Creativity= tooting your horn.
“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 | 
16 Comments »
You are so inspiring…..I’m sorry I live so far away because I would love to join your retreat. I’ve been getting braver about stepping into the spotlight–I can actually call myself an artist now And I’m ready to go to my local coffee house and ask them to put up some of my photo creations. What do I have to lose?
Woohoo! Bravo to you, Gina, in defining yourself as a creative soul who has something to offer! I can’t wait to see the wonders that are reaped from you courage. That’s exactly right…. what do you have to lose? How inspiring.
You are sooo right Lisa! I think if every woman had a tiara & a feather boa it would be a lot easier for us to fit into that “part”. So I say treat yourself as you would some fabulous,accomplished Queen, because in reality, that’s exactly what we all are.
Hey Lisa –
I will add my voice to the tooting symphony
I’m really proud of being a great, engaged, creative mom. I have other things I could point to that are more prestigious, but this is what makes me feel like singing.
And you’re very right – it’s much easier to treat a good friend like the superstar that SHE is, and then hop from foot to foot in the shadows hoping that somebody returns the favor. But who knows best how to celebrate you, other than you?
Great post, thanks for getting me thinking.
I toot my own horn by saying I am a mother of a teen who keeps working to support her; I have written books that have helped literally a million people (maybe more); I am witty, I am cute, I am brave, I keep learning, and I am so uncomfortable doing this… okay, that;s it. We must do more of this at the Cafe. Thank you Lisa for showing me how hard this is. I feel sick! Wow.
Woohoo! Bravo, Catherine, for being such an amazing Mom! Your presence in the band is such a blessing!
Ooo, tiaras and feather boas…. now there’s a thought…. I might have to get them for my next retreat!
Hmmm…
Jennifer… I know what you mean about those sick feelings… but how wonderful and powerful that you did it anyway. A big YAY for you for all that you contribute to the world! I feel so blessed to have you in MY world!
Hmmmm … tooting my horn.
I’m proud of my relationship with my husband, and I’m proud of our home and how we work together. He’s been working a lot, so I filled the house with little flower arrangements and tidied up to make it feel really nice when he came home.
I’m proud of being a good writer — I re-read an essay yesterday to prepare it to send out, and I felt tears come at its end. I knew it was ready. And, I completed a very rough ideas draft of a book for my job. I was proud to get to that place. And, after I’d left work for the day, I came across a resource — a magazine with information about the subject of my book — that will hopefully make it easy to complete.
I’m proud of the class that I’ll be teaching starting next week — Writing and Selling the Topical Essay — and all the steps I took to promote it. I was amazed to realize how many students I’ve worked with over the years as I worked on some last-minute promotion.
Hmmmm … this IS really interesting Lisa! The hardest one to write was the first one. And, it was also hard to put specifics in here. It felt really vulnerable to claim good things!!
But, I felt really grateful, too. Thanks for the encouragement to do this
Sarah… thanks so much for coming by and tooting with me! What beautiful toots too!
Yay for breathing through the discomfort and shining!
Hey Lisa:
What a great post. I am proud that I am facing my fears today and breathing into those soft vulnerable spots. I am proud of my courage.
I am proud of being a good caring supportive mom.
I am proud I raised my kids on my own and that they openly appreciate me for doing the best I could – I can take that in and hear that and it’s pretty amazing to have your kids say thank you and mean it when they’re in their 20’s. It’s amazing they can say it – and it’s amazing that I can hear it without deflecting it onto someone or something else.
Did I just say that?? Really????
Yes, I reread what I wrote – I’m not lying or exagerrating and it’s really true.
Thank you for encouraging me to notice what’s true, Lisa. Mwah!
I knew you had it in you, Char! Woohoo! Bravo on embracing your greatness! You are amazing!
I’m tooting with you gals…
I am smart and loyal. I am enthusiastic and cheerful and a super encourager. I have pretty eyes and a bright smile. I have raised 2 children, who, even though they are now married, still come to supper twice a week and still ask my advice (and listen), I am a fun and nurturing “Nunny” (that’s “grandma”), I have been married for 28 years to the love of my life and we have maintained a fun, mildly exciting and extremely intimate relationship…whew! I made it!
Terri
Terri…. Yes, you made it! And shining all the way! Woohoo! I love how this is turning into a testament of moving through fear to step into greatness…. it’s even more powerful than I had imagined! : )
What a wonderful post. I’d love to join the parade.
I’m most proud of the wonderful son I have raised. Watching the husband and father he is, makes me so happy.
I am very, very proud of the fact that 15 years ago I decided to lose weight and I lost 160 lbs. with the help of my husband. I have kep the majority of it off so I am very proud of that.
I am very proud of the fact that I continue to learn and to grow, to meet new people and to take on new challenges. I am offering workshops for women and this week I am going to take the next step and introduce my self to several businesses in the area hoping that they will add my workshops to the things they offer. It has been a fun but scary process and I am proud of the fact that I am continuuing to move forward. And last but not least. I am very proud of the fact that I wrote this. There was a time when I would not even attempted to brag about myself. Thank you Lisa, for giving us all the opportunity to share with others what makes us want to hoot and holler.
Ginny… I’m so glad that you’ve joined the toothing band! Your pride and joy in the things that you’ve accomplished and continue to accomplish is quite a beautiful song!