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Creativity, focus, Personal Development, Personal growth

First Thing

Adele Satori

coffee-shadowI was chatting with a friend earlier today who was lamenting the fact that they wanted some consistency and organization in their life, but didn’t seem to be able to find their way there.  Mostly because of their erratic schedule.

And I suggested the concept of First Thing.  Before starting the day.. before grabbing tech.  Do a First Thing activity.  Meditate.  Write. Doodle. Do yoga.  Go for a walk.  Pick a thing and do it before starting the day.  Set a timer if you have to.  Set your alarm to get up a little earlier if you have a busy day, but choose something to do first thing before starting your day.

There’s something magical, I think about using your brain in that place between sleep and wakefulness.  I might be groggy, but often ideas come more readily when I write or do something creative first thing.  And there’s something lovely about going for a morning walk.. although for me that happens after coffee!

I want to reactivate my yoga practice.  I was doing so well until about a year ago I pushed too far and injured myself, and never got back into it.  I’ve been taking time to mediate first thing all this past week.  Either more formally, or at the very least, taking time before I get out of bed to check in with myself.

What will you choose to be your First Thing?

Creativity, Personal growth

The Importance of a Beginner’s Mind

Adele Satori

IMG_5610Today I decided to learn a new to me craft.

The process of it is awkward to me, and it’s reflected in how it looks. I found myself tensing up, trying to do it the way it’s “supposed” to be done. So I took a moment, set things down, and checked in with my body and mind. And remembered one of my basic tenets of life: explore the what ifs, rather than have them be blocks and fear-making.

There’s an importance and glory to approaching things with a beginner’s mind. You don’t know how to do the thing yet, your your motor skills are not automatic. Your mind explores the different possibilities.

Unless you come to the table with a lot of rules. Rules can block the creative flow. The inner critic might wake up and parade all the failures you’ve ever experienced. Your body tenses up, and then you fall, or make mistakes, or get so frustrated you give up on trying to learn the thing completely.

So yes, what I’ve made today is clunky and awkward, but I also learned alot about the process of the thing. And I learned probably as much about myself as the craft I decided to pursue.

I’m going to be offering creative exploration workshops soon. I hope you will join me with a playful beginner’s mind.

Creativity, Personal growth

Ready, Set Go!

Adele Satori

You can listen to a podcast version of this post here: https://anchor.fm/adele-satori/episodes/Ready–Set–Go-e1bbe2u

I’ve been making things since I can remember… and for nearly as long, seen a connection between making and healing.. or at least of getting better acquainted with one’s Self.

Nearly a year ago, I attended an expressive arts therapy conference, and I came out of it with seeds of a course of self discovery using the creative process.  So many ideas!  So many directions to go!  I bounced around until I exhausted myself into inaction.

And life happened, as it always does.

Still.. .. the call has been whispering for attention.  Until this past week when it began tugging at my sleeve.

And I thought and bounced some more….

This afternoon, I spontaneously got up and started making… grabbing the first materials that came to mind, and the pieces began coming together.. much like the object I am making.

I need to fine tune the process a bit this week between bouts of the survival gig, but there will be a course for you all to take very soon!