|
Living the Creative Life: Issue 96: What I Learned This Year
|
Sharon Good
|
Dec 18, 2007 10:46 PST
|
"Living the Creative Life" is published every 6 to 8 weeks. You are
receiving this e-newsletter because you subscribed at our website or at
Topica.com or requested to be subscribed. You may also receive
occasional special mailings. We will not share your e-mail address with
any third party.
To access this newsletter on the web, click on these links:
http://www.goodlifecoaching.com/CreativeLife96.html
http://www.goodlifecoaching.com/Classes.html
http://www.goodlifepress.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LIVING THE CREATIVE LIFE
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
For Creative People
and Those Who Want To
Live Their Lives Creatively
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
December 2007 ~ ~ ~ Issue 96
In this issue ~~
* Opening Notes
* Feature Article: WHAT I LEARNED THIS YEAR
* Action Challenge
* Wise Words
* Bookshelf
* Upcoming Classes with Sharon
- In NYC: What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do
- In NYC: Coaching Classes at NYU
~ Teleseminar: Life Purpose Institute Coach Certification Training
* New Book from Vocation Vacations!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
OPENING NOTES
Traveling abroad is a great way to learn about yourself and get a new
perspective on the world. This year, I took a trip to Egypt, something
I've dreamed of doing for decades. It was an exciting journey, and I
took almost a thousand pictures. If you'd like to see some of the
highlights, here's a link to my travelogue:
http://users.rcn.com/sharongood/egypt.html
This trip took me way out of my comfort zone. It challenged me to deal
with tiring treks and triple-digit temperatures. I interacted with a
culture that I knew little about and with whom I was unsure how to
behavior appropriately.
When I returned from my adventure, I began to reflect on all the things
I learned during the trip, and then extended that to the entire year. My
insights may sound obvious, but knowing something and really
understanding it at a gut level are two different things.
I hope that my reflections give you food for thought!
Creatively yours,
Sharon
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
WHAT I LEARNED THIS YEAR
As each year comes to an end, I find myself looking back to assess what
I accomplished. This year in particular has been one of huge inner and
outer exploration for me, and I'd like to share some of what I learned.
* An experience is worth a thousand pictures.
I've probably seen thousands of pictures of Egyptian art. But when I
saw my first actual relief carving at Abu Simbel, I was awestruck by its
beauty. It's been 20 years since I stood atop the Leaning Tower of
Pisa, but the experience is still vivid for me, in a way that no picture
ever could be.
* Travel really does broaden your horizons.
Experiencing a culture is very different from reading the news or
watching a documentary. From afar, it's very easy to buy into the touted
beliefs about people who are different from you. Traveling in Egypt, I
often felt apprehensive or uncomfortable - not because I felt I was in
danger, but because I felt strange and didn't know what the expected
behaviors were.
But the Egyptians I met were warm, friendly people who loved their
families, cherished their traditions, and went out of their way to make
me feel welcome. In the future, I'll think twice before judging someone
based on their national or religious affiliation.
* The arts really do connect people across national and cultural lines.
One of the highlights of my trip to Egypt was visiting a girls' high
school. During our visit, we stopped in to listen to choir practice. We
all sang along to "Do-Re-Mi," and some of the girls came off the risers
and danced with us. It was an exhilarating experience to connect with
these darling girls heart to heart, across lines of age, culture,
religion and nationality.
* Some of your gifts may not blossom till later in life.
When I was young, everyone tried to push me into being a teacher, but I
had no desire to teach in the public school system. Now, so many years
later, I'm teaching public workshops for adults and training life
coaches. I'm really good at it, and I absolutely adore it!
* There's a lot more to me than meets the eye.
I've been working on personal development for 25 years, but in recent
years, I've grown into a person I never imagined I could be. Even
though I know myself well, I've come to believe that I have unrevealed
qualities and capabilities that will emerge over time. I can't tell you
how exciting that is to me!
* Getting older doesn't mean going downhill.
This year, I did some "wellness" work. This involved some dietary
changes and putting some new habits in place. As a result, I have
greater vitality and feel stronger. While it doesn't make me as
energetic or lithe as I was in my youth, I wouldn't trade all the
fantastic experiences I've had and the wisdom I've gained for a younger,
thinner body. I'm still strong and healthy, and I anticipate many more
exciting adventures yet to come!
Self-reflection is so important to our growth and development as human
beings! But living in such busy times, it's often hard to find the
time. As a coach, I find that often, my clients have endless to-do
lists and never feel they're accomplishing anything. Taking time to
take stock of your growth and accomplishments is an important step in
moving forward. When you see and acknowledge how far you've come, it
gives you the impetus to take on new challenges with the optimism that
you can achieve them.
And it just feels so darn good to feel good about yourself!
Happy new year!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ACTION CHALLENGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Take time to reflect on all the things you learned this year about
yourself - your accomplishments and ways you've grown. Look for the
little nuances as well as the big things. Do this in several sittings -
once you begin to think about this question, ideas will emerge over time.
WISE WORDS
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"On this shrunken globe, men can no longer live as strangers."
~ Adlai E. Stevenson
"Resolve to be thyself: and know, that he
Who finds himself, loses his misery."
~ Matthew Arnold
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be."
~ William Shakespeare
"It's surprising how many persons go through life without ever
recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely
determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you're not
comfortable within yourself, you can't be comfortable with others."
~ Sydney J. Harris
BOOKSHELF
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Adventure of Self-Discovery: Dimensions of Consciousness and New
Perspectives in Psychotherapy and Inner Exploration" . . . Stanislav Grof
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0887065414/sharongoodlifeco
"The Journey Called You: A Roadmap to Self-discovery and Acceptance" . .
. Julie Fuimano
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0976560534/sharongoodlifeco
"The Playful Way to Knowing Yourself: A Creative Workbook to Inspire
Self-Discovery" . . . Roberta Allen
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=061826924X/sharongoodlifeco
"Journal to the Self: Twenty-Two Paths to Personal Growth - Open the
Door to Self-Understanding by Reading, Writing, and Creating a Journal
of Your Life" . . . Kathleen Adams
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0446390380/sharongoodlifeco
"Soul Catcher: A Journal to Help You Become Who You Really Are" . . .
Kathy Eldon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0811821943/sharongoodlifeco
"List Your Self: Listmaking as the Way to Self-Discovery" . . . Ilene
Segalove and Paul Bob Velick
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0836221796/sharongoodlifeco
"Creative Expression: Creativity and Self Exploration" . . . Jennifer
Freed, PhD
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1430317434/sharongoodlifeco
"The Higher Self" . . . Deepak Chopra (Audio CD)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0743509218/sharongoodlifeco
"Spiritual Growth: Being Your Higher Self" . . . Sanaya Roman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=091581112X/sharongoodlifeco
"Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self" . . . Rosalene Glickman
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0471414646/sharongoodlifeco
"Encounters in My Travels: Thoughts Along the Way" . . . Dixie Lee Harris
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=9042017880/sharongoodlifeco
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
UPCOMING CLASSES WITH SHARON
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL CLASSES, please visit
www.goodlifecoaching.com/Classes.html.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
FOR THOSE IN NEW YORK CITY . . .
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
So many people are dissatisfied with their jobs or careers. They'd love
to get out but they don't know where to go or how to get there. Learn
how to uncover new career possibilities and take the first steps in
finding a career that will make you happy.
Investment: $25
Location: 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue, NYC
Date and time: Monday, February 4, 7 - 9 PM (also May 19)
To register or get further information, please contact the 92nd Street Y
at 212-415-5500. Register online at www.92y.org (course # T-LP5SP55-01
or T-LP5SP55-02).
~ ~ ~
COACHING CLASSES AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
* Career Coaching:
Spring 2008 semester: 2 Saturdays, March 8 and 29, 9 am - 5 pm
* Creative Marketing Tools for Coaches:
Spring 2008 semester: 6 Mondays, April 7 to May 12, 6 - 8 pm
For information and registration links, go to
www.goodlifecoaching.com/Classes.html.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TELESEMINAR . . .
LIFE PURPOSE INSTITUTE COACH CERTIFICATION TRAINING
The Life Purpose Institute offers a short-term, focused coach
certification program in the format of a 17-week teleseminar. In this
program, you'll learn 18 Coaching Skills and the 7-Step Model for
Clarity and Results, a powerful toolkit for helping your clients achieve
clarity on their life and career goals. In a small group setting (6 to 8
students), you'll practice coaching with the support of your instructor
and receive personalized support on preparing your unique marketing
strategy for your coaching business.
Sharon Good is a Senior Instructor for the Life Purpose Institute. She
will be starting a new teleseminar class on Thursday, January 10. The
class meets weekly from 6 to 8 pm Pacific time (9 to 11 pm Eastern time).
For additional information, and to sign up for a free introductory phone
class, go to www.lifepurposeinstitute.com or phone 858-484-3400.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
NEW BOOK FROM VOCATION VACATIONS!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some of you may know that I'm an Affiliated Coach with Vocation
Vacations (www.vocationvacations.com). This wonderful organization
connects people seeking their dream jobs with structured mentoring in
over 130 vocations with over 250 fantastic mentors. The program has been
featured widely in the media and is proving to be a huge success.
On January 7, VV Founder Brian Kurth is releasing a new book, TEST-DRIVE
YOUR DREAM JOB. The book will feature advice on finding your dream job
and success stories from Vocationers who have taken a Vocation Vacations
and gone on to live their dream job.
To preorder this book at Amazon.com, just follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0446698881/sharongoodlifeco
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sharon Good is a Life/Career/Creativity Coach, Workshop Leader and
Author. Her books include "Managing With A Heart: 222 Ways To Make Your
Employees Feel Appreciated," "The Tortoise Workbook: Strategies for
Getting Ahead at Your Own Pace," and "Self-Publishing Basics."
Sharon is available for one-on-one coaching for:
* whole life balance using the Whole Life model
* successful career and life transitions with the Life Purpose Processİ
* support in achieving your goals and dreams
* guidance in writing or publishing your book
* developing your creativity
* enhancing and integrating spirituality in your daily life
For a **FREE INTRODUCTORY COACHING SESSION**, contact Sharon at
212-564-2073 or sha-@goodlifecoaching.com.
For further information, see her website at http://www.goodlifecoaching.com.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Subscribe & Unsubscribe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please feel free to forward a copy of this newsletter to your friends.
To subscribe, go to <http://www.topica.com/lists/creativelife> or send a
blank e-mail to <creativelif-@topica.com>.
To unsubscribe, go to <http://www.topica.com/lists/creativelife> or send
a blank e-mail to <creativelife-@topica.com>.
Past issues can be viewed at
<http://www.goodlifecoaching.com/CreativeLife.html> or at
<http://www.topica.com/lists/creativelife>.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sharon Good, CC / Good Life Coaching Inc.
Life, Career and Creativity Coach
Certified Life Purpose Processİ Consultant
"Being a Tortoise in a World of Hares"
400 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
sha-@goodlifecoaching.com
www.goodlifecoaching.com
www.beingatortoise.com
www.goodlifepress.com
"Making your dreams a reality through partnership"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(c) 2007 Sharon Good. All rights in all media reserved.
For reprint rights, contact sha-@goodlifecoaching.com.
|
|
 |
|
