Writing Your Past to Open Up Your Present & Future

Much of who I am and how I view the world was formed by my experiences as an undergraduate student at the evergreen state college in Olympia.  This past weekend I went back to the campus for their 40th anniversary celebration.  In true Evergreen fashion, it wasn't just a celebration, it was an experience in learning.  The weekend opened with reflection, where faculty gathered to remember and share stories of their experiences in building the college. There were panels with former students including Matt Groening and Megan Kelso, and workshops led by current and former faculty so you could truly "experience" the teaching style.  Lunch's keynote was given by Lynda.com about the changing face of education and the weekend included great music on Saturday night.

One of the keys I got came from a journal workshop led by Marilyn Frasca, former faculty and artist.  She introduced us to Ira Progoff's journal writing workshop.  I had taken a course on this topic from Marilyn 30+ years ago and it had blown my mind then...and did again this weekend. As you know, I am a big promoter of drawing your future into reality and I learned something very interesting in this workshop. One of the suggestions that Marilyn made was that you actually spend time going back into the "stepping stones" that brought you to this moment and dialogue with them.  The dialogue could open up and release energy that was held in that moment in time, in that experience, memory or thing.


The brain is a powerful tool, and while we assume it runs our world, this technique of going back in time to have a dialogue with a memory, place or object through writing reminds us that actually no, we run the show. We, meaning our essence, our spiritual self, that is both in the experience but not of it. When we take a memory and unlock it through writing, we release the energy that it holds and free ourselves to bring more of who we are into the present moment.


Here is one of the exercises that Marilyn took us through. Write briefly about what it is like to be you, right now.  What is your experience, or emotional tone of this period of time? Then, make a list of all of the experiences that brought you to this place - not your resume, but the turning points that stand out for you, or what Progoff calls "stepping stones."  Choose one of those stepping stones to have a dialogue with through writing. You might begin by writing, "It was a time of..." on a clean piece of paper. Sit quietly and wait, then write whatever comes to you, without censorship. You may find, as I did, that the memory in this "life history log" offers you a deeper reflection into who you are and what is happening today.


Why not "become an authority on your life?" as Marilyn Frasca suggested during her workshop at Evergreen's 40th Celebration. Free yourself up to experience more in the now by exploring yourself and your experiences in the past.


I look forward to hearing what you find out.  


Be good, do good,

Keep Your Eye on the Prize to Calm Your Doubting Mind

I just did a number of workshops, both in Colorado where I was able to speak at the DU Women's Conference, as well as for a couple of organizations celebrating Administrative Professionals Week in Seattle.  One of the key questions that was repeatedly asked was "How do we deal with a doubting mind in the process of getting to our success?"

That amygdala part of your brain is programmed to respond when you step out of the familiar.  When activated, it will send adrenaline into your system and subsequently can derail your progress.  So how do you keep that amygdala at bay?  One way to actively take charge is through noting and connoting any positive success you have made either towards this goal or in goal achievement from the past.  By reminding yourself of the movement and shifts you have been able to make you automatically shift your thinking into the right side of your brain which houses all of the potential and possibilities you can imagine.

Another suggestion from Dr. Ellen F. Weber* is to "Focus on your endpoint, even as you first step out of the gates. Glance toward that next well-paced addition to your plan, much the way drivers glance ahead on a highway. Center in on dividends you expect, and navigate sharp curves along the way, like the skilled driver you are. With each of the estimated 22 stressors that will hit you on an ordinary day, you’ll want to execute well-chosen strategies toward new directions that win."

How do we keep focused on our endpoints?  By going back to that image you drew of your Desired New Reality.  Here is what you said:

" I attended your seminar at the Women's College at DU. I left right after and didn't go to a final session because I didn't want to kill my buzz. Thank you so much for you energy!!"

What "buzz" is she talking about?  The buzz of serotonin you get when you envision and build the life you want.  Here's what another woman wrote:

"Thanks to your inspirational presentation at the DU Women's Conference I took the first bold step.  Yep, you may as well have been speaking directly to me...Thank you!"

If you (or those around you) aren't living the life you desire, why not take your own bold step?  Watch and forward my TEDxRainier talk.  You can take steps today to draw your future into reality.

 #meanit #drawingyourfutureworks





*Weber, Ellen (2012-04-25). Making Change Easy (Novelty with the Brain in Mind) (Kindle Locations 82-85). Mita International Brain Center. Kindle Edition.

Getting Beyond Yourself to Lift Up the World

Recently I have been traveling around both in the physical and in the virtual worlds, sharing my "Snapshot of the Big Picture" vision to reality process.  There is emerging a common theme to what I am hearing.  Some of you who are working to dream big dreams have set beliefs about what is or is not possible.  I am hearing you say things like...

One of the ways you can begin to break through your limiting beliefs is by reflecting on the past and what you have already accomplished - big or small.  Make a list of your past successes. This will raise your serotonin level and help you be more inspired to shake things up and get them going.

Another serotonin lifter is by being inspired by others.  Watch Intel's Ekaterina Walter, Russian immigrant, who shares in her TEDx talk, her story of living the American Dream.  She will definitely help you remember how important it is to take advantage of the opportunities you have.  Take a look at Balloon Kenya and how they have committed themselves to making a difference in their communities and forging relationships around the world.

You can also get over that doubting mind by doing things that take you beyond yourself.  If you are worried about your capabilities, challenge that belief by going out and helping someone else.  Volunteer at a local charity walk, or the library or senior center.  Offer to watch your neighbors' child or walk their dogs.  Giving will open your heart, which makes way for good things to drop into your consciousness.  (That left side of your brain is a trickster!  You have to forge a pathway through that critical mind, rooted in fear, with a chisel of pure love.)

Finally let me beat my personal vision to reality drum.  Keep the picture of what you want, your dream, at the forefront of your mind by drawing out a picture of that future state and putting it somewhere where you can see it everyday.  When you find yourself saying that something is not possible to have or do, ask yourself to look beyond those limiting beliefs.  Train your brain to work for you, step into those dreams you have, right here and right now. Lift up the world by becoming all that you can be.  Be good.  Do good.

Inspired By Who You Meet - In Person & Through Social Media

YOU INSPIRE THE WORLD!
This week I did two book signings & a couple of workshops to show people how to draw your dreams into reality and promote my new book Drawing Solutions:  How Visual Goal Setting Will Change Your LIfe.  I was completely inspired by who I met and the stories they told.  Here are a few of them:

You are resilient and committed to self-actualization despite the odds.

At 3rd Place Books in Lake Forest Park north of Seattle, I heard an amazing story.  One of my participants recalled an employee meeting at her job where the boss showed them Maslow's chart of hierarchy of needs.  He said "With this job you will never become self-actualized.  You will only meet your most basic needs.  You will be able to pay your bills and buy a new refrigerator if you need one.  And that is it.  If you want to become self-actualized, leave now.  We are never going to do anything to make this job any better!"  This woman said she stuck it out for many years, while growing more and more miserable.  


She realized she needed to build her strength and courage, accept that she was going to have to create a change. Then, she watched the Draw Your Future TEDxRainier video and shortly thereafter heard a Billy Joel song playing in the store where she worked, "This job is going to give you a heartattack-ack-ack-ack..."  and she said, something snapped.  She went right into her boss's office and quit.  Now she is off on a big adventure - first traveling, then setting up the business she's always dreamed about and despite not having it all buttoned up, she's never been more excited.


You pursue your dreams.

Emily didn't even see the talk or the video, but when her mother showed her this template, something clicked!  Now she is running her own Vision to Reality groups on Orcas Island.

You want to make a difference.

Diego saw the video on YouTube and he contacted me through social media.  He and his team are helping to lift kids out of poverty by teaching them innovation and creativity skills in some of the poorest schools where he lives in Chile.  He contacted me because he was using Alex Osterwalders' business model innovation.  He is teaching young people how to become micro-entrepreneurs and he wanted to add our Snapshot of the Big Picture process to his toolkit.  Would I let them use it?Absolutely.  Like Diego, I am committed to offering tools to everyone, everywhere.

You inspire all of us to dream big dreams and work hard to make them happen.

Aaron is a fantastic cartoonist who came to my workshop at the San Juan Island library.  He is working hard on his vision and building his team, despite the health issues he has to deal with everyday.  He's also got great support, his very cool brother.

I know you have big dreams.  Draw them and send them to me so I can share them with the world.  Every one of us matters.  Your dreams elevate the rest of us.  Thank you for being here.

Love,

Patti

Are You Using a Picture to Make Your Goals Real?

This week I heard from a gentleman who had taken a mind mapping workshop with Tony Buzan.  During the workshop he created this amazing mind map of what he wanted his life to be like.  The things he wrote and drew in this image are now the reality of his life today:

Here's Thum's story:
"My Future was drawn  21st April 2006 when I attended a workshop by Tony Buzan. He taught me Mind Map and it changed my future from a desk bound in-house legal counsel in a bank to become a licensed instructor sharing his vision of global mental literacy.

I have been sharing my drawings on facebook and with other people.  It changed their mind-sets and I am seeing more acceptance in Singapore where I live and work.  Recently, facebook has brought me to other countries i.e. Indonesia, Bulgaria, India, Thailand, Middle East, etc.  I am a regular contributor to Mind Map Art and was featured in a Singapore private University Magazine: 

Mind Map Art:   http://www.mindmapart.com/galleries/thum-cheng-cheong/
University Magazine:  http://tlc.unisim.edu.sg/publications/communitas/201201/

You can turn your dreams into reality using a simple picture too.  #meanit  #believeit

The best thing is, you don't even need to know how to draw!

Join us Monday, March 26th, 9AM PST or 5PM PST on our Google+ hangouts!

What We Know About What We Don't Know

If you are interested in what your brain is doing right now, I highly recommend this book:

Thinking, Fast and Slow 

by

Daniel Kahneman

I'm intrigued by these 3 quotes and specifically as they relate to Drawing Solutions:  How Visual Goal-Setting Will Change Your Life:

"You experience greater cognitive ease in perceiving a word you have seen earlier, & its this sense of ease that gives you the impression of familiarity." 

Kahneman suggests that you will think more fondly of something (cognitive ease = simple, not foggy or blurred) when you have seen it before.  He is speaking about words here, but let's translate that to your daydream about that you or that life you desire.  The more you "see" that picture of your new self or new life, the more familiar you will become with it.  AND if you draw a simple symbol that (to you) represents what you desire and look at it frequently, the easier it will become to take action and turn that fantasy into reality.

"You do not have to repeat the entire statement of a fact or idea to make it appear true." 

Worried about whether you are capable of becoming or achieving what you dream about?  This statement reminds me of the "as if" principle.  Why not imagine that world or the you -  you want to be as if it is who or what you are right now?  The more you imagine your fantasy self as if it is your present state, the sooner your brain will find it easy to believe it is your reality and construct the rest of the world around you to reflect that truth. 

"Findings add to the growing evidence that good mood, intuition, creativity, gullibility, and increased reliance on System 1 form a cluster. At the other pole, sadness, vigilance, suspicion, an analytic approach, and increased effort also go together. A happy mood loosens the control of System 2 over performance: when in a good mood, people become more intuitive and more creative but also less vigilant and more prone to logical errors."

This brings us back to what Jenn Lim's talks about in her Delivering Happiness platform.  If you want to create positive change in your life, smile.  When it gets hard to turn the pedals over on your bike, smile.  If you want to tap your intuition, your creativity, your true nature...think about how grateful you are to be healthy, be friended, be a pet owner, be alive.  Cut loose that left side of your brain (System 2) to free you to be more of who you truly are.

The brain doesn't know the difference between what is real and what is fantasy.  Start living your fantasy life inside your head first and watch how it begins to play out in the world around you.  #meanit

Using Google+Hangouts to Engage With Your Followers

I first experienced the power of Google+ when I met Daria Musk at TEDxRainier.  An overnight success through the use of social media, Daria showed me how amazing Google+'s hangouts can truly be, during her live concert at an corporate event we both presented at last week in Chicago.  At the event, I was able to not only watch her perform, but I could also see the people who had joined her hangout as they shifted in and out of the Google+ screen.  A superb performer, Daria seamlessly interacted with both her live audience (in the room) and her hangout audience (shown on screen behind her in this image).

Stoked by my experience, this week I hosted my first Drawing Solutions:  How Visual Goal Setting Will Change Your LIfe hangout.  A great tool  to help you interact with people around the world, in this hangout participants shared with me the challenges they face as entrepreneurs in achieving their goals.   While many of their goals were different, we shared a common belief about the impact a positive attitude and understanding the new brain science can have in helping you find greater success in stepping into your vision.

Want to experiment with a simple new tool to get to know your followers better? I encourage you to try Google+ hangouts and have direct, F2F contact with people around the world. It  was a beautiful forum which, with just the expense of a couple of studio lights, allowed me to show people how to literally "doodle" or draw their dreams into reality.

Here's where you can join and get in on my Google+hangouts that I will continue to host on Mondays.  Times may vary to accommodate participation from Google+ followers in different time zones around the world, but if you add me to your "circles", you can click my name to see when I'll be hosting a hangout next.  If you have any questions about this medium, feel free to email me.  I look forward to seeing you there!