CREATIVE SUCCESS NEWSLETTER, NUMBER 13-JUNE, 2001

The Positive Choices Series

WELCOME TO NEW AND OLD SUBSCRIBERS

This is the premiere issue of our new series for 2001-2002 called The Power of Positive Choices based on the steps in my new book by the same title. Our newsletter community of creative souls interested in fulfillment and quality life experiences keeps expanding and this is an ideal time to forward this newsletter on to your friends and colleagues on the same path. We will begin with a quiz and P is for Priorities. Also note at the end of this newsletter there is a survey that my friend Carol Frenier and I have compiled to determine an agenda for a retreat or other programs to fuel your creativity and spiritual growth. We welcome your responses in this co-creative project.

POSITIVE CHOICES SELF-FULFILLMENT QUIZ
Answer yes or no to each question.
1) Are you truly happy?
2) Are you pleased with the person you are?
3) Are you challenged and passionate about your personal and professional lives?
4) Are you expressing yourself in your relationships?
5) Are you meeting your goals?
6) Are you content with the choices you have made in your life?
7) Are you living the life of your dreams?
8) Do you feel in control of your destiny?

STEP ONE: P IS FOR PRIORITIES

Were you pleased or surprised by your answers to the quiz above? The Power of Positive Choices is learning the art of living the life you long for. It is a life of "yeses". The word Positive is about being proactive, assertive, and decisive about whom you are and what you want to express in this lifetime. When you seek to re-create your life, as you want it, you will embrace the Positive and delete the Negative. A life of Positive Choices is the creation of the life you crave. In selecting Positive Choices to fill your life, you will leave negative beliefs and negative folks behind and begin to attract other Positive souls to play with. Your priorities reflect positive life choices that feed your body, mind, and spirit. As we studied the creative process, we talked a lot about the importance of FOCUS. Your priorities are the Focus in your life, whether it is parenting, solving a social problem, or having fun. It is the choice about which path you follow, which means forsaking other avenues. Claim your own priorities and your life will reward you with more self-satisfaction and creative expressions of the unique being that you are.

CHALLENGE:
1) Claim and write down YOUR personal priorities for your body, mind, and spirit.
2) For the next month, have a conversation with people around you about their priorities, whether it's your sister or your dry cleaning store clerk. You will be fascinated with their answers. I had the most wonderful conversation last night with a woman at Staples about joyfulness. We have a lot to teach each other if we initiate meaningful connections with people.
3) DECIDE how to better honor your priorities in your daily life and begin to act upon them.

UPCOMING BOOK EVENTS

12 Secrets Events:

12 Secrets and Creative Project Completion groups in the Boston area, with Gail McMeekin beginning in Fall 2001. Specific groups and times will be in the next newsletter.

Positive Choices Events:

July 10
Barnes and Nobles Books in Braintree, MA
Positive Choices Workshop and booksigning at 7:30 PM

July 24
Boston Learning Society in Needham, MA
Positive Choices Workshop from 7-9 PM
Call 781-453-9800 to register

July 31
Learning Connection in Providence, RI
Positive Choices Workshop from 7-9 PM
Call 401-274-9330 to register

August 4
Yellow Umbrella Books in Chatham, MA
Booksigning only from 3-5 PM

September 15
Barnes and Nobles books in Hyannis, MA
Positive Choices Workshop and book signing at 11 AM.

September 29
Armchair Books in E. Dennis, MA
Positive Choices Workshop and book signing at the E. Dennis Library on 23 Center St. from 2-4 PM

A BRIEF SURVEY FROM GAIL AND CAROL

It is our experience that many of our friends and colleagues have reached a state where most training's, professional associations, and publications are not very helpful to them in their current pursuits. Below is a BRIEF survey to see if we can get a sense of what is needed and would be helpful to you. Think about what kinds of positive choices would support your growth. We appreciate your taking a few minutes to respond to these 7 questions and we will share the results with you in the July Creative Success newsletter or by email. Many thanks. If you already received this survey and responded, we thank you-no need to do it again.

SURVEY

1) What resources do you utilize to stimulate your creativity, spirituality, and personal/professional growth?

2) What groups/professional organizations/conferences/newsletters/websites, etc. connect you with like-minded souls?

3) Who are your mentors and how do you access them?

4) What kinds of books and conversations support your ability to take positive risks with your personal/spiritual growth and connect you with people on the same path?

5) What are the BEST learning resources that you know about that promote personal/spiritual growth, group process, and support? Feel free to share an experience you consider to be of exception value.

6) What are you missing in the way of support?

7) If you feel adequate support is missing, how might you envision such support being provided, i.e. online, in person, retreat, workshop, etc. or other forms?

SEEKING SUCCESS STORIES
If you have successfully completed a creative project or begun a business using your creativity skills or innovatively solved a problem, we want to hear about it. We will be profiling successful creative people in the months to come, so email me your story at gail@creativesuccess.com.

IN CLOSING

Thank you for joining us on the Positive Choices journey. Over the next year, you will be adding and subtracting your way toward a life that you choose. Very empowering for all of us! Feel free to start your own Positive Choices groups as an add on to 12 Secrets groups so we can continue learning together. It is summertime. Treat yourself to some special summer activities and enjoy being outdoors! I went on a boat cruise last night with great women and great food and loved every minute of it!

Creatively yours,
Gail McMeekin

Feel free to forward this message onto your friends and associates. Please keep the whole message intact.