Today's Reminder

People come into our lives and leave their footprints within our souls. Which sets of footprints do you want to erase with the tides of your mind? You have the ability to watch the waves wash away the hurtful – painful memories for they serve no good. Treasure the imprints that uplift and empower you. Choose to hold onto those memories that fill you with love and joy. Let the rest go…

Written by Cindy Kochis 11-20-09

Goal-tending

The topic for Key Elements open forum on Monday, November 23rd, is “Goal-tending.” We establish goals all the time with the intent to succeed. What are some of the ways you stay on track? Join us Monday night at Higher Self from 5:30 to 7pm and be part of discussion. Your input is valuable…

“Money – What Are You Attracting?”

On Monday, November 16th, the Key Elements weekly forum topic is “Money – What Are You Attracting?” This is sure to bring awareness to beliefs and sayings we nonchalantly say without considering the consequences (I don’t have the money, I can’t afford to buy ___ and etc). It is through awareness that change can and does happen. Please join us and share in the open forum discussion format. We would love to hear what you have to say.

A thought to ponder: “Careful what you wish for” statement is a close second to the impact of, “Be AWARE of your beliefs.”

Key Elements weekly forum is facilitated by Cindy Kochis and held each Monday evening at Higher Self Bookstore from 5:30 to 7 p.m. To stay up-to-date, visit onegigglingwriter.blogspot.com or go to www.heartsourcehealing.com.

Don’t Despair – Celebrate

While I was journaling this morning, this newsflash type of a Ah-ha moment spilled out onto the page in the shape of lines and curves, loops and swishes, and the occasional dot to end a thought. By the time I finished a page and a half of writing I was hearing that personal mantra repeating relentlessly, “careful what you wish for.” It was not meant to cause harm or to assume that I’ve done something wrong, it was the three year old girl inside my mind dancing joyously at the realization that another Ah-ha happened.

Delay tactics are everywhere. Heck, most of the time we don’t have to look outside ourselves to find/create them. For me, I turned mine into what I was attracting. You know, Laws of Attraction. Well, it bit me in the butt… and that’s okay. I’m celebrating the realization.

"What are the lines you nonchalantly say without thinking of the consequences? Referring to the Law of Attraction, what are you attracting to your life?" -Cindy Kochis

I have a mission - a goal. Write a best-selling novel. I used probably every imaginable excuse as to why progress, well, didn’t happen. Here’s part of what I wrote this morning. To remove distractions and time used for other things, my Angels and Guides fulfilled my “attract” request. “I’d write more often if I had the time.” – I have been unemployed for months. “I’d write if I had fewer distractions.” – I don’t have gas money to do the things I used to fill my time with nor do I have the same friendships/relationships that occupied my time. “I’d write more if I wasn’t working all the time.” – Goes back to the seeking job entry I mentioned a few lines above. “I’d write more if I had more time.” – Well, having my day open from 9am to 5pm, you’d think I would have taken advantage of this blessing earlier this year. But, no! I was terrified about the lack of money, in a panic to get a job, feeling too isolated to be creative, begging for the opportunity to talk to someone…

Earlier this month, I let go of my fear regarding money and am trusting that it will be there when I need it. And, the key is, I believe it. I have set my intent to work on my novel everyday (even for 5 minutes). Things are opening for me because I am allowing the flow of creativity to emerge freely.

Adding Personal Touch to Creativity

Creativity is not only about doing crafts and spending time working on hobbies, it’s a way of expressing yourself. At yesterday's “Key Elements” weekly forum, we talked about the things that inspire (and block) our creativity. Spending time in nature appeared to be very important to us.

Here’s a few examples we discussed:
Watch the sun rise and the sun set in the distant horizon.
Observing a squirrel jump from tree limb to limb trusting she won’t fall.
Walk along the beach or in the woods.


Here’s a list of the other things that inspire us:
Witnessing people’s passion for their craft.
Reading.
Writing or journaling.
Brainstorming with a friend or co-worker.
Watch children play.
Meditate.

Although the list of creative blocks can be long (use of delay tactics), why list them? In doing so, I might help you find another reason or excuse to avoid doing what you set out to complete. By recognizing the blocks for what they represent – FEAR – will help open the doors to freely create.

Exercise #1: List 10 things you would love to learn how to do.

Exercise #2: List what you’d do if you weren’t afraid of anything.

Exercise #3: List all your delay tactics (things you do instead of the task and excuses for not getting it done)

Exercise #4: What are you going to do about Exercise #1, #2 and #3?

Suggested Reading:
“The Artist’s Way” series by Julia Cameron
“Stephen King on Writing”, by Stephen King
“Living Juicy”, by Sark

A Fly’s Morning Lecture.

Messages come to us sometimes in the oddest ways. Even though I’m thankful for the signs/messages, it’s November 10th and I have fly buzzing around me and occasionally landing on my shoulder. Uh, I thought, what are you trying to tell me. Then it dawned on me – ‘Fly on the Wall’. When it comes to finishing my novel, and cannot figure out what letters to peck at on the keyboard, I need to sit back and observe as if I were a ‘Fly on the Wall’. Allow the imagination the freedom to explore the situation from a distance: What’s going on in the room? Who’s in the room? Why are they in the room?

“Standing in the point of view of the character, what would I see?”

Blocks are a great excuse to start working on delay tactics. I know plenty of ways to distract my mind and stop the progression of the storyline. Heck, I’ve been doing it for years (literally). Get stuck on a paragraph, go clean the toilets. Then more inner dialog trickles in: Oh, and look there in the laundry basket, two load of laundry that must get done at this moment. Wait, after I get the dirty clothes in the machine and set the dials, who can walk back past the sink full of dishes just needing to be scrubbed with warm water and lots of bubbles? Of course, leave the warm water in the sink because I might dirty another dish. Ooooo, ice cream sounds good. I’ll see what’s on television while I enjoy this delicious frozen delight of vanilla with caramel and chocolate swirls. Yikes! Now it’s time for bed. “Well,” I’d tell myself out loud, “I’ll write more tomorrow.”


And a special note - in case you were wondering - the fly is no longer in my office with me as I type this last sentence. I believe I understood his morning lecture.

Metaphysical Two-by-Four

It’s a common question, “Dear God. Please show me a sign as to what I should focus my time on. Thank you.”

For years I’ve been working on a novel. I’ll write consistently for a while, and then stop for a longer while. Something stirs up the motivation and I write again. Several months ago, as I was talking with a close friend of mine that’s a psychic, she informed me of the importance of finishing my novel. Sherry Lord would add statements about how it will be help open people’s minds to the metaphysical.

This past Thursday was Linda P’s last radio show broadcast on a Chicago station. She’d asked if I’d call in to chat and get a reading done by her special guest Sherry Lord. It was toward the end of her show when I called in and asked Sherry, “Regarding employment, where is the location should I be looking in and what profession?” Divine intervention was truly assisting both of us as I had to repeat the question three or four times. Once she was able to hear what I asked, she immediately stated that my Guides want me to complete my book. If I choose, it will be completed in three months. Then she quickly interjected I’d be working within 20 minutes from my home and it would have to do with internet or something online (I’m excited to hear this). Afterwards, she went right back into talking about writing and how to finish the novel.

Fast forward an hour. On Facebook, a friend of mine that also has Divine connections offered free Angel readings to the first three responses to her questions. I was number one. Following is the message she sent to me: Your Angel message is "Follow the repetitive messages you have been getting around a creative idea (this feels like a book) and as you listen to this, prosperity will soon follow.

“So what are your thoughts, have I been hit with the metaphysical two-by-four?”

Friday I spend the evening finishing Chapter 41 (1,117 words) and completed Chapter 42 (2,268 words).

Word count as of November 7, 2009 9pm: 64,447 words
62,179 + 2,268 = 64,447

Join us for "Creativity"

November 9th ~ “Creativity”
We will discuss the causes of creative blocks and explore various methods for inspiration.

There is much, much more to creativity than crafts and hobbies. It is how we express ourselves and the personal touch we add to everything we do whether for ourselves or others. Where do you find inspiration? What causes your blocks, and how do you release them? This is sure to be an interesting topic with many solutions and creative imagination. Join us Monday, November 9th, from 5:30 to 7 pm.

On Monday, November 2nd, we met and discussed the topic “Power of Words”. The focus was on how we use words to express ourselves and what are we saying with the emotions attached to those words? I would like to thanks those whom attended. It was interesting to see where the topic led our conversations and the information we shared. Worksheets available here (bottom of web page).

Key Elements is a weekly forum held each Monday night at Higher Self Bookstore in downtown Traverse City from 5:30 to 7 pm. Cost is $10.