Your Life - Inspired

I was hopelessly stalled on a high priority freelance writing project. I’d sit at my desk for hours at a stretch, passing the time by writing ineffective affirmations and playing computer solitaire. Frustrated and fed up, I called Shannon for help. Her insightful questions and compassionate observations helped me shake loose from major stuck-ness and move forward. The project is back on track and more important, for the first time I see clearly that this work doesn’t have to be miserable. Instead, it is a gift from the universe to provide financial ease in pursuing my life goals.

What is NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)?

• The study of human excellence.
• The study of how mind (neuro) and language (linguistic) interface to create our internal experience, patterns and reality (programming).
• The study of subjective experience.

NLP is a branch of cognitive psychology developed in the USA in the 1970's. Personal coaches, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and business consultants use NLP to assist people in transforming their lives, their relationships and their goals. NLP includes a number of patterns for changing how people perceive the world around them, so they have the resources they need when they're faced with challenging situations.

What is HNLP (Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology™)?

HNLP is the study of how Mind creates reality through language and behavior. No matter what you think you are, you are always more than that! John Overdurf and Julie Silverthorn coined the term to describe their branch of NLP. Their extensive research in quantum physics, ancient spiritual systems, hypnosis, neuro-science and the experience of life led them to create this natural extension of traditional NLP.

If you'd like to know more, read John and Julie's in-depth description of HNLP.

Certifications

• Coach, Neuro-Energetics and IIHNLP (International Institute for Humanistic NeuroLinguistic Psychology), June 2003
• Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology and Time-Based Techniques, Neuro-Energetics and IIHNLP, June 2003
• Master Practitioner of NLP, HNLP, Time-Based Techniques, Neuro-Energetics and IIHNLP, November 2003
• Trainer of NLP/HNLP, Neuro-Energetics and IIHNLP, August 2004
• Companion Animal Practitioner, Tellington TTouch, July 2002

Professional History

• Life Coach and Trainer, 2003 – Present
• Freelance Writer, 2001 – Present
• Investor Relations Consultant and Writer, Principal/Portland Office of The Cereghino Group, 1996 – 2004
• Vice President, Portland Brewing, 1992 – 1996
• Office Manager, Electra Partners, Inc., 1991 – 1992
• Asst. to the General Director, California Theatre Center, 1989 – 1990

Education and Internships

• Scripps College (Claremont, CA) B.A., American Studies, 1989
• Pasadena Playhouse (Pasadena, CA) Marketing Internship, 1989
• McGill University (Montréal, Québec) Exchange Student, 1988
• American University (Washington, D.C.) Washington Semester, 1987
• Ask Washington, Current Events Television Show (Washington, D.C.) Production Internship, 1987

Continuing education includes hundreds of hours in a wide variety of subjects, including: Coaching and Self-Development Workshops, American Society of Journalists and Authors National Conference Workshops, Willamette Writer’s Annual Conference Workshops, various computer software programs, human resources skills, teambuilding, The SEC Institute’s Reporting Skills Workshop, The National Investor Relations Institute National Conference, Understanding Financial Statements, Book Publishing, Design, Small Business and Office Skills.

Professional Memberships

• Northwest Coaches Association, Chapter of the International Coach Federation
• International Institute for Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology & Hypnosis
• National Guild of Hypnotists
• Willamette Writers
• Dog Writers Association of America

Do you know what it feels like to be really, really quiet? I'm not just talking about no external noise, but no internal noise either. It's a strange and powerful feeling – and one we don't often have without a concerted effort.

Over the years, I've dallied with meditation to quiet my mind, but on a recent road trip I had hours and hours to practice. I drove from Portland to Los Angeles and back with a number of stops in between. All told I spent 30+ hours in the car by myself over the course of about 11 days. Most of that came in the form of two 12 hour days at the beginning and end of the trip. Let me tell you, when you spend that much time in a small space all by yourself you either get a little crazy or a little clear. And in my case, maybe a little of both.

The hypnotic nature of driving allowed me to go to a quiet place easily, with a deep relaxing breath, softening of my gaze and just letting the thoughts tumble out of my mind until there weren't any left. Just noticing, and remembering to turn off the narrator in my head (and the radio in the car).

On the trip I listened to the book, The Joy Diet by Martha Beck. In it, she outlines ten steps to a happier life. The first one, and the one that must be mastered before moving onto any other is, getting quiet. She's not alone. Many self-development gurus expound on the virtues of getting quiet, meditating, learning that you are not your thoughts. The message was also championed in a book I read on the trip, Eat Pray Love by Elizabet Gilbert. In her book, the middle section, Pray, is about her experience at a yogic ashram in India, where the primary focus was on meditation.

Can you sit for 15 minutes and focus only on your breathing, letting your thoughts float away from you, simply noticing them and letting them go? If the idea makes you nervous, what are afraid might happen if you did?

Somehow I think that if I stopped believing in all those thoughts, then how would I know who I am? When deep inside me, I know that all those thoughts are clouding who I really am. It's a paradox! And, with practice, just a few minutes a day, the real answer will become clear.

Here's an interesting story from the New York Times on teaching mindfulness meditation in schools.

This story, also from the NYT, says that research shows that meditation can help train attention.

A few years ago my life was much more complicated – three businesses, volunteer work, a large four-legged family, a husband, big house and yard, you get the idea. But through circumstances and choice I've downsized significantly. My life is much simpler and filled with far fewer responsibilities. There is not such a pressing need for rigid scheduling to fit everything in.

Plus, earlier this year, I instituted the What Would I Love To Do Today plan. I found that I was accomplishing what I wanted to do and more, in a way that created a great sense of freedom.

Yet somehow, this summer, the simple act of asking myself that question each morning has gradually faded away. With no other routines or plans (except the most vague) in place, I find myself wondering at the end of a planned but schedule-free office day just what had I accomplished and how did my desk get so messy doing what seems like nothing?

The worst part about it is that I feel guilty and don't enjoy the time because I feel like I should be doing something more productive. It's insidious how these little patterns and habits can slip into your life before you even realize it.

With all that in mind, I'm looking to bring some planning and routine back into my life. I'll start by asking myself the question I learned from Michael Neill :

"What would I love to do this year?"
"What would I love to do this month?"
"What would I love to do today?"

I expect I'll find that Planning + Routine = Freedom.

Mt. Saint Helens crater with dust from the lava dome avalanche on the right, steam on the top and left. Spirit Lake and Mt. Rainier are in the background.

In July I did something I never thought was possible for me — climbed a mountain, or more accurately an active volcano: Mt. Saint Helens. I expected to be happy about the achievement, proud of myself for doing it, but I never expected to be caught speechless and awestruck looking into the crater.

It was a tough but not technical 5 mile hike to the rim. A couple of miles of hiking through a young douglas fir forest, then a couple of miles over the lavafield of boulders and a final mile up the ashfield left by the 1980 eruption.

Just as we summited, an avalanche of boulders crashed down one side of the lava dome. It sounded like the roar of a jet flying just overhead. Steam was escaping from the crags. It was like looking at the beginnings of the earth — the creation of land.

I’ve never experienced anything like it and can absolutely understand how some people get hooked on climbing mountains.

(A few more of my photos are here. Lots of photos, including a 360 degree movie taken by friend and fellow climber Kerstin are here. )

The book was made required reading by my writing coach.  I already owned it, and had read it before, but it was wonderful to re-read this classic on writing. 

Dozens of unnumbered, short chapters come together to become Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within.  The chapters each stand on their own and complement one another.  You can read the book straight through, scan the table of contents to find an appropriately helpful sounding chapter, or just flip through the book randomly for writing inspiration and guidance. 

A warning though, some of the chapter titles, while intriguing don't make much sense until you read the section.  For example, "Man Eats Car."  Doesn't seem to ring with writing advice does it?   Goldberg shares a story about a man who ate an entire car.  She uses this idea of not cherry picking the choicest parts (are there choice parts of eating a car?) but just writing down all of it.  She also expands on the absurdity of a man eating a car and how that can open the imagination. 

One of the things I most appreciate about this book is Goldberg's willingness to be completely honest.
She talks about all of the junk writing she does, the stuff that mortifies you when you go back and re-read it, the whiny self-pitying, berating, critical schlock that shows up more than you would hope for in a regular writing practice. 

She also reminds us that in all that junk are sometimes beautiful, truthful things, bits or more that capture something important.  Sometimes you just need a little distance.  And sometimes, it is still junk, but once it's out of the way there's a space for more interesting things to surface.

The term procrastination is generally though of as a problem, but, is it really? Have you ever heard of “just-in-time” production or inventory? The theory is that a company will save money and waste by making or purchasing exactly what’s needed, exactly when it’s needed. Are you short-changing yourself by waiting until the last minute? Or, are you using your time wisely and still getting the things done you want to get done?

Do you procrastinate because of how you try to motivate yourself to do things? It normally starts like this: "Today I'm finally going to clean my desk (or do the laundry, or write that blog entry, or whatever thing I've been putting off)," I say to myself, usually in my head, but always to myself.

Some part of my brain, probably the smarty-pants part, thinks that what I'm really saying is: "hey stupid, this is such an easy thing, what's wrong with you that you haven't done it yet?" Which isn't exactly nice and the five-year-old part of me who is in charge of cleaning my desk doesn't like anyone to be mean to her, even herself. So she decides she's not going to do what the mean person says and instead is going to be nice to herself for a while and does some pleasant things like talk to friends, read email or books, make a cup of tea. Guess what? The desk doesn't get cleaned.

Now, what if I reminded myself of the nice reasons why I want a clean desk. I love looking at a clean desktop, I think more clearly, I can find things more quickly. Then when I get in touch with how great that feels, I'm beginning to feel more inspired.

Getting in touch with the positive reasons for doing anything make it more likely that you'll actually do it. And, just for good measure (and the reassurance of the five-year-old part of me) I'm only going to do as much as I can in 15 minutes.

One last thing to consider, do you really need to do what’s on your to-do list, particularly those items that have been lingering there for sometime? Perhaps it’s just not that important, and you can let it go, accepting the fact that you aren’t going to do it. But please, I wouldn’t recommend this for your taxes.