Courage and Creativity

Good things come to those who believe. Better things come to those who wait, and the best things come to those who  “DON’T GIVE UP”.

“Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is that quiet voice at the end of the day that says…I will try again tomorrow.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

This is the LAST MONDAY of the month of JANUARY, 2013! This year, I promised myself to embrace being FEARLESS in all my pursuits! That is my word of the year. In reflection, this month has been AMAZING and WONDERFUL. I am creating so many wonderful opportunities in my life simply by acting on my ideas and pursuing them instead of fearing the what if “negative things happen”.

It just occurred to me, we need to be true to our ideas and our purpose. We are like any celestial body in the Universe, for example, our sun, which continues to serve its purpose, to shine. The sun does not worry if it will be too hot or not burn through the clouds; it simply continues to be true to itself and radiates its energy into our atmosphere as well as across the Universe.

Dan Zadra says that worry is a misuse of imagination. I feel that worry is in fact a perverse use of our imagination and creative energy. Creativity can be a very liberating experience when utilized in a positive way. Imagination can fuel our dreams and inspire us. Natalie Rogers stated, “Creativity is like freedom: once you taste it, you cannot live without it. It is a transformative force, enhancing self-esteem and self-empowerment.”

Courage and fearlessness is about showing up each day and facing your responsibilities, embracing life and seizing the moments. It is also about giving yourself permission to be you and delight in who you are! Each of us is a valuable and intricate part of the Universal tapestry, where each fiber adds strength, beauty and purpose. So, it is important for each of us to believe, be patient and to always try again! Don’t give up!

Also, I want to take this time and FEARLESSLY acknowledge and share my deepest appreciation and love for all my friends and family on-line, face-to-face and in the Universe. Without the connection, your encouragement, your positive energy, your love, your kindness, your everything….I would simply be a hollow shell. YOU….ALL OF YOU….FILL my HEART and SPIRIT!!! YOU CONTRIBUTE TO MY PURPOSE. ♥ I LOVE YOU! ♥

Now, is this not a lovely way to end January and move into February, the month of Love. February is going to be a FUN-nominal month for me. Starting February 1, my artwork will be featured and displayed in my city public library. I have at least 16 acrylic paintings (20 x 16) being showcased. I will share pictures this weekend. I am also doing live video-conferencing every Sunday (6 p.m. Eastern Time) in February sharing fun, creativity techniques, such as I used in the artwork in this blog. You are welcome to join in this gathering: http://www.linqto.com/rooms/docangi. I will also be offering private on-line programs. Check my website for the latest: www.heartsthatcare.net

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Happy, Thank you, More please

Some of the best life lessons can be learned from the most unlikely of places. That happened to me last night, as I watched a really great, but unremarkable (not popular) movie, “happythankyoumoreplease”. The movie stirred my spirit and reminded me of the very important life lesson of gratitude. I had a profound realization of the power of those 5 simple words: happy, thank, you, more, please. Halfway into the movie, one of the characters, Annie talked about it during a dinner conversation with Sam #2. It was a a-ha moment for me.

When anyone asks you, “how are you today? (or some related question) and you are fine; take a pregnant pause and really experience it. You can do this by: 1) completely embracing the moment and say aloud, “I am happy.” 2) Be grateful and reply “Thank you.” 3) then, ask for more, “More please?” Let God and the Universe know how you truly appreciate the moment and how you wish to have more of it in your life.

Everyone deserves to be happy. And, when we are happy/content; we need to acknowledge it and appreciate it by expressing gratefulness; furthermore, it is more than okay to ask for more. That is part of the secret to the law of abundance….gratitude and appreciation. It is important to acknowledge absolutely everything in your heart…ALL that you have that comforts you, sustains you and makes you happy and who you are.

Starting at this very moment, observe and become truly aware of who you are, what you have going for you and what you deserve. You deserve love and happiness. As you experience and receive the things that make you happy, acknowledge the happiness. Mark it in real-time and proclaim, “I am happy!” Appreciate it, “thank you!” and invite more into your life, “more please?” Be open to receive the happiness. Then start this cycle over and over again in your life. Visualize the process: the happiness, the gratitude, and the openness to receive more, because you deserve it. We all do. And you know what?

I am truly very HAPPY! THANK YOU so very much! MORE PLEASE?

(For an opportunity to work with a fabulous creative Life Coach, seek Dr. Angi at www.HeartsThatCare.net)

 

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a little nonsense…

Once in a while a little nonsense is needed. Nonsense lifts our hearts, delights our spirits and fuels creativity. The world would be a very sad, sad place indeed, if it were not for the delightful creations of Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), L. Frank Baum, C.S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, J. M. Barrie, Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens), the Brothers Grimm, Aesop and countless others.

Fantasy and nonsense are relished by the wisest of us for good reason. It gives us a break from reality. It allows us explore our imagination into a world of possibilities. A little make-believe stimulates our creativity, which lets us and encourages us to be inventive, efficient and effective in our daily routines. “How?” you ask.

Creative thinking promotes people to see things differently, from new angles and perspectives, which in turn allows people to find better ways of tackling their daily chores and jobs. As Dahl stated, “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest of men,” because nonsense ultimately serves a wonderful purpose in our lives.

I invite everyone to use a purple crayon, mismatch your outfit, talk backwards, or any other nonsensical thing you wish to do for a spell. I keep blowing bubbles in my car, so if I am ever stuck in traffic, I can enjoy the moment as if I were a kid again. And, it is fun to see people’s faces light up when they see bubbles dance in front of their windshields. It is that “whistle while you work attitude” that really makes our lives worth living. One final note…I leave you with this phenomenal quote from Alice in Wonderland:

“Alice laughed: “There’s no use trying,” she said; “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

 

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My Joy…Their Joy

What brings you joy, ultimately brings joy to others. ~ Dr. Angi K. Orobko

Most often, I find when I am doing what I really enjoy, I bring joy to others, whether it is in my art, in my writing, in my teaching or in my creative life coaching practice. My enthusiasm and joy radiates from me to others. Guess what? Your passion and enthusiasm will shine through in those things that you honestly love to do! Really!

Your PASSION and ENTHUSIASM will shine THROUGH…
in ALL those ACTIVITIES that  you really LOVE to DO!

It is a joy to watch someone truly get into his or her groove, no matter what the task, job or activity. It is a lift to be around people who love their jobs from your local grocery cashier, to the postal worker who delivers your mail, to the police officer who is directing traffic around an unsafe situation, to the teacher who instructs your children, to the news reporter on your local television station, and so on and so forth.

Also, if you choose to put joy in your work at hand and really appreciate it, you will get a lift from your job. It will almost feel like playtime instead of WORK. So, as we close out November, the month of gratitude, consider putting in a bit of joy and gratitude in all you do! Let us greet December as the month of the joyous and generous spirit. December is such a magical month.

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Grateful to be a Creative Life Coach

I am blessed and grateful that I am in a profession where I get to inspire people. Tonight I had the privilege to encourage Jane Sebastian during a fabulous creative life coaching session. Jane is working on some profound projects and goals as a Life Alchemist; and, each week we connect to evolve her creativity, which in turn facilitates her growth as a Life Alchemist and Entrepreneur. Jane had several doable goals for this upcoming short work week of Thanksgiving, where she needed some focus.

I am having her clear her work area of any distractions. She will set up only the tools she needs to complete her goals and an activity I assigned to focus and inspire her. It is a appreciation-creativity exercise that I fashioned called Gratitude Strips. Jane will start each work session by taking a strip of color printer paper that she will pre-cut into 1 inch by 11 inches rectangles. On that strip she will write, “I am grateful for the opportunity to …” and she will complete the sentence as it relates to her projects and goals. She is to take a moment to think and reflect about what she wrote on that gratitude slip. This activity will help Jane focus and spur a bit of inspiration and creativity into her work session.

Jane is totally excited and inspired. I am looking forward to our check-in session next week. She is doing phenomenal things with her goals and her dreams. And, you can, too!

I invite you to try Gratitude Strips with your upcoming goals for the week. When you do, I would love for you to share your experience with me. You can contact me (Dr. Angela K. Orobko) by visiting my website: www.HeartsThatCare.net and go to contact us.

November: A Month of Appreciation

November is a month of thankfulness and appreciation as we celebrate Thanksgiving later this month. A great idea that was started by two dear people in my life, my friend Donna and my cousin Amber, is to note what you are most thankful each day this month. They are posting their thoughts of gratitude in their status each day this month on Facebook. I am collecting my thoughts in a journal and on Thanksgiving Day, I am going to share these messages of gratitude with my family and friends during our Thanksgiving Dinner. I may post messages of gratitude on Facebook, as well. I try to do that now and then throughout the year, anyway.

Upon reflecting on gratitude, attitude comes to mind; gratitude is an attitude of appreciation, knowing the worth of another. Gratitude is a positive feeling of indebtedness to another. It is a form of love, loyalty, and giving back; like an I.O.U. Your heart feels a warmth and longing to be of service to whomever or whatever you feel gratitude.

Gratitude is related to being thankful, grateful and appreciative. It is an uplifting emotion where you feel worthy and valued; and, you usually have a feeling of joy where you want to pay a favor in return directly or indirectly for the person you feel gratitude. An attitude of gratitude brings positiveness and higher energy. It is a glow in the heart, a warmth from within that makes one grin.

A great quote to ponder stated by Denis Waitley, truly makes me realize how much I have to be thankful: “I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man with no feet.”

I am deeply grateful for: my overall good  health, my wonderful husband and family (including Sasha, my fur-baby), my amazing friends both off and on-line, God and the Universe. The gratitude in my heart I extend to all those who have touched my life and molded me into who I am today, including the bullies and heart-breakers; and most importantly for having Jesus Christ in my life…the example He has led as God in Body…God the Experience…God the Flesh…God the Human Example. He showed us the path and the way to be.

I have the gratitude attitude for music, creativity, life, transformations, lessons, love, friendship, fellowship, family, education, color, sight, all my senses, my gender, my femininity, my masculinity, my whole being, my outlook and perspective, my vision, my attitude and openness…for everything. Everything is a blessing that deserves to appreciated! Have “Gratitude Attitude”and a thankful heart. Consider keeping a log of everything you appreciate this month (and perhaps beyond). You will see the positive ways it will change your life. (Parts of this article were used in previous articles in A Kiss of Bliss this year.)

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Gift Of Love #36

As I have given an update on my Gift of Love campaign yesterday, I also discussed how each bag has a story. Gift of Love #36 has a very special story. It has an image of praying hands with 3 hearts surrounding them. The three hearts represent God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

I spent a lot of time on the hands because I wanted them to look as reverent as possible. I, also, felt deeply connected with the Holy Spirit as I painted this. I really sensed that God was guiding me through this Gift Of Love. In fact, as I have progressed with this series of Gift of Love bag paintings, my connection with God and Spirit became more and more profound. It is extraordinarily validating. I know I am doing what I need to do. Have you ever felt this kind of connection in your work?

Gift Of Love Update

In the hands of over thirty individuals, a Gift Of Love has been delivered. These gifts are most likely touching hearts  more profoundly than I will ever know. Back on April 1, 2012 I was inspired by God to create 100 hand-painted paper lunch bags to illustrate the gift of love; and, then share them with others. Some went to friends, a few to family members, but most of them are going to acquaintances and people I have just met just because our paths crossed at that moment in time, which has been my favorite experience.

This week I plan to give out twenty more Gifts of Love, which will bring the total just past fifty bags. Each lunch bag is a work of art and love created with a blend of crafters (liquid) and artist (heavy-bodied) quality acrylic paint. Each Gift of Love is different, but theme of love and hearts are on each one. And, each image tells a story.

Gift of Love #34 has footprints and hearts on it. It tells the story of how love is a journey of the heart that needs to be made authentically without covering up who you are. When we present ourselves as someone we are not, we set up our relationships for failure. It is only when we can bear our heart and soul to others that we are able to attract those who love us for who we truly are creating a strong and profound bond. How are you presenting yourself to others?

Are you trying to impress others as someone you are not or have you permitted yourself to be genuine and true, letting go of all expectations? Are you able to let go of any concern of how others might think of you? It is not easy, but once you can, you will feel uplifted and joy will fill your heart. The only person  you need to please and delight is yourself.

Tugs on my Creative Heart-Strings…

I have this need to just create, create, create…so what is holding me back. Would you believe, posting about it? I spend more time just thinking about what to write, taking pictures or scanning art work, and editing them than doing the wonderful creating that I would rather be doing. Ironic. So, after I post this short blog today, I am going to spend the next few hours creating art and writing. What is tugging on your creative heart-strings at this moment?

Come Out and Play

Happiness is permitting our inner children to come out and play! ~ Dr. Angela Kowitz Orobko

Sometimes we forget who our inner children are. I know I have at times, especially during times of worry or stress. How do we reconnect with our inner child? Here the possibilities are endless, but you have to be open to receive them.

For most it is as easy as reflecting back to your happiest childhood memory and reliving it in your mind or in the moment. If it is going out and splashing in rain puddles or flying a kite, then visualize it. Maybe it is baking cookies with grandma or going to the beach for the first time. Some of these activities you can simply do again and recapture the joy.

Smells, sights and sounds can trigger the happiest of memories. By reconnecting with our inner children, we are tapping into our innocence, our trust, our faith, our love and our joy. The simplest activities, events or things were thrilling and joyful. Permit your inner child to come out and play; and, I am certain you will experience happiness just thinking about it.

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