Process

How To Have More Energy

Several months ago, I walked into my studio room, stood there for approximately one second, spun around and walked out.

Several days before that, I’d started to feel bored doing my daily quick collages. They were feeling routine, stale. Like I was rehashing the same routine, the same images, the same thoughts.

I noticed that when I looked through my box of collected images, nothing stood out to me. Time to trash them I thought, and start anew.

I knew there were some images that I wanted to keep so I started to go through the box. That wasn’t working either. What would really feel freeing would be to throw out the whole box in one go. That seemed too much so I walked away.

The next time I walked into the room was when I walked right back out. My collection of books, art supplies, objects d’art and PAPERS, so many papers, all neatly organized suddenly felt incredibly overwhelming. Like they were closing in on me. I couldn’t bear to be in the room anymore.

I decided to temporarily spend my days working in the spare bedroom where there is more space. More open area. And more room to breathe.

But that didn’t do anything about what awaited me in the studio. Although I don’t think of my collections as clutter, much of what is in that room is outdated, no longer relevant and needs to be cleared out.

Daily Quick Collage ~ Linda Hough 2016

All of this is unfinished business that I know I need to address. I have a deep intuitive sense that what I most need right now is a clean slate, a blank canvas to begin a whole new phase.

Much like the overabundance of stuff in our lives, so too can the overabundance of thoughts in our heads take away from the quality of life that we yearn for.

Do you know this feeling?

Are you ready for a clean slate? To create the next chapter in your life?

When you clean up unfinished business, you not only create space for yourself physically + mentally, you have more energy.

All those loose ends in your life? Whether you are thinking about them consciously or not, they are taking up valuable energy. Energy that could go toward something so much more satisfying.

Every time I walk into that room, I feel crushed by the weight of it all.

Now I know what you’re thinking because believe me, I was thinking it too. What about all the energy it will take to do the clearing out? All the time! All those decisions? All too much!!

Daily Quick Collage ~ Linda Hough 2016

Here’s what I suggest: take a pen + paper and make a thorough list of all the things you’ve started but haven’t finished.

Then write down anything else that would give you a clean slate.

This could include anything you are tolerating, anything you’ve been putting off, even conversations you need to have with specific people.

Anything and everything that will give you open space both in your environment and in your head.

Anything and everything that needs either FINISHING or CLEARING OUT.

Then ask yourself what items do you really want to finish? What brings you joy when you are either doing it or using it? What items no longer have that spark and need to be cleared out?

My FINISH list includes work projects, online courses, websites, and house repairs. The CLEARING OUT list includes that collage box, the entire studio room, creative projects that no longer hold interest, emails + computer files, and my wardrobe.

Daily Quick Collage ~ Linda Hough 2016

Though your list may seem like a LOT, just the act of getting all of this out of your head and onto paper releases blocked energy.

Now, about the TIME thing.

Here’s what I’ve been doing that is working well: micro-movements.

Where you can, break your list down to the smallest elements.

For example, taking the time to finish this email + setting it up to send out will be pleasurably completed. But to clear my entire studio in one go => overwhelming.

To make this monumental task manageable, I’ll clear one shelf at a time. And just clearing that one shelf already feels better. Lighter. Freer.

Use a timer if that will help. You’ll make decisions faster. Rather than overthinking, feel for the inner YES that sparks joy.

One last thing: take a look at your list. I know you made one!

Imagine for a moment that this list is empty.

Imagine all your unfinished business complete. All the excess cleared out.

How would that feel?

Can you see how much energy this would free up for you? Energy to spend with your kids, out in nature, or even on creative projects!!

Now…I’m off to throw out that entire box of collage images and give myself some wide-open space for new creation.

Where will you begin?

Visual Journal Page ~ Linda Hough 2016

When You Need to Make a Decision

Several years ago I was sitting in a conference room watching a woman onstage making a presentation. She was offering her latest program, something I was absolutely sure I didn’t need.

But as she told her story, I began to feel my emotions rise. She had started her coaching practice about the same time I had, yet here she was onstage + infinitely more successful that I.

As I continued to listen, my thoughts became more and more agitated.

She was outlining the requirements for this program. I could feel my anger churning.

Not at her success but at what I saw as my own shortcomings.

When the presentation ended, I got up from the table and stormed out of the room.

On my way out, I ran into someone I knew. She asked me what was wrong. I blurted out my frustration with myself … and my desire to do the program.

Where did that come from?? Simple answer: ego.

She then uttered the words that would change the course of my path.

How would you feel if you didn’t take the program?

My thoughts were telling me I had fallen way behind and I needed to catch up.

QUICKLY!

In that moment, I saw the program as the best answer to my desire for success. I went immediately to the table and signed up.

The result of this decision was the expenditure of thousands of dollars for the program, travel time + accommodations that led to absolutely zero success.

If only I’d known then what I know now.

Visual Journaling Page ~ Linda Hough 2017

Had it happened today, this is how differently the same scenario would have played out.

Sitting in a conference room, watching a presentation, I notice my thoughts getting very active. As the speaker talks, I understand that we have taken different paths each leading to where we are today. One is not better than the other. We are each on our own path.

Even with this awareness, my thoughts are creating the feeling of agitation in my body.

The speaker is describing her latest program that will surely propel those who are ready into success.

Because I know myself + the particular path I’m on, I do not see this program as adding to my success. Besides, I know now not to make any decisions when my mind is this agitated or in any sort of low state. I remind myself of this as I make my way out of the room during the break.

I stop to talk with someone I know and we casually exchange our thoughts on what we just heard. As much as I respect this person, taking in her words does not affect any decision I may be considering.

I continue outside where I find a quiet place to sit. I relax and gently quiet my mind so that I can better hear the wisdom inside.

When my thoughts have settled, I know beyond a doubt that this program is not a match. I hear a deep internal NO.

I take note of my agitation though, as a signal that I do have a desire inside that needs further exploration. I also know that this desire contains within it all that I’ll need if I decide to pursue it.

I return to my seat, at peace with my decision that is really not a decision at all but much more of a knowing.

~ ~ ~

On the female side of my family, decisions do not come easily. So much so I even made a painting on the subject. But by using the following guidelines, decisions have become effortless.

The Decision ~ oil painting ~ Linda Hough 2017

When you need to make a decision:
Do so from a calm state-of-mind. If you are agitated, upset, overworked or pressured, wait until your mind is relaxed. Making decisions from a low state often results in undesirable outcomes + regret.

This especially applies to any bad habit. You are more likely to succumb to cravings when something uncomfortable is happening, when you are tired or hungry or otherwise in a low state.

Do let your answer arise from inside. Listening to outside influences does not give you the quality information you need. Only YOU know you.

Even your personal thoughts themselves are not actually that helpful. They will often pull you back and forth, coming from different parts of yourself, from hidden beliefs or even habits.

While making a list of PROs + CONs can be helpful to the intellect, it’s the wisdom within that you can truly trust.

A mind at rest always knows what’s best.

Daily Quick Collage ~ Linda Hough 2017

When It All Comes Together

As I write, summer is slowly fading and the heat residing. Thankfully. September is about to open up a new time, a new season, traditionally a time for harvesting.

There have been periods here and there in which this blog has been fallow. Usually it has been because my direction has changed and this time was no exception.

Three years ago I was introduced to an amazing process that changed my life. If you’ve been reading along, you know that visual journaling has had a profound impact on my work. Yet I was struggling to understand how to use it in combination with my coaching.

Over the past year, I’ve taught several live workshops, each taking me deeper into my exploration and most importantly showing me the incredible value that this process has for others.

When sharing visual journaling with other women in workshops both here in France and in Sweden I can’t help but feel overjoyed at the response. It’s almost like those cartoons where paper is flying all over the place and there is a creative frenzy going on.

The participants LOVE it!!

creative flurry

Workshop in Gothenburg Sweden, May 2016 (Photo: Danette Quartey)

It is the use of images and words and creating with your hands in combination with inquiry and self-reflection that creates such a powerful experience.

Still I was struggling with how to share this online.

About 6 months ago, I committed to a daily creative practice where I challenged myself to create 1 quick collage every morning. There was no time limit. The only requirement: each page has to have two elements. I wanted something that was quick to do where I was also practicing letting go of control and not thinking.

quickcollagejournal.sm

First Completed Journal from the
Visionary Journaling Quick Collage Challenge, August 2016

Just the other day, I finished my first journal. I have a shelf of unfinished journals so this said a lot to me. The process was something I could do every morning and it was fun! From this challenge, I came to understand how this process contributes not only to my work but most importantly to my life.

And now I feel ready to share it with you.

The process I’m calling visionary journaling works in two ways: as a way to receive deep messages from your intuition or higher self and as the antidote for any of you who are feeling creatively starved. This work can fill you right up with satisfaction and even happiness.

Yes, it can. This has been my experience and it can easily be yours.

So from here on out, I’ll be blogging on my new site. When it all comes together, a new look is necessary. It’s a new chapter, new energy and new beginnings.

Allow me to introduce the new website:

Happiness Through Creativity

You can pop right over there by clicking here. Sign up to get my newsletter and updates.

Or go to my new FaceBook page by clicking here.

With so much gratitude, I’m looking forward to sharing all about how you can experience more happiness through creativity.

See you over there!!

Nurturing the Seeds of Creation

This is a digital version of my current exhibition in Vence with Danette Quartey. The words are printed on transparencies and floated over shadowbox frames so they cast a nice shadow onto the photos. When I can photograph them without reflections, I’ll post them here.

The Seeds of Creation

Creation is life.
Life is creation.
From the seed to the flower to the fruit,
whether life or cosmos or chair,
everything comes into being through the creative process.

Within each of us lie the seeds of creation.
What do these seeds need to thrive?
Are you nurturing them with love and attention?
Does your environment support their formation?

When all the elements for growth are in place,
the seeds sprout,
the flowers bloom
and the fruit is born.

The Seed of Life welcomes you home.

This Would Have Seemed Impossible

It’s been almost a year since you last heard from me. And what a year it’s been: a year where discovery, learning and re-invention took center stage.

Eleven months ago, I took a leap into Lisa Sonora’s 9-month visual journaling facilitator program that became a roller coaster ride through my own creative journey.

I remember a time when this path would have seemed impossible for me.

Official Graduate Creative Journey Facilitator Training 2015

I started out in life thinking I could never be an artist. Playing with paint and paper was for other people.

I wasn’t sure who those other people were but I was pretty sure they weren’t me.

But the desire to create was planted firmly in my heart. And it wouldn’t go away.

Even as I tried to fit myself into a normal life, pursuing a degree in communication, I lusted after those studio shots in magazines where one could barely catch a glimpse of the working surface for all the creative mess that lay on top.

And the tools!

Brushes and pens and markers, oh my!

Messy Desk Artist Studio

How I wanted to put myself smack in the middle of that very scenario. My heart races as I relive the memory.

What was it that separated me from my desires?

A wall of beliefs. I simply didn’t believe that life could be mine.

I slowly came to realize that desires live in our hearts for a reason.

Desires conjure up visions of what life could be like if only you’d listen. Yet so many of us deny or discount our desires.

What I personally discovered was that on some deep level, I didn’t feel I deserved to have what I wanted, to explore the world both behind and in front of my eyes through paint. Yes, for others. No, for me.

Until I saw a way through.

Spending time on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, I watched women sitting on the ground with their backstrap looms weaving fabric, one strand at a time.

An idea began to take form. This was something I could do.

On the way home from this trip, I had a dream in which an image appeared; a fully formed image of three figures each in their own panel. And I was the artist.

When I got home, I took the one step that led me to where I am today. I signed up for a weaving class. I eventually went on to weave the dream image. (above)

Now, today, I have a designated workspace with tools ~ lovely tools~ and a new desire. My feelings about what I want to do are no longer stuck inside but are leading the way in this brand new phase of life.

The facilitator training provided me the time and space to plunge to the depths of my creative soul. I returned with a renewed commitment not only to my personal artwork but also to supporting others in discovering the magic of the creative process.

I’ve come to understand at an even deeper level the value and importance of being creative, not only by doing a certain activity but also in the making of a life.

That artist studio image above? It’s another dream come true: my very own messy workspace.