Creative Life Midwife

Inspiring Artistic Rebirth

From Nightmare to a Small and Mighty Action that Made a Big Difference

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As the day wore on yesterday, I got more fussy and cranky. I was planning to go to a poetry event in Newton and instead of not going because I was fussy and cranky, I showed up anyway. I was not my sometimes ebullient self AND I showed up. WIN!

I have been having challenges staying asleep, so I did the entirely wrong thing by procrastinating even going upstairs until way after my preferred time. I went to sleep late and my sleep was interrupted because I thought a war had broken out in Sussex Borough and tanks were rolling down Unionville Avenue shooting recklessly at the homes and churches and were headed to the (tiny) downtown. WHERE WAS MY PROTECTION! Then I remembered: this is what the thunder and lightning of my childhood felt like. 

No wonder I ran away crying from “lightning bugs” aka fireflies.

When I woke up later than I like, I decided I needed something different. I had planned to go for my morning walk – which I did very briefly and then…. I decided to experiment with my morning roll over and write and instead, make it roll over and walk, write outside after the walk. This was nothing short of miraculous. Sitting in the rocking chair with my journal and writing for only about five minutes made me feel completely refreshed – and this was even before coffee!

I wrote longer than I might have made it AND it warms my spirit  to share these moments in time with you.

I went from being grouchy to having a nightmare and being grouchy to taking a simple action that shifted everything.

Is there an action you might take, no matter how small, that has the power to make a big difference in your attitude right now?

A five minute walk might become your miracle (or a five minute brain dump session or a quick phone call to a dear friend or a 15 minute cup of tea gazing out the window.)

Let me know in the comments (or send me a direct message) to let me know what tiny and meaningful action you are willing to take in the next 24 hours to may make a big difference in your life now.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

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Hello, this One and Only Today! Hello!

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The words floated into my head, something like a soft breeze or a far off trumpet. If I was paying attention, I would notice. If I was rushing to my next thing or ticking off my to-do list, it would be imperceivable.

“I trust all my experiences add up to good.”

I stopped walking to be sure I heard what I thought I heard. It wasn’t an exterior voice or an interior voice yet it was a voice. It was my voice it seemed – and I recognize this presence-voice as my highest self who I call Julianne.

“I trust all my experiences add up to good?”

Within seconds the presence-voice caused a smile to cross my seriously intent “listening” face and my feet moved again, enjoying the rhythm and cadence of the thought.

“Yes, I trust all my experiences add up to good!”

Shift thankfully happens –

This is quite different than my cranky, frustrated voice on Tuesday that was consistently grumbling about the experiences in the past year, the past decade, the past, period. Even some of the now I was feeling grouchy about.

Sometimes I remember a children’s book I enjoyed reading to my daughter that featured a character called “A good for nothing swamp haunt.”

The Parking Lot Trees Agree

I looked up at the trees surrounding the parking lot next to the manse where I live. The leaves are slowly changing color a little bit at a time and for the first morning since last week, sunlight was hitting them in the early morning.

“I trust all my experiences add up to good,” my mind intoned. I figured these trees knew this. The ones that were still mostly green didn’t seem to be rushing or trying to be more quickly yellow than their neighboring tree. They were all standing together, facing East, maybe pleased to be getting some attention from the sunlight and me.

“I trust all my experiences add up to good.”

This is our song: speak, sing, dance & live

This could be my anthem, now that I think about it – with a slight twist. “I trust all our experiences add up to good.” I believe in the greatest good for all, the power of community, the joy of collaboration.

“I trust all our experiences add up to good.”

Now our job, our honor, our blessing is to continue creating experiences in the moment, and seeing how we might embody our own unique purpose as we begin and continue each day.

Betty Smith’s Tree Grows in Brooklyn Adds:

Betty Smith wrote “Look at everything as though you were either seeing it for the first time or the last time. Thus is your time on earth filled with glory.”

When we trust our experiences today and everyday add up to good – add up to significance – add up to being a gift for ourselves and others, everything changes. See this concept now, hear it fully, and consider how you will make it your own.

Today this is my affirmation. I invite you to enjoy me in bringing the good – and the trust – into your life in a tangible way.

Join the affirmation. Watch it grow.

“I trust all our experiences add up to good.” 

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she is working on finishing her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch IGTV exclusive videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group by clicking here.

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5 Simple Tips and Hacks to Improve Your Writing Now

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Woman on the floor, writing, papers thrown about showing she is not pleased with her writing. These hacks and writing tips will help her writing improve.

I have never met a writer who doesn’t want to improve. Finding a simple tip or hack or trick may make all the difference in your writing world. Try one of these out, and then another, and then another. Whether you write social media posts, novels or video scripts, you will get better one word at a time by trying these ideas.

  1. Use writing warm ups as an “on ramp” to your writing of the day. By writing about topics that are slightly less important where you won’t be attached to the outcome, you will come to your main writing ready to write well. Look at this example, with tips on how to most effectively use writing warm ups as well as an example of one and a prompt
  1. Read books and articles in your genre rather than reading an overflow of writing how-to’s. I know this may seem weird, since I am writing a “how-to” but being acquainted with what is being well received will cause your writing to improve.
  1. Listen to audiobooks while also reading the books in either ebook, paperback or hardback form. When you listen closely to audiobooks, you will be able to hear how the author is writing – this extra level is exceptionally helpful with dialogue. 
  1. Read your “in process” writing aloud before you do your writing warm ups. Do minimal edits before you move into starting your next chapter or section within your project.
  1. Listen to subliminal affirmations while you are first-drafting or free-writing. Be sure to keep the volume low so you are not distracted.

Here is one for you to try:

Do you have a favorite writing tip?

Which one of these will you try first? Leave us your ideas and thoughts in the comments now.

Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world.  She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and  mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people’s creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in soon!

To contact Julie to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session or to request she speak at your next event, call or text her at 661.444.2735

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Saturday, In the Park: Better than the 4th of July

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For writers there is no.... and a writer is using a purple pen on her open notebook to capture thoughts as she waits for a friend to call and go on a walk with her.

This week my friend Kelly and I started walking together even though we live hundreds of miles apart. She calls me and off we go, walking. This morning I felt even more ambitious than usual. I was in a new space for my haiku sunrise photo, so I started the day with an early walking start. The moonblossoms that called out to be photographed in the sunrise were in the distance.

When you are a writer, writing prompts appear out of your free flow writing.

I thought briefly I might call Kelly and say “Never mind, I walked today!” Then I thought, “I’ll go to that other park down the street and write while I am waiting for Kelly’s call.”

Mornings are literally the only cool-ish time in Bakersfield in the Summer. I enjoyed the mid-seventies sunshine and scribbled in my notebook. I was having so much fun in this “waiting” time so I wrote, “When you are a writer there is no….” and I thought “what a great writing prompt!” but my purple pen did not want to stop so I wrote “there is no waiting time. There is observing, listening, sniffing, reflection and awareness. There are toe dips into patience and scratching against buried treasure of thoughts. There is the occasional deep sinking dive bomb of awareness, there are tiny yellow flowers others don’t see. There are animals who get used to you and your stillness so they get closer and funnier so much so you almost hope whatever it is you are waiting for won’t show up after all.

When you are a writer, there is no waiting time: instead quiet moment in between are for discovery.

The phone rang and it was Kelly. Time for my second walk of the day. I included stairs and hills and wider smiles along with the huffing and puffing.

Another rich, rewarding start to my day!

How has your day been so far?

Are you ready to write from the prompt, “For writers there is no….”

Julie JordanScott typing a love poem on the edge of a foothill of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Julie JordanScott typing a love poem on the edge of a foothill of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

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You Are Your Own Magic Wand

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One of my never used but often thought of ideas for either an article or essay or video or book is “You are your magic wand.” The idea has been floating through my mind for close to twenty years now. Waiting.

I have even used  a magic wand in my videos.  One of my favorite selfies is me with my magic wand (actually a magic wand pen) in my mouth with a frustrated expression of my face, even though I am wearing a tiara and have beautifully curled hair.

“I am my own magic wand.”

How can I feel frustrated when I am wearing a tiara and I have a magic wand pen ready to scribe for me?

Must be I gave more power to the frown than my blond curls or my sparkly tiara.


John Muir whispers in my ear, reminding me, (when you choose to not create, your gifts and talents are ) “Hidden in the glorious wildness like unmined gold.”


I remember Emily Dickinson writing about the “slant of light” some call repressive and yet when I see images like this one and remember sitting with the sun as she says her daily hello and goodbye, I feel this ordinary, everyday magic holding me close and I know no matter how much I try to insist I am frustrated….when I stop and look and feel and allow the love in….


The slant of light combined with my words makes the distance between me and the glorious wildness each and every day.


My writing is bigger and grander and more silent and hugely gloriously sacred songs ringing from deep inside me in thunderous claps that somehow others aren’t able to see in the same way I see them.


To some people, this sort of writing won’t make any sense or may even sound like nonsense.


In the past, I might have worried I was doing something wrong because people didn’t understand me or some people even voiced their opinions that I was weird (in a bad way) and I didn’t belong in the more prestigious circles or groups or even neighborhoods or clubs.

Then I realized something significant.

The people who think that way are not my people.\

I let them go back into their cubby holes and their scowling angry temples lined with gold and carefully coiffed front lawns masking the land mines of thought filled with oppressive ugliness they choose to label reality.

I settle back into the nurturing space of awareness and open to the page where John Muir spoke so eloquently to me when he said:

Writing Prompt for today: What gifts and talents am I hiding?

When I express my gifts and talents I feel….

What keeps me from expressing my gifts and talents may be….

Set your timer for five minutes at at time and write at least once to each of these prompts. They will help you gain momentum with your magic wand.

Remember, You are Your Own Magic Wand.

Julie Jordan Scott (the one who wrote this blog post) says: This is what I crave for you: soulful creativity, aliveness in your passionate productivity, and a deeper sense of knowing how you belong in the world so that together we will be able to create a context for the rest of your life via your next book or your next workshop or simply your next day, week, month or year.

The people who named me “Creative Life Midwife” found words and paint and laughter and flexed their courage muscles on the way to a deeper satisfaction in their daily lives via new blogs, books, webinars and friendships – just to name a few. Contact me now for your complimentary Transformational coaching conversation.  Click here to complete the request form now.  

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Tired of Riding the Roller Coaster of Other People’s Urgencies?

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I have had a bit of a roller coaster week, well – to be honest, a tidal wave week, and yesterday –  I was what I would have called “slammed” if I worked in a restaurant for most of the day.

I love being busy. I love the feeling I get from having a lot going on and enjoy metaphorical plate spinning more than slow and stead, tortoise like pace.

When I sat at my desk my intention was to do some of “my own work” yet as I settled in just to write for five minutes “for myself” I was immediately ready to sacrifice my measly five minutes to work on someone else’s urgent project. What is up with that?

I started typing these words:

I am important enough to come first. I am important enough to be the top priority. I am important. I have value.

I am more than slightly embarrassed that I still gain benefit from such affirmations. People give me plentiful praise and then my own version of Glinda the Good Witch whispers… “Yes, you get praise dear heart and do you fully receive it?”

I am important enough to come first. I am important enough to be the top priority. I am important. I have value. I am important enough to come first. I am important enough to be the top priority. I am important. I have value.

I am important enough to be praised. I deserve praise, I deserve to feel positive about the efforts I make because they are valuable.

I turn my favorite music on. Close my eyes. The words find me. My shoulders relax.

I take the five minutes for myself amidst the hours of all those other projects that aren’t going anywhere – they’re right here with me and will get their attention as soon as I am complete here.

May these words I write for myself be a mirror for you to look into as well. For you, like me, are important, valuable and deserving.

How do you relate to this story? What is your most effective self love and self care strategy?

https://creativelifemidwife.com/septpassionatewritingcircle/
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Intentional Collaboration: Past, Present & Future You

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Today in my review of notebooks, I found this statement; “Affirm and act in one fluid motion.”

It rang out for attention when the 2014 version of me sang out with utter confidence, “Affirm and act in one fluid motion.”

There was a paragraph after that which tried too hard and wasn’t true-in-that-moment – which is one of the challenges with successful affirmations.

I replaced those words with these and plan to revisit this writing for the next seven days as I continue to collaborate with “me of the past” with “me of the now” to create an even more empowered “Julie of the Future and Infinitely Ever After.”

In the past, I wasted time concerning myself with trivialities. In the past I made the mistake of consenting to believe it was ok to feel inferior or in less than the grand and glorious creation I was and now, I am aware. Now, I am clear instead that I am gutsy and glorious. 

I am entertaining and engaging. People who matter to me like me.

Today and all of the tomorrows to come I will remember this and am remembering this:

Any people who matter, truly like me for who I am, with my frailties and past moments of missing the mark – they choose then to love this authentic and gutsy and glorious me.

Today I am affirm this and am this. So I am simply being it.

Coming soon:

Downloadable Affirmation Work-Play-Create-Be Coloring Page

https://creativelifemidwife.com/septpassionatewritingcircle/
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False Fear of Abandonment & Truth: Love is Everywhere + Video & Writing Prompt

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You know those beliefs that are stuck so deep you don’t speak them ever for fear of… well, for me I suppose it is fear of amplifying that belief no matter how false I pray it is.

“If I don’t say it aloud then it can’t be true, right?”

Wrong. The reality is, if I don’t say it aloud it gains more and more power over me.

This morning I took on one of my primary, most primal fears that perhaps you share with me. After all, the majority of us have this fear hardwired into us. I replaced that belief with the simple affirmation. Love is everywhere. Love is everywhere. Love is everywhere.

Using the 5 minutes of magic that is #5for5BrainDump…. well, read further to see what came next.

The premise and not so happy prompt:

People will reject me: I don’t want to/I can’t survive being abandoned

I am so uncomfortable approaching this topic, I am going to use the phrase above repeatedly in my writing so if I veer off course with it (avoidance) I will plug it back in.

Here’s the thing: it isn’t true but for the majority of my life I have been acting as if is true and I have had enough of it. I know that you and I both have a purpose and a mission to fulfill and mine is anything BUT being afraid of being abandoned because I have learned… I won’t be… because over the years people I thought I could trust HAVE abandoned me yet I was never alone.

My mind is flashing back to a Davy and Goliath episode from long past, perhaps my favorite one because Davy was on a train and it was like the train was speaking to him, “God is everywhere, God is everywhere” and if the God word bothers you, plug in whatever you believe in instead.. perhaps “Love is everywhere, love is everywhere, love is everywhere” and in fact, beloveds, I might scoop up that mantra and carry it with me from now on.

Because I know above all, People will not reject me. I thrive when I recognize I am living according to the purpose I was born to fulfill. How invigorating this is for me and for you, too, because I believe we all have a purpose, a mission, a reason….

Perhaps part of mine is to tell you that talking about whatever it is you think is too scary to speak will take you along a path of extraordinary freedom.

Who thought when I started with “People will reject me: I don’t want to/I can’t survive being abandoned” that I would end with freedom?

My norm is to scoot off course when I write something that scares me but today was different. Maybe it is because I was holding my purpose in my heart and I was holding YOU in my words as they flowed from me.

The timer went off when I put the question mark on freedom. Affirmative, right? Yes. Because Love is Everywhere. I may open my heart and trust divine timing.

That feels so good. That feels so good….

Now, onto a prompt and a “What’s Next Mission”for you to consider, and write, and contemplate, and art journal or have a transformational conversation:

Tell about a time when you didn’t speak (or write, or journal or even think) about a particular sore subject. Remember what I’ve said here – and take a step toward giving freedom to that untalkaboutable so that you may shine in your unique, distinctive purpose.

Start with a sentence, just a sentence, and see if you are able to write for five minutes.

I’m available if you need me. Call or text me at 661.444.2735. If I don’t answer, leave a message and I will call you back. 

The world is waiting for your words. Let’s get them on the page, together.

Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world.  She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed-media artist  whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people’s creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in soon!

To contact Julie to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session, call or text her at 661.444.2735.

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How to Use Your Subconscious Mind to Fall (Back) in Love with Time

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Welcome! This is where the miracle creating #5for5BrainDump Process meets the inner working of discovering one’s unconscious beliefs otherwise known as “Rewriting One’s Inner Narrative: 5 Minutes at a Time” Personal Growth and Transformation Made Simple… today I found it important to explore my relationship with time… something I used to love. Now? 

The time when I was the most productive was when I repeated this mantra to myself, “There is plenty of time to do all that I most need to do.”

When I simply said those words to myself throughout the day, everything miraculously got done or I just let go what remained unfinished.

I almost whined at myself just now, “Why don’t I do this anymore?” and then I remembered, the “Why” isn’t important, the “What shift will be most productive?” is more beneficial.

I was searching for quotes from women about time management and all I found were trite clichés like “Don’t sweat the small stuff” and “Take time for yourself.”

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I have heard these so many times and yet when we are deluged with a calendar that is so full we find ourselves stapling our finger at 3 am in order to finish a project on time the last thing on your mind is taking time for yourself. That is, other than collapsing into your bed once the next day is over.

If I go back to my writing from earlier in the week, I see a lot of rewriting unworthiness and quite a bit of self-malaise. By the way, I have written myself as an expert on the topic of self-love and self-care. What I am addressing now is deeper than the surface stuff – this is why I am working on this re-writing because years of surface stuff doesn’t begin to scratch the sludge coating over what is most significant.

Odd. My timer didn’t chime, so I am going to reset it for one minute to finish up.

I feel as if there must be something important wanting to be written.

Time is measureable, it is finite.

It is ironically gloriously expansive when we return to the beginnings here. I am most productive when I repeat “There is plenty of time,” throughout the day.

My subconscious nods in agreement and delivers plenty.

I am realizing again (a theme as I started writing these thirty days) how much I may protect my continued and continuing progress when I stop spending time with people and projects that don’t align with these sorts of thought process.

Sometimes self-love includes who we are allowing in – as they reflect our beliefs as well.

Love, not lament, is what will help us to remember to appreciate and facilitate productivity in this time we are in – five minutes, five days, five weeks or years… at a time.

(There, that’s the reason for the extra minute!)

And now, for you – 

Writing Prompt – set your timer for five minutes and write…..

My relationship with time is like….

I was most organized with time when….

Share a cliche piece of writing advice you have received and refresh that cliche with what you have learned to be true – 

Write a time story, as if time was a person or entity…

 

Check back as I may add layers to this because… I will confess… I like these prompts I just wrote for you!

Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via #5for5BrainDump, livestream broadcasts, creativity playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world.  She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people’s creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in soon!Facebooktwitterpinterest

Today, I am choosing peace. What will you choose?

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Today I choose to be at peace.

I have had too much anxiety flowing through my blood lately. I cannot do that anymore. Today I choose to be at peace.

I am no longer willing to allow self-destructive thought patterns to get in the way of my serenity.

Today I choose to be at peace.

I remember visiting Canyon de Chelly with my children: a favorite place for spiritual reawakening and profound joy, a place I have not visited nearly enough.

Today, I choose to be at peace.

When I revisited photos from our visit, I don’t look very peaceful and I wonder what was happening in my heart at the time. Perhaps my love of travel and my children was overshadowing the fear that is sometimes a companion when I am traveling as the lone adult, being the responsible one, being the guide the Sherpa, the tour guide, the doctor, the negotiator the solid rock – that is a lot, agreeably so when it is looked at and examined.

And the trip, though rocky in moments, was a success – filled with primarily positive memories.
Today, I choose to be at peace.

I hear a train whistle in the distance, I feel my heart warm in my chest. Today, I choose to be at peace.

What do you choose to be today? Practice engaging with your choice by writing for 5 minutes, first, repeating your choice as I did here, and allowing your pen or pencil or fingers on the keyboard to create word flow for that tiny slice of time.

Miracles live there – in your 5 minutes of writing flow, the #5for5BrainDump.

Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via #5for5BrainDump, livestream broadcasts, creativity playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world.  She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people’s creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in soon!

To contact Julie to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session or to request she speak at your next event, call or text her at 661.444.2735.Facebooktwitterpinterest