• Home
  • About
  • Creative Life Coaching
    • Retreats: Collaborative, Creative, Exactly as You (and Your Organization) Needs
    • One-on-One Complimentary Transformational Conversations: Get to the Heart of Life Coaching Now
  • Blog
    • Writing Tips
    • Writing Challenges & Play
  • Contact

Creative Life Midwife

Inspiring Artistic Rebirth

Create Your Own Retreat: Whether You Have an Hour, a Weekend or 5 Minutes a Day!

July 5, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

What prevents you from experiencing the positive experiences of a sacred or creative retreat?

What I hear most often is “I don’t have the time” or “I can’t afford to go…”

Can you imagine another option?

Watch this short video for ideas to use right now.

Next week we’re creating a Virtual Retreat with #5for5BrainDump. This is your perfect chance to try out what you’ve seen on the video!

Facebooktwitterpinterest

Filed Under: Creative Adventures, Creative Process, End Writer's Block, Writing Challenges & Play Tagged With: DIY retreat, Retreat Video, VIrtual Retreat

Out in the Great Beyond Woo Woo: Having Fun with Factual because who pushes applecarts anymore, anyway?

June 12, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

What does it mean to be “woo woo”?

I learned today from google that “woo woo” is a cocktail that sounds pretty darned yummy and what I was looking for was a classification of people or the way some people experience… again caught in a web of words.

It is almost a pejorative when someone says “woo woo”. When I say it,  I am often describing myself, the mystical me – the one who believes in a sort of alternate way at times that people who are more linear or scientific or stodgy might not understand. They might say I am cooky or nuts or… out there.

See, words can be tricky.

This is how it relates back to the Untalkaboutables.

I remember before Samuel was diagnosed with autism. I didn’t want to talk about his autism in certain circles because I could hear them say things like “don’t use labels” even in a movie I loved recently they kept saying “quirky” instead of autism. A women behind me said “He has autism.”

When we dance around or use metaphor or refuse to face what is so – we cloak that topic in being wrong and our mind hears “wrong” and this can be, at least, frustrating to those of us who thrive on accuracy and damaging to those of us whom “people pleasing” flows through our veins whispering “don’t do it wrong, don’t upset the apple cart”.

Who even pushes an apple cart anymore? Who even uses an apple cart anymore?

Practice in talking:

1. Practice being as factual in your conversation as possible.

2. If you are uncomfortable with just starting being factual, add a preface in your conversation – something like “I am attempting to be as succinct and close to the facts as possible, like an old-time journalist be.”

3. Do the opposite: be as ridiculously, flagrantly un-factual as possible in your conversation. This is actually a lot of fun and quickly brings us back to the facts.

And as always, we may start this practice with our writing. Take the three steps above from conversation and write them, instead.

I would love to hear from you about your progress with talking about your “Untalkaboutables”. Please comment your thoughts, experiences with woo woo and/or applecarts and maybe you would benefit from watching  more on my YouTube channel, too.  This particular video is about the twisting, curvy road of transformation. Take a moment to watch this video and then subscribe over there as well.

 

 

 

Facebooktwitterpinterest

Filed Under: Creative Process, End Writer's Block, Writing Prompt, Writing Tips

Still Here, and That’s Just Fine…. Shifting the Fear Narrative

June 8, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

Today I used a quote as a writing prompt, simply writing whatever flew off the ends of my fingertips in response.

I wrote this short essay in five minutes and maybe two more, to bring it to conclusion.

It was written in #5for5BrainDump style and I am thrilled to announce our next #5for5BrainDump session has been scheduled to begin June 18. Come back tomorrow for a link to the free sign up page. (Woeful mailing list issues).

Now, wisdom from Carolyn Myss, a different child-like version of me and a surprisingly… well, just me-me.

“Do you really want to look back on your life and see how wonderful it could have been had you not been afraid to live in?”
Caroline Myss

This quote hits me like a shocking slap to the face.

Ouch. Sting. I reach for my face – my heart shaped scar, the tears that want to pour out but stay continually stuck. Frozen.

I do not want to look back on my life and see fear everywhere.

I have stopped saying the word “want” as much as possible.

My aim is to look back and be satisfied, even with the fear-filled moments.

There is a little how do I describe her – a little contrarian Julie sitting on my right shoulder who wants to defend me. “Do you know what Julie has been through? She deserves to be afraid. She has earned a holy fear. Seriously, do you know her stories?”

I want to shush her, it’s embarrassing, and I remember Adam, my twice-time counselor saying something similar. “Give yourself a break, Julie” and I look back into my memory and say. “But Adam, I am still here. I am still here.”

I am thrilled to look back at my life in ten years and say. “This is that time when I transformed. This is the time when I chose differently.” (I wanted to say ‘finally’ and I controlled myself.)

All of the fear mongering experiences have served me, strangely, in adding a more compassionate side and gaining multitudes of life. I continually learn about self-forgiveness and compassion. I could have a PhD (at least) in patience.

I’m a grief expert, and my shortcomings – not wanting to create more strife or have confrontations or let go – these are areas I recognize and continue to work on.

When I look back at my life, I see purple. I smell lavender and juniper and surprisingly moist soil and last year’s leaves. I hear birds– familiar and not-so-much, pencils scratching on paper, and I see smiles slowly breaking across faces and eyes crinkling up. I see tears: of awe and bitter sadness.

A quiet voice inside just said. “and you did your best.”

That earlier contrarian Julie is in disagreement.

I am choosing to let go of the frustrated nihilist child and am willing to nod in agreement.  I’m willing to receive the assessment, “I did my best.”

Facebooktwitterpinterest

Filed Under: Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, End Writer's Block, Storytelling, Writing Prompt Tagged With: Carolyn Myss

Reaching for the Just Right Word: What We Don’t Say… The Untalkaboutables… Keep Us Stuck

May 28, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

This post was written in two successive #5for5BrainDump sessions with several editing sessions. It started stream-of-consciousness and came back with – how to state this clearly.

For now, two hours, dishes done, conversations with Emma in process, a little mopping of the kitchen floor and moisturizing my face – it is done. For now. >> See Julie smile a slight smile of acceptance.<<

Now for the Rewriting of the Narrative:

If I had my way I would climb into a bubble with a caretaker and a loving team of comrades to support me by doing what I am not gifted at doing or simply don’t like to do.

I look up and see a cobweb in front of me and I think, “I need to sweep away that cobweb when I’m done writing.”

Here’s the thing: normally I wouldn’t confess to seeing a cobweb for fear it might make me look bad and that one small choice to not be authentic and not tell the truth and not be real starts building a leaning tower that slowly and surely degrades so much of what is true and right and crackly and painful and hilarious and embarrassing and endearing and very possibly even loveable.

That saying nothing, that holding back what we have deemed “Untalkaboutable” puts us in a stranglehold.

I remember a session I had with not my most recent therapist but the one before her. I was concerned about my self-destructive behavior so we talked for 45 minutes before I showed her my arm. My forearm, wracked with deep scratches and bruises I had levied upon myself in deep frustration days before. Scratches I kept hidden because I didn’t want anyone to see the evidence left behind from not talking about what was at the root of my upset, the core of my being.

I take a breath as I continue to write, as I attempt to continue to write.

I fold my hands first in the traditional protestant prayer and then in a more eastern “Namaste” expression… praying for the boldness to keep “talking” on the page, to please continue this pattern of progress simply because my old way of being would be to skate along the surface and only occasionally go deep enough to be restorative.

“Change the language” a sort of command or request bubbles up from deep within:

I am grateful for my relationship with prayer, that I know I may always turn to prayer for comfort and guided action. Prayer says, “I am not alone, even if there are no humans around I feel safe enough to speak my depths to, there is always divinity and there is always the page.”

I am indicating that here. I am taking back my sovereign crown from here by writing these words here, dropping them one letter at a time, allowing the thoughts and meaning and letting go to bring what wants to be said into the open, into the light, and then shared with others so that they may be recognized and be willing to be stand up, to speak, to be heard.

Sometimes the page is a prayer. The page is bigger than a human and on the road to divinity.

The timer went off without me knowing, as sometimes happens lately I believe a divine thing and a call to go deeper with my writing.

Leave the keyboard and move to replace need, want, must, have to, should into excited, grateful, pleased, anticipation

Note to self and you: this is normally when I abandon my writing, when I stop going any deeper with my words because it looks and feels scary and I don’t want to face whatever might come next. In so doing, I have missed a lot of light, a lot of hope, a lot of joy and who knows what else.

Back at the keyboard, I take a few moments to write:

I found these words, replacements to the “lack” words I listed above….

Instead of “I want, I need, I am missing” in the future remember to use, “I am inspired by the possibility of,” and “I am exhilarated to think…” and “I am stirred up with anticipation of….” along with the base words of  motivated, roused, excited, activated,.enchanted…

Instead of “worried” or “afraid” or the like, “I am appreciative of the opportunity to” and “I am thankful for this moment because…” and “I am content with purely…. (being here now, feeling this moment completely, having what I have…” along with my favored “I am looking forward to” and “I am most satisfied by…”

I realize as I wrote any and all of these may be writing prompts, too, to gain more clarity.

I look up from the list and see where I have swept away the cobwebs when I was in between moments of writing. Small bites, baby steps, sweet moments of satisfaction I may point to as evidence and not be ashamed.

I hear my neighbor’s dog bark. I think how many years have gone by without sharing niceties, such a simple thing. I look forward to a time when I feel more mutual compassion with neighbords. I remember when… one of my cats got stuck under their house when they were getting work done on it.

The wife was known for complaining about how much she hates cats.

I remember feeling panic about my cat, Tina, being trapped and how we could possibly get her out. Samuel came with me and we brought a can of tuna to coax her. I was worried about getting any dust specks on their hard wood floor. I was afraid when Samuel came out from under the house he would leave traces of dust or worse, dirt, and they would be made at me (as if that was anything unusual.)

We could hear Tina meow from under the house. Samuel crawled into the space under their house. She wouldn’t come, she was scared, too.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we collectively stopped being afraid?

I keep hearing my neighbor’s voice, he must have sensed my worry and fear and he said to me repeatedly, “Julie, no harm no foul,” after Samuel successfully encourage the kitty to come to the surface and allow herself to be rescued.

I remember fighting tears then like I am fighting them now.

I hear my neighbor’s voice now, talking about the dog.

Emma seems worried because I am crying.

It sounds like the word prayer is said. I don’t know if it was or it wasn’t though perhaps I’ll claim it.

Old Narrative: People who don’t like me are always ready to find me in the wrong and make me feel more shame than I already do, naturally.

New Narrative: People are people, each with weaknesses and strengths and mostly self-absorbed.

New Narrative Question: What untalkaboutable subjects are calling me to pay attention? What small step may I take to wash away the fear as well as bring the untalkaboutable into the light?

From the italicized: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we collectively stopped being afraid? our prompt: “What may I choose to do daily (or near daily) to lessen my day-to-day fear or anxiety?”

Devote 5 minutes daily to take action on any new insights you have from this experience. 

Are you interested in reading more about Rewriting Narrative: Below is a list of three recent posts to visit and read;

  1. Mindshift from “I’m a Bother to I’m a Blessing”
  2. Move from Destabilizing Fear into Sweet Courage
  3. Free Yourself from Banishment: Express, Strengthen, Heal, Awaken

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.

Facebooktwitterpinterest

Filed Under: Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Rewriting the Narrative, Writing Prompt Tagged With: Creative Confidence, Creativity Coaching, Reclaiming Words, stream of consciousness writing, Writing Prompts

Fuzzy Morning Brain Does Not Have to Lead to a Bad Day

May 26, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

Today I woke up fuzzy. My old narrative would have fussed and scrolled around facebook and felt negative about not getting enough done. This morning, instead, I decided to start fairly early with a 5 minute brain dump session.

I decided a quote would be good inspiration and when I first looked for a quote about clarity and found lots of clichés and quotes that sounded more like drill-sergeant-speak I did a different search term (which I’ve forgotten) and found this: 

“Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes; work never begun.” — Christina Rossetti

I woke up this morning hours before I finally lifted myself out of bed. I don’t know when exactly it was and I don’t think I slept very deeply or sweetly in the interim, I just know eventually the sky got brighter and Samuel started moving about and I knew I needed to rise and shine and do something.

After the bare essentials were complete and I returned home, I still felt that struggly feeling of “What do I do?” (When this particular narrative line is repeated in fast succession and at all based in fear… anxiety rises).

I knew there was a list somewhere (Life Guideline#1 I attempt to live by is to write a possibility list before I go to sleep. I hadn’t on that day. ).

Even as I drove Samuel to school I attempted to prioritize in my mind and again and I got nowhere.

So now, I write, and I think, and I throw words down in attempt to clear my mind and allow myself the space to move forward.

This week has been about getting things done: curating and completion. I have curated and I haven’t done much completion. There is a part of me that feels like a failure and I know where I might have made different choices and gotten more completed.

I can’t change those choices I made before, but I can change what happens next.

My eyes scan back up to the quote I started with as inspiration:

Christina Rossetti said, “Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes; work never begun.”

The timer goes off so I will use the next three or so minutes to make my list. The first thing I will do is create an attractive, artful “Possibility list” to continue the kick start.

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

Facebooktwitterpinterest

Filed Under: A to Z Literary Grannies, Creative Process, Rewriting the Narrative, Writing Prompt Tagged With: Anxiety, Christina Rossetti, Christina Rossetti quote, Creatives and Anxiety, Curation and Completion, How to Make To-Do Lists work for you, To-Do lists

Transforming Panic to Love-Based Focused Action: 5 Minutes of Writing Magic

May 24, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

Welcome! We’re taking an adventure in Personal Growth and Transformation Made Simple.

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” . Today I felt myself going down the well-worn path of panic mode, so I quickly recovered and shifted onto a different path via writing – and breathing – and what you see next is us taking that path, together so… let’s do this…

It is so easy to go into panic mode, to worried mode to “oh no I have so much to do what am I going to do oh no oh no oh no!”

Cue the Chicken-little scene, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling,” and then – if we are lucky – a hint of mindfulness seeps in.

I was having tea with my dear friend Kathi this morning and we were talking about that panic mode we sometimes unconsciously fall into and she reminded me how good I am at stopping, taking a breath, and refocusing and/or reframing and coming back to center.

It was one of those moments where I almost wanted to look over my shoulder to see who she was talking about but no, she meant me, loud and clear – me.

Ironic, then, a couple hours later when I was settling back into work mode I got nervous again about what to do next. I have a huge list and I have tasks galore and I was reviewing the content next to go up on the curation block and I got lost in the murky swamp of “What’s next?” even now – I am more than slightly worried thinking about the next thing after this thing so I stop myself.

I close my eyes.

Hand on heart.

What is the best next thing to do?

What task will get me closer to my goal most efficiently and effectively?

Hand on heart… breathe in….. exhale anxiety and blend with love… breathe in…. “What task will get me closer to my goal?”

As I rid myself of the uncomfortable anxiety and allow the light of love to take the reigns, the next step becomes more clear and I know –

The best next thing to do.

A smile crosses my face.

The timer goes off and I know.

I’ve effectively, for now, replaced the nearing panic mode with feeling peace mode.

I’ve rewritten the “Chicken-little-sky-is-falling” rule with “Focus on what’s best next, with love” and it feels so much better.
There is more to come on this one. Stand by for more….

This post was written #5for5BrainDump style: write for 5 minutes, free flow, stream of consciousness style and see what wisdom comes as  a result. This one is definitely a keeper – one I will continue to grow upon. Thank you for reading today! Please follow me on social media so you won’t miss anymore high quality content that will help as you work toward a better and better life now.

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

Filed Under: Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling

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

May 22, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

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

Filed Under: Affirmations for Writers, Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling Tagged With: Cliche, Managing Time, Time Management, Time to Be Free, Time to Create, Time to Write. Time to Play

How to Shift Those Deep Beliefs – Unworthy – Rewriting the Narrative

May 19, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

Rewriting one’s narrative  – sometimes called “inner tapes” or “self talk” or many other catch phrases is an important part of personal transformation for everyone.

Studies have proven this strategy works so therapists and life coaches and healers have prescribed a variety of processes for people seeking improved lives to shift from the old thinking to a renewed, much better life. 

I have taken on a personal challenge to re-frame my less-than-constructive narrative thought processes here as a means to inspire and stay accountable because when I have done so in private, I tend to do the push-me-pull-you-oops-I-forgot-it-again-thing, which I try not to have as an ongoing project. My aim? To feel better than ever AND to inspire you in the process. Please, join me now, as I take it on 5 minutes at a time for the next 30 days. You may listen to me read aloud on my podcast as well by clicking here.  

 

You might have noticed this buried in my last blog post:

It isn’t a sweet dissatisfaction I normally feel, but a deep tainted dye that spreads over me – based upon none other than that damn narrative that runs through my veins, “You don’t deserve to do well, you need to seek penance constantly for all your wrong doings.”

I chose today to write five minutes more – to continue to work with this not only deeply dyed but also deeply rooted belief, actively poisoning my possibilities.

This is an example of narrative I came face-to-face with – or fingers to the keyboard in stream-of-consciousness and then to my awareness…. that invited me to go deeper.

Old narrative: “I don’t deserve to do well, I need to seek penance constantly for all my wrong doings.”

This goes in direct opposition to the views I espouse in relationship to other people. “We are all human, we all make mistakes.” I say to others, a slight smile on my face, eyes looking into eyes with warmth and compassion.

“In my business, I value mistakes, I value the slightly awkward, I appreciate the path to better, progress is the new perfection,” and on-and-on-and-on-and-on. It is time to fully honor myself within the others – make it “myself and others” on the list of who and what I value.

The only penance I may have ever needed to pay (and I don’t believe I did, when conscious and aware) has been paid by the self-flagellation I’ve been doing by not using my gifts to the extent that I might. And that, beloveds, is worthy of forgiveness as I have shown and lived over and over and over again.

How to rid myself of the “deep tainted dye that spreads over me”?

I love to dye paper to make mixed media art. It is extremely therapeutic for me to create colored paper and watch the dye merge and spread and play in ways unexpected.

To lighten the color of the dye, I add water. I add more paper to dye. I add more water. I make more paper. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Showing up at the page and writing, exploring, allowing myself to feel the emotions and poke about in what makes me uncomfortable in containers of time and energy – these are the tools I will use.

Writing, brain dump style in 5 minute chunks. Art making. Conscious, directed and focused transformational conversations. All of these will diminish the heaviness that comes with the deeply tainted dye as I live this life and share these gifts as I was meant to all along.

Now it is your turn to let your narrative loose, to free yourself, too.

I’m here, ready to listen and share.

Always, Julie

 = = =

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

Filed Under: Creative Process, Mixed Media Art, Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling

The Audacity of Feeling Good

May 18, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

Welcome! You have found the place where the miracle creating #5for5BrainDump Process meets the inner working of one’s beliefs and subsequent  otherwise known as “Rewriting One’s Inner Narrative: 5 Minutes at a Time” Personal Growth and Transformation Made Simple!

Now, for today’s writing – 

Last night I had the audacity to feel good about something I created.

Some people might be surprised about how rare this is for me. It isn’t a sweet dissatisfaction I normally feel, but a deep tainted dye that spreads over me – based upon none other than that damn narrative that runs through my veins, “You don’t deserve to do well, you need to seek penance constantly for all your wrong doings.”

I caught my eye in the mirror when I put my hat on for the opening moments of “Kamasutra” – the play I am in that opens tonight. I laughed at my reflection because I looked like Maria, returning to the convent for a forty-year-reunion wearing the same outfit she wore on her way to the von Trapp home as she belted out “I Have Confidence” while riding the bus and skipping along the outskirts of Salzburg.

I only wish my inner confidence matched what I heard last night after my performance. Today, I will be listening to those comments in my mind as I prepare instead of the pesky old narrative patterns.

I will hear “It makes my heart happy to see you on stage again,” and “You are my hero” and “Believable. You were so believable” and “That was so beautiful!”

I was able to feel good about what I created, even if I wasn’t 100% up to the standards I seet for myself.

I was content with the results. I feel solid, ready and confident, like Maria. (The timer went off about 30 seconds ago and I took the time to finish, just because it felt good. And that’s ok, too.)

= = = = =

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

Filed Under: Creative Life Coaching, Creative Process, Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling

Tell Your Stories: The World is Waiting…..

April 27, 2018 by jjscreativelifemidwife

This was originally written as a #5for5BrainDump style piece of writing. As often happens when we allow free flow to have its way, some powerful words flooded through. I did not edit so please excuse grammatical and spelling errors. Around here we stand by “process is the new perfection.” (polishing comes, later).

I was feeling nervous and overwhelmed by the process of re-orientation after a whirlwind out-of-town trip. Writing centered me.

Timer set and…. the writing begins.

I could so easily get overwhelmed and I am not going to. I am staying present. I am writing. I am remembering. I am writing as I am remembering and staying present.

This is where I find the gold dust and the stories that are most important to be told find their way to the forefront and because I am taking a mere five minutes to write, the words find their way through my fingers onto the page and I grow in trust.

Right here, right now and you are witnessing it.

The world is waiting for your stories. Right now in Paducah, Poughkeepsie and Paris there are women sitting at their computers feeling slightly asleep and your exact story is the light they have been looking for even though neither of you know it.

Last week my new friend Belen said to me, “Whenever I talk to a person who is down I think, ‘I need to introduce this person to Julie. Julie would make this person feel better…. Because every time I am with you I feel better.”

This was like a symphony playing in my ears personally for me. Belen was just speaking from her heart and she gave me such a gift in reflecting back to me what my stories have created for her. Feeling better. Me, showing up, telling my stories via a writing workshop and paving the way for her to tell her stories first on the page and then… beyond – makes her feel better, makes her world better and echoes out… everywhere she goes because….

I took the time out to tell my story. I got vulnerable and offered myself via a writing workshop. Why? Because I knew someone out there was calling me. In that case, it was someone named Belen. Next, it may be someone named… YOU who is writing or speaking or livestreaming or blogging… for someone specific to you that you don’t even know yet.

The world is waiting for you. Take action. 5 minutes. That’s all it takes. 5 minutes + you = miracles.

And the timer goes off and I sign off….

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

Filed Under: Affirmations for Writers, Creative Adventures, Creative Process, End Writer's Block, Rewriting the Narrative, Storytelling, Writing Prompt

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • …
  • 29
  • Next Page »

Recent Posts

  • Trust in Creativity: Start with What’s Wrong
  • Self-Forgiveness: Often Forgotten, Always Worthwhile.
  • Your Beliefs: Foundations of Your Creative Path to Peace
  • Introduction to “The Creative Path to Peace”
  • Now Begin Again: The Poem That Started this Adventure of an Unconventional Life

Recent Comments

  • Jasmine Quiles on Self-Forgiveness: Often Forgotten, Always Worthwhile.
  • jjscreativelifemidwife on Trust in Creativity: Start with What’s Wrong
  • jjscreativelifemidwife on Trust in Creativity: Start with What’s Wrong
  • jjscreativelifemidwife on Trust in Creativity: Start with What’s Wrong
  • Mystee Ryann on Trust in Creativity: Start with What’s Wrong

Archives

  • January 2025
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • July 2024
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • July 2023
  • January 2023
  • October 2022
  • July 2022
  • April 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2015

Categories

  • #377Haiku
  • 2018
  • A to Z Literary Grannies
  • Affirmations for Writers
  • Art Journaling
  • Bridge to the New Year
  • Business Artistry
  • Content Creation Strategies
  • Creative Adventures
  • Creative Life Coaching
  • Creative Process
  • Creativity While Quarantined
  • Daily Consistency
  • End Writer's Block
  • Goals
  • Grief
  • Healing
  • Intention/Connection
  • Intention/Connection
  • Journaling Tips and More
  • Literary Grannies
  • Meditation and Mindfulness
  • Mindfulness
  • Mixed Media Art
  • Poetry
  • Rewriting the Narrative
  • Self Care
  • Storytelling
  • Ultimate Blog Challenge
  • Uncategorized
  • Video and Livestreaming
  • Virtual Coffee Date
  • Writing Challenges & Play
  • Writing Prompt
  • Writing Tips

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

How to Use Your Text & Other “Throwaway Writing” to Make All Your Writing Easier.

Trust in Creativity: Start with What’s Wrong

Self-Forgiveness: Often Forgotten, Always Worthwhile.

Beliefs: Review and Revise is it time? A clock face that needs revision with a bridge in the background.

Your Beliefs: Foundations of Your Creative Path to Peace

Introduction to “The Creative Path to Peace”

  • One-On-One Coaching
  • Retreats: Collaborative, Creative, Exactly as You (and Your Organization) Needs

Creative Life Midwidfe · Julie Jordan Scott © 2025
Website Design by Freeborboleta