CREATIVE SUCCESS NEWSLETTER
Creative Success Newsletter, Number 52--February 2005
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Special Offers
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Joyful Work Can Be Yours
Is this the year for you to discover fulfilling work? Are you
bored or stressed or dead-ended in your business or your job?
Our Discover Fulfilling Work Gateway offers a variety of phone
consultation services internationally or in-person in Boston to
help you to find the right career or entrepreneurial path for
you and design a work model that suits your talents, workstyle,
and personal priorities. We can help you to:
1. Identify the right career path and lifestyle for you, using
tests and assessments
2. Develop a strategy for you to get promoted, change fields
or
companies, or start a business
3. Learn your MBTI type and use it to redirect your career
4. Redesign your resume so it reflects your uniqueness
5. Leverage your creative abilities and initiate new projects
in your work
6. Complete a writing project you have been procrastinating on
"Gail McMeekin's skills are beyond those of a therapist
or
life coach—they include both. When you feel confused about
which direction to take, or worse, don't even have choices in
mind, Gail spins her magic to make everything seem possible.
She remains steadfast, inventive, supportive, patient,
generous, resolute. You might feel like giving up on yourself,
but Gail never will." Cathleen Rountree, Ph.D., author of
"The
Writer's Mentor"
I only work with a select group of motivated clients. To sign
up
for a free 30-minute sample session, go to:
http://www.creativesuccess.com
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Success Strategy for Creative Souls #27: Empowering Your Work
Space
A few weeks ago, one of my favorite clients brought me a bamboo
plant to celebrate my new home office. I leafed through a few
of
my seven Feng Shui books and learned that my bambo plant should
go in the eastern window and serves as a grounding influence.
While in the shower the next week, I remembered that several
trusted friends had suggested for years that I connect with
Sheryll Hirschberger, a Feng Shui expert on Nantucket, and co-
founder of the Institute for Contemporary Feng Shui. Following
my
intuition, I finally called her. Sheryll told me that bamboo
represents the Wood Element and is a lucky plant which enhances
vision, planning, and growth. A perfect metaphor for my new
writing and business plans!
As Feng Shui theory can be overwhelming and confusing for most
of
us, I asked Sheryll to give us some tips on how to leverage the
power of space to enhance well-being and creativity. Sheryll's
theories are based in Taoism and a belief in the oneness of all
things. Feng Shui is about connecting with the natural
world—hence the Five Elements—and enhancing thought
and
intention. In general, Sheryll says that there are very few set
rules, but she offered a few suggestions as guides for creative
offices and studio's:
1) Creative pople are often high in Fire and Water energy and
each person's needs are individual. This may correlate with
some of the western astrolgy signs or not. People who are high
in Fire Energy, can easily burn out, be undisciplined, and
resist rules. The Metal Elements of mirrors, white, and order
can help with completion. For Water folks, they like to flow
with their creativity in solitary ways and will benefit from
some structure and sound, like a fountain or a clock ticking.
2) If possible, keep a boundary between your work space and home
space, even if it's just the use of a screen or an armoire to
isolate a corner of a room. For creative people, there is
great power in declaring both physical and psychic space for
your creative efforts, and ideally, your creative space should
be away from your bedroom, which is meant for rest. If you
need to take over your guest room and use it 90% of the time
as your art studio, do it. You can adjust when guests come,
but give yourself priority.
3) Clear your workspace of images that are unappealing,
incomplete or uninspiring projects, and anything that does not
reflect your current self. You want to be nurtured by
lighting, the furniture, the colors, and special objects.
4) Keep one or two objects in your space that represent your
talents and prosperity, like a framed picture of your first
royality check, or a letter from a fan of your work, or your
best painting on the wall.
5) Have your desk or work table facing the door to welcome
positive energy into the room.
To learn more about Feng Shui so that you can select the
principles that resonate personally for you, Sheryll has authored
"The Feng Shui Deck," a collaboration with Olivia Miller,
best-
selling author of "The Yoga Deck." She is also available
for Five
Element Readings over the phone. Her website is
http://www.contemporaryfengshui.com
Challenge:
This month, redesign your creative work space so
that that it "sings" to you and truly supports your
creative
energy. Do let us know what you discover and we'll print your
ideas and your website in our next issue!
gail@creativesuccess.com
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Creative Acts and Resources
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Books for the Mind, Art for the Soul
I am thrilled that my book “The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative
Women” is now included in the fabulous catalog called Dwell
in
Possibility. Owner, Cathleen West, has compiled unusual books,
art objects, jewelry, flashcards, toys, and gifts with meaning
and aesthetic elegance in this wonderful collection of offerings.
http://www.dwellinpossibility.com
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Creativity Cards
My colleague, Eric Maisel, has just released a deck of 30 cards
to wake up your inner artist, with my publisher, Red Wheel
Weiser. Named the “Everyday Creative”, this deck will
help you
undertake new projects, live more authentically, and manifest
your true artistic nature.
http://www.redwheelweiser.com
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Spiritual Cinema
Are you disheartened by many of the commercial film choices out
there? There is a marvelous new alternative: Spiritual Cinema
Circle. Each month you will receive a DVD with 3-5 high quality
spiritual film selections to keep and to share with others. Spiritual
Cinema examines who we are and why we are here, and illuminates
the human condition through stories and images that inspire us
to reach our best human potential. Start the new year with inspiration
and intellectual nourishment. My friends and I are having a grand
time discussing these films and pondering their many lessons.
For more information and to sign up, click on:
http://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com/?af=17381
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Creatively yours,
Gail McMeekin
Career, Creativity, and Life Choices Coaching, Consulting, and
Writing Author of "The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women"
and
"The Power of Positive Choices Package" and other inspiring
products and courses
