Explore. Dream. Discover. Favourite quotes

“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,”said the Queen.
“When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day.
Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” 

Lewis Carroll
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Twenty years from now

You will be more disappointed

by the things you didn’t do

than by the ones you did.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbour.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.  Dream.  Discover

Mark Twain

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Yes, The Explore Dream Discover theme and Coaching Model of my coaching practise came straight from this quote by Mark Twain.  This quote has always kept me moving forward!  I never want to look back on 20 years of my life and say, “oops.  Exactly why didn’t I do those things I wanted to do?””  And Alice?  –  it’s not always easy to believe in the impossible in a very non-believing world… so I remind myself each morning!  Why, sometimes even six times before breakfast!

 

Another day, another McDonald’s law suit. But oh! the Opportunity.

Quick background… may be accurate may be not.. but that’s not the point of my post. Apparently somebody left their cell phone at McDonalds’, someone else uploaded the nude pics of his wife online, and now the couple are suing McDonalds for millions.  I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the huge number of comments on a blog regarding this story.  It made me wonder why stories like this ‘go big’ .. so I also commented:   Here’s my comments. and when you get to the end, I have an idea!

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Stories like this ‘go big’ because it is interesting on a number of levels…
1. Absurdity. Really, how bizarre that a corporation can be sued for huge amount of money for something like this.
2. Awakens our imagination: Tickles the imagination in the same way, I’m sure, as imagining winning the lottery.
3. Values. Good story for each of us to reflect on our own values.
For me this story concerns me because it supports and encourages not taking responsibility for our lives. If they win the case, it justifies ‘blaming’ others for what happens to us in our life.

Who ever uploaded the pictures broke a law and the police should charge them. And perhaps the people who left the phone behind can model taking responsibility for their own lives by NOT blaming an entire corporation. Gee, they could even turn this into teaching opportunities – sharing how they took responsibility for the situation, took the steps to move on, and they could even volunteer their time with community agencies who are working hard to instill values for the ‘at risk’ population.

And if they did all this.. they might end up on Oprah and write a book and get rich in positive exciting ways!
Wow, who knew taking responsibilty could be so fun!

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SOOO, dear readers.. any thoughts?  What would be cool ways for this couple, who now have the ears of the world.. to make extreme positive changes in the world?    Would love to hear from you!

Playing in Fall Leaves

The Willow Tree has dropped all of it’s leaves  and the yard is full of these brown and yellow treasures.  (the brown does not refer to the poo post, by the way)    Today Evalee and I played outside in the leaves.  We’d throw them up in the air and watch them fall. She would run through the bare branches of the Willow Tree, testing out this whole new environment that used to be green and full of ‘hidden rooms’ created by the draping branches.  Each time I’d throw a handful of leaves, Evalee laughs in delight.  Lately when she is anticipating something fun, she smiles her brilliant smile, and clasps her hands in fists and shakes them.  (Oh, I did not explain that well at all.)

People, I don’t know what to say but ‘get a grandchild, have a baby, spend time with a friend’s little one, or a niece or nephew” *  Then play with them.  Watch their awe and wonder as they discover new and delightful things that we sometimes take for granted.  Or do things with them that we forget to do most the time.. like throwing fall leaves up into the air and laughing as they float back down.  (They smell so lovely, too.)

It’s that little smile,  that pure joy in the moment that I am so in awe of.  and can learn from.  Thanks Evalee for being such a brilliant mentor.. you do know how to live the moments grandly!

*that’s not ‘coach’ talking, that’s Nana Grama.  The Coach in me would never advise you to have a child, or to have anything.. Coach would be asking the questions to help you make your choices.)

Left brain Right brain quiz- clearly I’m doing some research today.

A little quiz I wandered off to while working on a workshop. My results are below. Some of my answer choices were … well, me creatively influencing the results! .. but still, a good little quiz.   Glad 35% of me loves dogs.  No no, wait, all of me loves my dog! You can take this quiz by clicking on the link at the bottom of my results. Enjoy!

You Are 35% Left Brained, 65% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you’re left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you’re right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Stop just talking about ‘being more creative.”

Thought I’d post this article I recently published….

‘We have to be more creative’  – Stop just talking about it!

Maybe the difficult economic times are the perfect next step in our evolution.

 

If you have ‘google alert’ and searched “be more creative” you would discover as I have that every day hundreds of articles, news casts, business forums, and blogs are screaming, “we have to be more creative if we are to survive this downturn in our economy.”

 

This thrills me.  “Yay, people are going to get to access their creative brilliance!”  I think enthusiastically (because my mind likes to do that.)  “Yay!!  The whole world is going to start using the creative right side of their brains! ” I add to myself as I imagine the big picture.  “Oh, what a world it could be if we were all using our whole brain – right, left and center!”    I won’t even go into the image of how astounding this picture can become in my imagination, given that I’ve discovered that the creative right brain is also the place where many people get their most soulful answers.    “BUT …”  Yup.  A BUT pops into my mind. 

 

And here it is.  Here’s the BUT that could make the beautiful prospect of a ‘whole brain’ world just a fantasy.

 

Have you ever sat in a meeting when someone says, “Okay, we need to be more creative with this concept.”  And everyone in the meeting nods “yes” enthusiastically.   Then there is a lull.  And the meeting organizer says, “Okay, then! On that note, let’s call it a day!”

 

What’s missing?  Quite a bit actually. The way to be creative.  The space to be creative. The support of the left brain saying, “no, no, of course it’s okay.. you go ahead and be creative”  without it adding, “but, first,  just make sure that report is done by  4, you are home by 5, dinner is ready by 6, the bills are  paid, the car is washed, the floors are swept, you called your mother, you answered those emails, and you’ve completed a full  business plan that justifies your spending time being creative.”  

 

What is not missing is the creative people.  At least 1 out of 10 in that meeting has a pretty strong creative side.  And of the remaining 9, the creativity is there, it’s just not their dominant side.

 

The good news is that there is a way to ‘be more creative’ as individuals, businesses, and organizations move forward in the challenging economic times.  Get a coach.  Get a coach who is an expert in not just helping people access the creative side, but in putting it to use in moving individuals and groups forward successfully.   Yes, it is entirely possible for the left organized linear brain and the creative non linear brain to work well together.    

 

Are you are one of those saying, we need to “be more creative?”  This time don’t dismiss that thought.  Now is the time to take action.

 

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Janet Whitehead is a certified professional life and business coach who specializes in life coaching creatively.  Her expertise includes helping others to access both ‘sides of the brain’ – the creative ‘right brain’ and the logical ‘lets get things done’ left brain.  Janet’s coaching style leads to a person discovering their most empowering ways to move forward quickly and successfully, authentically and soulfully.  She coaches both internationally and locally, facilitates creative workshops, and is the author of a variety of work (play!) books. 

In addition, Janet is a certified Creative Muse Group Facilitator and she is currently completing her first novel, and working on a solo show in Clay.  http://www.musingsandmud.com

 

 

 

Just got back from the Centre of the Universe. Seriously

For quite some time I’ve been thinking I ought to go to the Center of the Universe, especially with it being so close by.  I decided to move this ‘ought to’ to a ‘will do’ when I was passing time in Athens airport, and I browsed through a Lonely Planet guide on Canada.  I looked up my town, thinking “What on earth will they say about Kamloops?”  I was thrilled to see in the Text in a Box (meaning ‘this is going to be interesting’) the title The Center of the Universe.   And right there, in Lonely Planet, amongst maybe two hotels, a couple of restaurants and not much else to say about Kamloops, is the Center of the Universe.. how to get there, and what it’s all about.  Given that I suspect the large majority of Kamloopsians don’t know this exists, it was quite a delight and surprise to see it Lonely Planet.     But I had never seen it in person!  Today was the day!

You will find conflicting histories when you google it… mostly around when this location was deemed to be the center of the universe.  But the gist is that a monk came in search of the Center of the Universe .. somewhere between 10 – 25 years ago, (depending on the story)   He found it, brought a group of monks who performed the required tests.. which includes some tests like that things will self ignite.   The location passed the test and was deemed the Center of the Unverse.   At the time, apparently the owners of the property wouldn’t sell to the Buddhists.   The current owners will allow you on the site, for a small fee, which I’m sure just helps them to deal with things like maintaining the area and the occasional vandalism and such.   I really enjoyed meeting Ruth, who owns the resort, and I look forward to going back for tea one day!

I’ll make no judgements on whether this is the Center of the Universe or not.   One must remember that quantum science intrigues me…  and the concept of one spot that is the center of one universe almost seems limiting.  However, there is something rather unusual about the spot…  The energy on the ‘outskirts’ of it feels chaotic… but as you get closer to the location, it really is a lovely energy.. and very beautiful scenically.   It was a delightful place to do a ‘visualization’.. and what I saw made me laugh with joy out loud.  (My family gets to hear the details though, before I throw it out into the wild blue public.)

It is a place I’ll joyfully go back to and I highly recommend this excursion to the Center of the Universe.  If you’re a Kamloopsian, doesn’t this make you curious?  If you had a Lonely PLanet guide for a different country and it had a BOXED TEXT about a place you were at… bet you’d seriously consider going to check out what that was all about.   And here we are, in little Kamloops, with our very own BOXED Text in Lonely Planet.  Cool.  But don’t go if you feel like you’re going to check out the circus, just to say you’ve been. Do go if you feel like you would like to be in a place that Buddhist Monks have deemed the Center of the Universe.

The other thing to note: as we drove up there, the landscape was extraordinary.  Think ‘similar – ish to Cappodocia, Turkey’.  Sort of.  Amazing castle- like hoodoos, in an array of colours.  I hope that travellers to Kamloops do go on this adventure.  It’s definately something to write home about.  Imagine the letter:  “the most amazing magical hoodoos that look like a hundred wizards walking out of the mountain, and some that look like a castle at the top of a waterslide.. and then, Ma and Pa, I came to the Center of the Universe….”   ( At which point Ma and Pa are emailing you to say, “perhaps you should come home now, dear)

Also mentioned in Lonely Planet, not boxed, although it could be, is Squilax Hostel, owned by the delightfully unique owner/operator Blair Action… It’s not quite ‘Kamloops’.. It’s on shuswap Lake, on the water, where one can stay in cabooses, or a converted boathouse, and pet Llamas  It’s a very cool place.  That would add an interesting touch to the letter home… “and I’ve been spending my nights in a caboose.”

I would adore talking to others who have been to the Center of the Universe.. and hear what they thought, sensed, wondered…
Did you hear the choir that some hear?   Been there?  Please share your comments!

What muse are you? A quiz

A quiz! A Muse quiz!  How fun is that?
http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-amuseing-test

You can also create quizzes here.  Also sounds like fun to me.  So, what would you like to learn about yourself?  I’d be delighted to create a quiz!

Faeries! I procrastinate!

Note from Janet:  a little crossover thing is happening.  This will introduce you to the faeries’ blog.  Occasionally posts from here goes to their blog, but for the most part they are different.  The faeries are rather special. And in an odd sort of way they coach… from a faerie perspective.  You can write to them there for coaching. It’s a bit of a Dear Abby thing, but faerie style.  But don’t blame me for what they have to say.  www.iffaerieswerecoaches.wordpress.com    Here’s the post:

Dear Faeries!  I procrastinate.  I never “get to things.” The days putter by.  Sometimes it’s like I’m spinning my wheels.  Help!
                          Sincerely, wheel spinning do nothinger

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{“OHHHHHH, LOOK!  498-_)(KEddee;a   Someone found us, again!!  A MORTAL!!  They found us again!” Faeries jump for joy all ove rpqiu4234  all over the keyboard}
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Oh, hello Mortal.. er.. Wheel,

We are here for you, buddy.   Here are definitions of procrastination:
Procrastination 1: not getting around to doing the things you don’t like doing,
Procrastination 2: not getting around to doing the things you like or even LOVE to do.

Soooo, why even bother trying to get to the things you don’t like doing? 
         (“umm, faeries, in the people realm, sometimes people have to do things like pay bills when it’s not a fun thing for them to do.” whispers potter/coach/writer or whatever faeries choose to name Janet on this particular day.   Faeries look at Janet in a “well, there’s a simple answer to that, now isn’t there” kind of way.)

Soooo, why don’t you get someone who likes to do the things you don’t like to do to do it for you?
That solved, now Procrastination 2.  This is much more of a challenge for you people types. Oh, the history of people not letting themselves do what they love is soooo convoluted!!  But here’s a start for your thoughts.  Put this in your thoughts.  Let it simmer.  IF I ALLOW MYSELF TO BE DOING WHAT I LOVE, I WILL MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE THINGS I DON’T LOVE.

Now get back to us in 3 sleeps and tell us what you are thinking, oh wondrous Wheel.

Magically, Faeries.

{“I think that’s pretty good, don’t you” one faerie smiles at another. “of course it is. We’re so good.” and off they go to celebrate.  Because faeries are always celebrating. That’s probably why they are faeries and not people.  “Excuse me?  Who said THAT?” potter/janet questions as she looks about the room full of faeries and such.  hmmph. It wasn’t any of them.  Odd.}

I do believe in Me. I do! I do!

In the tub, off in the world of thought that may have included faeries although I wasn’t paying that close of attention, I found myself hearing a little voice in my head* singing, “I do believe in me. I do. I do.” (chanted in the same way as in the movie “Peter Pan”- while Tinkerbell was fading away, but because Peter and the world joined in to chant “I do believe in Faeries. I do. I do,”  Tink’s spark returned and all was well again in the magical world!)

I had to smile. I’d been thinking about what was one key thing that most empowered the people I work with, and friends, and me….   I’m pretty sure the chant came to mind just to answer the earlier thoughts.  (Well that, and this whole faerie connection thing I have)  And really, it does come down to ‘acknowledging oneself”. .. being able to recognize the amazing person that you are.      

Not so easy.  You can read all the time about “you have to love yourself before you can do this, or that…..”  But exactly how do you get there when our world hasn’t exactly been kind to those who say, “I am such an amazing person!”  “I am so smart!”  “Damn, I look beautiful today!” or “I am so in love with me!” or “Wow, that’s the most brilliant idea EVER!”

Instead, people have been known to go so far as to avoid telling a child how extraordinary they are, because “they might get a big head.”   There’s something rather sinister about that, don’t you think?

“Don’t brag.” “He’s so full of himself.” “Show some humility.”  “Conceited” (oh, look! I don’t even know how to spell that word!) 

How about this scenario?  Child shares their wonderful accomplishment, and adult finds fault to ‘encourage them to work harder.”   Okay, maybe I’m being a bit harsh.  I see that I could turn this into some sort of rant.  But really, I think this was a standard of educators and some parents in the ‘old old days.’  The new parents are soo soooo much wiser.  Thank Gom.

Fact is, when I get to witness a client  recognize their strengths, their beauty, their uniqueness… I am also witnessing them moving forward towards their dreams at top speed.   It’s surprising how quickly one can come around to appreciating and believing in themselves after a lifetime of doubting.  No, it doesn’t happen overnight.  And there are moments of slipping back into old and limiting thinking.  That’s when it is especially nice to have a coach who can see this happen and help bring them back to their much more empowered state of being.

“I do believe in me. I do. I do.” I love it. I’m going to go make a T-shirt on Zazzle just as soon as I’m finished this post!

And the faeries are happy I was thinking of them.  But that’s another blog all together!www.iffaerieswerecoaches.wordpress.com

  

For the t-shirt, tote and other fun stuff.. www.zazzle.com/janetwhitehead*

I wasn’t kidding I really made the T shirt and tote.  Comes with a faerie just in case she needs to remind you to believe. In you.  and in faeries, too, of course.

 

Look! here’s an image!

 

* voice in my head.    come on, just because I talk about faeries and such, don’t be using this phrase to convince yourself I must be crazy!  I’m about the most credible person I know.

 

Magical Quotes from ‘Brida’ by Paulo Coelho

Although I  left the book ‘Brida’ in the hands of a lovely man in Greece, I had jotted down these two inspring quotes in my travel journal:

“Magic is a bridge,” he said at last, “a bridge that allows you to walk from the visible world over into the invisible, and to learn lessons of both those worlds.”  
The Magus. From Brida, Paulo Coelho.

“The answer to why are we here is: I don’t know.

So live your dreams to honour God*”

From Brida, Paulo Coelho.

I was so affirmed when I read these quotes. I know the bridge. I do what I can to introduce others who are seeking their bridge.

AND, not only that, every time I read the quotes I am taken back to Hania, Crete.. sketching, motorcyle riding with the man who got the book, basking in the wonder of this extraordinary world of ours.

( * For those uncomfortable with the world ‘God’, imagine Spirit, the Universe, your higher self or the belief that works best for you as you contemplate this quote. It would be sad if one word stopped some people from feeling the quote’s power.)