When I am coaching one of creative mamas I work with we look at areas that might be considered a distraction or self-imposed obstacle to what they are truly wanting to create in life.** If you were to ask me, I would probably say that my favorite thing about working with women in this way is those moments where she sees something that is no longer serving her or simply isn't working and taking it right off the plate.
Yes, it can be that easy.
My own a-ha moment came last week after I was scrambling to put together my Weekly Sage post. Against the advice of my own coach I don't currently schedule posts in advance nor do I have any type of editorial calendar - if I did I imagine this wouldn't have been an issue. Perhaps it's time for me to explore this as an option.
I try not to impose too many deadlines on myself, if there is one thing that being a mamapreneur has taught me is to stay as flexible as possible - it's the only way to stay connected to peace. Being a working mama is a delicate dance, one where the steps don't often match the music. When I become stressed over something work-related, my family feels it and it's not good for any of us. This is exactly what happened last week while playing around on the internet looking for useful and inspirational things to share.
I try not to be on the internet much when I am with my girls, simply because I can't focus and they don't like it. It's not always easy, especially when I have necklaces that need to go out and when I hear myself saying things like "Just one more minute, let me finish typing this..." it feels really icky. They provide me with consistent lessons on what it means to simplify.
It's also why I finally claimed work hours and rented a studio space - for me (and I imagine most mamapreneurs) working from home is a myth. Yet like so many mamapreneurs my work feeds me creatively, spiritually and yes, literally- creating soulful work that is authentically me is what allows me to be the kind of parent I want to be for my girls. It's important to me that I model for them what manifesting a dream looks like.
I have also learned, the hard way, that when I put computer-related work above their needs nobody wins, yet this is exactly what happened last Sunday. I had made getting this post completed more important then their needs and some pretty big feelings ensued.
In hindsight of course it seems silly but I wonder if I am the only one who has done this. I wasn't beating myself up about it but I did do some self-coaching afterwards and ask myself a few probing questions around why I felt The Weekly Sage was that important in the bigger picture. Of course what I came up with is that it simply isn't, and at it's core it's truly a way for me to justify my own distractions and procrastinate.
For the past three weeks all I have posted are Weekly Sage posts. Where did my writing go? It takes more time than I realized to surf the internet looking for all the brilliant things others are doing/creating/being/experiencing that I truly am excited about and want to share - it's also time that isn't being used to manifest my larger vision of doing/creating/being/experiencing.
What I realized is that for now The Weekly Sage is a beautiful distraction. I thought it would be a fun something to feature, and it is, but it's also not a cosmic canyon shooting me towards my larger vision - it's the exact opposite in fact and sort of time-suck if I'm being honest. I struggle a bit because I do love sharing and getting feedback from someone who has gained something from a link I have posted, I get excited about it.
My apologies to anyone who was enjoying them on a weekly basis and I'm not saying it's going away entirely (perhaps in the future it can be the Monthly Sage), but the self-imposed deadline and distraction factor certainly is. The areas of our lives that grow are the areas that we give our attention to.
I have a few big and beautiful heart offerings I am passionately creating behind the scenes that I want to nurture and grow and share with as many as I can and that is where I want to place my energy. It's where I currently breathe, eat, dream and live and not having time cultivating this work has proven to ruffle my feathers.
Clover & Sage seeds are planted to bear the fruits of ease, abundance and wisdom: rooted in gratitude. Something I need to remember as I continue to pull weeds along the way.
There is a huge amount of transition spiraling around both my work and home life currently and putting on my crown of courage each day is required. Giant leaps of faith that are asking me to show up in large ways, where distraction comes all too easily and as a way to provide comfort and resistance to change. I stand in gratitude for all that are witnessing me in these moments of growth and trust and simply holding that space.
Releasing our distractions is part of where I shine a light on the gorgeous souls I work with, and the lessons always come back to me, bigger.
I truly love this about the work I am creating. This is how I grow.
**I know my coaching work is something I haven't even mentioned here but I am excited to share that I will be expanding my practice very soon.
love to learn more about your coaching.
I think that is the issue with the internet generally, sometimes it can be a wonderful source of inspiration and support, other times it just becomes a time suck and leaves you with a feeling of "not enough" and you know the time spent surfing is at the expense of something else, something more "real" be it creativity or connection with family or friends (not that online connection can't be meaningful but, sometimes face to face is just more)
The weekly sage posts are fab, but there is no point if they are forced - I think as an occasional random showing they almost have more value - if you stumble across something you really must share because it is so good, then it's worth doing, otherwise, it's looking for something which may not be of such quality - if you see what I mean.
Posted by: julie | 10/24/2012 at 11:54 AM