so much about the The Happy Book adventure I’m on with my dear creative cohorts. It gives me the opportunity to tune into the joys, and sit and marinate in them for a while, instead of what most of us do daily… stew on the obstacles and cling to our misfortunes, rather than count our blessings.
The thing is, everyone has their shit. (Pardon my language, but I couldn’t express it any other way). Life isn’t always happy. But we each have a choice as to how long we live with it that way, how much we’re willing to let it take over everything in our lives, and how willing we are to invite in more joy.
So, I say, just this once (although preferably on a regular basis)… Get up and dance. Stop confining yourself. Giggle. Let yourself feel happy. Allow a subtle sense of contentment in for a cup of tea and sit with it for a while. Paint a blur of whimsical colors. Howl at the moon. Go outside and catch snowflakes on your tongue. Take a bubble bath. Let go of your shit. Be gutsy and forthcoming and quirky. Tickle your children (or your cat or your dog or your significant other). Know that you are loved. Dare to be happy in this moment without guilt or shame. Marvel at how lucky you are to be alive, and at how each moment you are given the opportunity to shine.
You really are.
You are given this one precious life. Why NOT feel happy?
This week, my happies include…
~ Both of my parents-in-law being on the road to healing and major life changes after quite a tumultuous week of major medical issues.
~ Watching horses be born on MareStare.com (my new addiction!).
~ A new work truck for my partner that our whole family can ride in, and the unbelievable window of opportunity we had in getting it.
~The tease of spring-like weather.
~ The smell of 3-bean portabella quinoa chili consuming my house.
~My amazing clients, who teach me just as much as I teach them.
~My folks coming to visit for a few days.
~My precious, precious family (furry members included).
Categories: Health, Living Mindfully, The Happy Book, The Next Chapter, gratitude, inside out, life purpose | Tags: action, authenticity, Creativity, gratitude, happiness, Jamie Ridler, Lisa Rough, The Happy Book, The Next Chapter, trust | 11 Comments »
February 23, 2010 | Posted by Lisa
“If you never change your mind, why have one?”
~ Edward de Bono
You might be wondering what’s with all of the changes on my blog lately…. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve shifted colors, switched fonts, and moved things around, not just once but several times. Before you jump to the conclusion that I’m completely neurotic, I’ll ask you…. how comfortable are you with changing your mind?
Say you go to a restaurant, and you order one thing, and then realize that uh-uh, you want something completely different. Do you suck it up and eat what you’re given, or do you call over the waiter and ask for what you really want, even if it might mean spending another five bucks?
Or say you’ve decided to paint your bedroom a lime green color, only to realize afterwards that you wish it were just a tad bit darker. Do you settle for what is and live with it, or do you go out and get another can of paint and start over?
As a culture, we are trained to stick with either what we’re given, or what we choose to begin with. We are told that to be successful requires a rigid sense of commitment, even if it’s to a job that we’re not happy with or a religion that doesn’t seem to be in synch with who we are spiritually. The problem is, that many of us don’t learn how to be flexible… or to be courageous enough to change our minds.
It’s easier to stop wanting something more or different. It’s easier to stay safe tucked inside our familiar little boxes. It’s easier to feel a chronic sense of “stuckness.”
Or is it?
Is it really easier than feeling at home within our choices? Is it really easier than tuning in to our own desires, and possibly living a dream?
Today, I invite you to change your mind.
STOP leaning so much on the outside world, modeling your life after those you think have it all figured out. Stop searching for feedback or confirmation from your family, co-workers, and even complete strangers.
INSTEAD, ask yourself, “What do I like? What do I want? What feels right to me?”
STOP committing yourself due to a sense of obligation or guilt or shame.
INSTEAD, commit to your heart and to living a fulfilling life.
STOP over-thinking and second-guessing your choices.
INSTEAD, allow yourself to land fully within your decisions, knowing that it’s always okay to change your mind later.
STOP assuming that you should have all of the answers RIGHT NOW.
INSTEAD, acknowledge that you are a person who is always growing and evolving and expanding, moment to moment, and it’s absolutely brilliant for your choices to reflect that.
STOP being stuck.
INSTEAD, dare to change your mind.
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If you’re a little foggy about what it would look like to live your life on purpose or to land fully in your choices, I invite you to join me in April at the Spirit Quake Women’s Retreat, where we will shake things up a little bit so that your life can begin to be an expression your dreams! For more information, click HERE.
Categories: Creativity, Living Mindfully, inside out, life purpose | Tags: action, authenticity, Creativity, Lisa Rough, thought, trust, truth | 6 Comments »
