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I’ve been a little reckless…

re-wild

 (Artwork: Jessica Le Clerc)

Somedays we just need to throw caution into the wind and run crazily after our dreams.

Say yes.

Figure out how later.

Have a go.

A few weeks ago I sat in a coffee shop with this amazing soul as we embarked upon a creative journey together. A retreat, a reflection, an opportunity to collaborate. We had met once at a SPARC gathering, clicked and a new friendship formed.

Back to the coffee shop, in the midst of our dreaming and imagining together she described a weekend, a gathering of creative creatures, who would encourage and inspire one another to do greater exploits. As she described the event she had dreamed of, details right down to the exact location, people who would speak, a little smile crept on my face, as it was the exact same dream I had carried quietly in my heart for a few years.

I said without even considering the consequences, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s run a creative retreat, for entrepreneurial women. Let’s make it happen together.’

It was a reckless moment, where we both looked at each other, took a deep breath and said yes.

Speakers were booked.

Hotels, functions rooms were locked in.

We re-wilded ourselves. Stepped out and did something scary.

How often do we just play safe?

How often do we do what we have always done and somehow expect different results?

How often do we hold back out of fear of what might go wrong?

The opening quote in my latest book is this…

‘Make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty.’

Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

This year I am so determined to do things differently hoping to see different results.

I am re-wilding myself.

I am going to have a go at things I have dreamed of doing for a long time.

Adventures.

Opportunities.

I’m saying yes.

How about you?

#inspire15 the creative pursuits you are trying.

Speak tomorrow

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Ps- One of my friends Text me and said this ‘I just opened my diary to the dates of the #inspire15 retreat and that weeks quote says this ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams’ Eleanor Roosevelt.’

If you want more information about our upcoming event email Cate@Catewilliams.com or click the link below…

#inspire15 retreat

 

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seeking rest

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I am struggling to come back to reality after two and a bit weeks away in a rural part of Indonesia, on the island of Bali. I keep finding myself speaking slower and breathing deeper, wanting to hold onto any part of the rest I discovered in its rice fields.

I had all these plans, of writing. Believing I would get so much done because I had extra help with my baby and toddler. However I wrote not one single word. Not even a little smile for my journal, nothing in my notes on my iPad, nothing.

I had nothing to give. My body, my mind and my soul needed rest.

A pit stop.

Sometimes you don’t have anything to give and you need to breathe deep to recover inspiration again.

I found rest.

Simple days of reading, days where I lay chatting with my Mum by the pool, nights watching surfers ride the most perfect waves with my husband.

Rest.

We found a different rhythm as a family and we spoke over long breakfasts and lazy swims in the pool about what was happening in our worlds and how we needed time to just reflect.

Time.

Moments.

Conversation interspersed with much silence.

I read three books, which for a novice Mum who is a word fiend, that is the greatest gift to start my year. Time to deeply consider what was important in my days and what had just become foreground because of noise or worry.

or both.

Are you seeking rest?

It is easy to say, well you have been on holidays and that is nice for you,but we all have the potential to find rest.

Whether it be finding a babysitter, swapping time with another friend, asking one of your inlaws to join you on holidays to help with the family, booking into a hotel for 24 hours alone. The potential is available to every one of us.

The question is whether you are prepared to make rest just as much as a priority as activity is in your days.

Whether we plan to make it happen. I left my phone on my desk in my office, I left my laptop firmly on the floor of my bedroom and I walked towards time awaiting my whole focus.

Saying no, to that which stresses and overwhelms us, even if it is just shutting down our inner dialogue and breathing deeply.

Finding rest can be an active stance. It could be committing to walking with a friend every week and stretching our bodies so that they can relax and find a new level of comfort.

It could be letting go of the past and allowing someone else to carry that burden for today.

Rest.

Seek.

Find.

That is why I am struggling to come back to reality, I liked the rhythm I found there. Wait, I can bring it into my everyday. Today.

A little slower,

More attention focused on the ones I love

and less worry about what people online think of me.

Rest.

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Through the month of March I am joining Em and writing with these prompts from Life Captured inc
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The power of your story

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I’m not sure whether it is because we go away in a few days on holidays or whether there is some subconscious message but I am obsessed with all things coconut right now.

Coconut water, coconut milk, coconut oil…

Fresh, summery, health conscious and clean.

You may be the complete opposite to me and coconut makes you reel or even indifferent.

That is one of the key strengths of finding and knowing our own story. Your story, your preferences, your lessons learned, your weaknesses, your seasons of success, your moments of brokenness, all combine to bring your story into your today.

My coconut obsession is just a small and silly example but it is my story. Underneath that foreground fruit crush, is a heart that has battled an eating disorder, someone who has gained weight, lost it and then somehow found it again. Underlying that story is a little girl ballerina who was told she had the skills but just needed to loose weight.

Layer upon layer. Moments of beauty, moments brokenness, moments of victory.

My story.

What is your story?

What is in your today that is layered by opportunities and disappointments in your yesterday?

One of my greatest privileges of the last few years were the trips I took Thailand with groups of creative teachers to teach kids in the slum of Bangkok. These moments were so vivid because I saw first hand the power of creativity to bring healing and amazing sense of self esteem to those who have very little.

Creativity and insight combined together in a powerful way to impact their stories. Young men who prostituted at night time hung out with hip hop dancers who wanted nothing but to see them thrive and have fun. Young girls who were exposed to drugs and gambling at very young ages pulled out canvas’ and painted. They got given cameras and took photos, they discovered the beauty in the midst of the ashes of their stories through creativity.

One if the greatest ways that my story has found perspective and life is through creativity. I have taken the time to process my years of disappointment and seasons of addiction through writing, painting, sewing, crochet, singing, dance…

My life has been healed day in and day out by the power of creativity and a romance with the Creator of all.

How about you?

Where is your story at today?

Do you need recovery and insight?

Keep expressing your story and find new ways to discover beauty amoungst ashes through the power of the arts. Find a new language to communicate what has you stuck.

Creatively discover your story and express it.

I am sure insight will follow.

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Creative Mentoring

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Over the last five weeks I have sat with fifteen different people and spent the day facilitating a creative retreat.

A very simple idea with profound opportunities.

What is a creative retreat?

A creative retreat is an opportunity to escape your everyday normal and to take time to reflect, rest and recover. We started the day with breakfast or coffee at a cafe on the beach, then the attendee’s went for a walk to explore. After that they took time in a park, the beach or at another cafe to explore some pre-set questions. I gave each person a journal and an opportunity to debrief the spaces in their lives that they feel most disappointed or challenged by. We then did a second session together to set small achievable goals and empowered towards change, accountability and great easy steps forward.

These days have been so inspiring for me personally and I am open for applications if you would like to do a guided retreat down in my beach side location any time this year. Email me: info@amandaviviers.com for more information.

Why take time to reflect?

I have found that creative people often struggle with finding perspective and insight because they are often the busiest people in the room. It is these kind of people I had in mind for these days of reflection, conversation and goal setting.

We all need a time and place to seek fresh inspiration and mentoring is a very different and unique way to find perspective. It is very different to coaching and counselling. Mentoring has a personal approach to help find and maintain accountability in areas of professional and personal goals that are agreed upon between two parties.

What is mentoring?

Mentoring is most often defined as a professional relationship in which an experienced person
(the mentor) assists another (the mentoree) in developing specific skills and knowledge that will
enhance the less-experienced person’s professional and personal growth.

I have been booking in session times with people for this coming year for ongoing accountability and fresh insight. For the month of March I am putting up a limited amount of one on one sessions to purchase.

If you have been looking for something like this book your session today here:

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Listening to peoples hopes, dreams and struggles for the year coming has been the most inspiring way to start my year.

Thank you everyone who participated for your vulnerability, honesty and hope for a greater tomorrow.

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Simple things

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I am still feeling a little raw from my post last Sunday and am wondering if you all still love me…

Smile.

Awkward.

Raw is good, but so hard to do.

This morning I sat down to write eight scripts for Radio and first I thought, I need to write how grateful I am for the simple things.

It was so easy for me to want to rush into the tasks of my morning, Baby asleep, coffee poured, water ready, set go.

I took time though to be thankful.

It wasn’t easy to do.

I just wanted to get my tasks done and tick that list off, to feel a little less pressured.

But I didn’t.

I waited.

I reflected.

I thanked.

For the simple things.

For my husband working hard at the moment so we can have a little holiday away overseas.

For my sleeping baby and the years I waited for her to come.

For my family who took in my nearly three year old for a sleep over and to give me some space.

For the promise of a holiday so very soon.

For fresh water.

For time.

For opportunities.

For the simple things.

Gratitude changes our days.

Today it changed mine.

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