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Drawing as meditation

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I’m in a winter like space, contemplating next steps and direction. I’ve never developed a formal meditation practice, it just never seemed to work very well for me. Not that I won’t do it, I just haven’t found my groove with it.

Drawing, on the other hand, has always felt like what I hear when people describe the benefits of meditation. Not just any drawing, it’s a particular kind of doodling that creates a sense of spaciousness for me.

There is something about the repetitive marks of the crosshatching, it’s almost mindless but not quite. It allows my  mind to quiet and opens up space for new things to emerge.

I’m finding myself more in the visual space and less in the words recently. So I’m just going with it. Waiting to see what happens.

I like to hear your comments and stay in touch.
I’m working on a new series of tools for personal and professional development. To be the first to know about them and introductory specials, sign up to be on the Early Explorer list.

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Categories: Artwork

Looking at the cliff

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Looking at the cliff

Have you ever been in a place where it looks like there are two paths? One of them ends in a dark place surrounded by turmoil. The other involves jumping off a cliff, not knowing what will happen on the way down.

Of course, there are lots more options. It’s just hard to see sometimes.

What do you do when you are in this place? Or what do you say to others who are?

Categories: Artwork

Embracing a landscape of love

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I’ve been ambivalent about Valentine’s Day in the past. I’m still not enamored with the commercial side of the day. What I do appreciate is how important it is to create and notice the love in my life. It’s what gets me through the tough days, brings me joy, and makes life worthwhile.

Love comes in many shades and  forms. Where are you noticing it in your life today?

I like to hear your comments and stay in touch.
I’m working on a new series of tools for personal and professional development. To be the first to know about them and introductory specials, sign up to be on the Early Explorer list.

Name *

| Email *

Categories: Artwork

Sending love out into the world

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Noticing lots of things that seem like they could use some love. Wishing you all you need and want.

Categories: Artwork

How to change a story that keeps you stuck

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We all have stories we tell over and over. Stories about who we are, what we do, what has happened. Some of these are more helpful to us than others, and some are more helpful in particular contexts. Sometimes we get stuck, and it’s hard to see what to do next.

Images are particularly helpful in getting unstuck. When we respond verbally to visual inputs we can often see things in new ways.

Feeling stuck mid-career

Michele Martin is a consultant who works in the workforce development and career counseling areas. Just before the end of the year we did a session using VisualsSpeak’s new online ImageCenter. She agreed to having the session recorded and shared here.

The first thing I did was to ask her about where she is and about her feeling stuck. Here is the conversation we had about her situation (just under 5 minutes.)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Exploring with images

I asked Michele to log in to our online ImageCenter, where she was able to select images in response to the question I selected for her:

What is my ideal work?

She created the image below in less than 5 minutes.

Next, I asked her to tell me the story of her images. Here is the beginning of the conversation where we talked about the style of work she likes to do (just over 5 minutes.)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In the next part of the conversation, I guide Michele back to the images. We go back and forth between talking about and looking at the images. Several insights emerged from the 16 minutes.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Starting to make changes

Insights can be helpful, but taking action as a result of the insights is what begins to get us unstuck. In the last 10 minutes of the session, we worked to make a plan to start shifting the work Michele is doing.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Images spark different things than words

This process isn’t about giving up words, not at all. It’s just utilizing the ability of images to add different kinds of information to the mix. It offers the potential to quickly get underneath some of the thoughts that are holding us back.

Want to see how you can work with images online?

Would you like to use this tool with people in your life?

In the next few weeks, we’ll be doing free online demonstrations of the ImageCenter. You can see how it works from  the facilitators side and get to participate in a group exercise. There are sessions on the following days:

February 9, 2011    12:00 – 1:00 PM PST
February 10, 2011    8:30 – 9: 30 AM PST
February 15, 2011     3:30 – 4:30 PM PST
February 17, 2011    12:00 – 1:00 PM PST
February 18, 2011    8:30 – 9: 30 AM PST
to convert  for your timezone

To register, go to the VisualsSpeak  sign up page.

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Categories: Exploring My Work

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