November Inspired Leap™ "Ah-Ha!" Newsletter
November 21, 2007
Topics Covered This Month
- Quote of the Month
- Upcoming Workshops and Retreats
- Moving Beyond The Confusion To Clarity
- The Power Of A Walk
- When I Am Among the Trees
- Final Thoughts on Quiet Moments Among The Trees
Dear Dianna,
Last month I reflected on my walk in the woods around Sedona and how crossing a creek "stopped" people from enjoying the experience. As Thanksgiving arrives, I want to invite you to take some precious moments to visit your own special woods, park, or trail to listen to the wisdom of your inner voice reflected back to you through nature.
In the mad dash to the end of the year, it's easy to be distracted from the call of your intuition. Yet, you likely need to heed its wisdom now, as you focus on wrapping up loose ends for 2007 and planning for 2008. Read on to be inspired to find the clarity and wisdom you need in quiet moments among the trees.
Quote of the Month
In the greatest confusion there is still an open channel to the soul. It may be difficult to find because by midlife it is overgrown, and some of the wildest thickets that surround it grow out of what we describe as our education. But the channel is always there, and it is our business to keep it open, to have access to the deepest part of ourselves.—Saul Bellow, as quoted in Julia Cameron's book Walking in this World, p. 205
Upcoming Workshops and Retreats
Moving Beyond The Confusion To Clarity
The quote above from Saul Bellow speaks to me, especially at this time of year. It seems there are so many more demands on my time; yet, I feel a real yearning in the fall to take time to get quiet and hear what my soul is telling me. I find myself working to move beyond the confusion that arises from trying to finish what I need to for 2007, determine what I want for 2008, and let go of the blocks that have kept this year from being all that I desired. While I don't wish my confusion on anyone, I have a sense that I am not alone in juggling desires, to-do's, mental blocks, and dreams in one big jumble in my head.
If you too feel a need to listen to the wisdom of your soul as you wrap up 2007 and prepare for 2008, I urge you to heed it. Remember, your soul, higher self, intuition, or nonconscious mind—however you choose to think of "the deepest part of ourselves"—has access to so much more wisdom than your conscious mind does. And, it knows the authentic you and therefore what is best for you.
Taking time for quiet moments to hear the wisdom of your inner voice is not a luxury during the holiday season—it's a necessity!
The Power Of A Walk
Best-selling author Julia Cameron understands the power of walking for creativity and creative problem solving. In fact she believes in it so strongly that she wrote a book about walking and creativity: Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity.
Most of us spend life on the run, too busy and too hurried to walk anywhere. Beset by problems and difficulties, we feel walking is a frivolous waste of time—our valuable time. When will I do it? becomes one more problem, one more question for our busy mind. The truth is that walking holds our solutions. [p. 10, emphasis added]While Cameron asks readers to take at least one 20-minute walk a week in the city or a park, I urge you to find time to take at least an hour walk in the woods of a park or among the cactus of the desert—some place that speaks to your soul and allows plenty of time for solitude and communion with the trees. For there is something about nature, especially old trees, that enables you to access your own inner wisdom.
When I Am Among The Trees
Poet Mary Oliver understands the power of walking through and being with trees. I was recently reminded of her extraordinary poem, When I Am Among the Trees, when I attended a workshop on leadership offered by the Seton Cove in Austin. I share the poem with you in the hope that it will works its magic on you and get you to take time alone to walk among your favorite stand of trees.
When I Am Among the Trees.
When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness. I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, "Stay awhile." The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, "It's simple," they say, "and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light and to shine."
What if that was true? How might you structure your workday and your life differently?
As you take time on Thanksgiving Day to be thankful for all that you have, consider finding a few quiet moments to walk among the trees to take stock of what you want to be thankful for in 2008. What changes do you need to make to be able to add these new dreams to your list? Now take one teeny, tiny step this week to move you toward it and take another next week.
Final Thoughts on Quiet Moments Among The Trees
As l look forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with a dear friend visiting from Seattle, I want to say how thankful I am for the people like you who have come into my life via workshops, speaking, and this newsletter. I hope that in some small way the words in this newsletter have helped make your 2007 an inspiring year, with more success to follow in 2008.
With encouragement to leap ahead,
Dianna Amorde
President,
Inspired Leap Consulting Inc.Comments or questions about this newsletter? Email me at damorde@inspiredleap.com.
I look forward to hearing from you.. . .
If your company needs help with inspiring employees to reach new heights in productivity, creativity, morale, and integrity, please contact us at inspiredleap.com or 512-236-0090. If you need some more inspiration or more regular nudging to practice these steps, check out our website to see what's new to inspire you (a visit to The Quiet Room may be just what you need!).