Two weeks ago I began a course in
The Artist's Way at Colorado Free University.
The Artist's Way is a 12-week program designed to help artists get unblocked. One of the first realizations that came to me was that we need to begin with what we love. In other words, we need to follow our bliss.
I took a look at the different things I was doing as part of my career as a self-employed writer, teacher, and entrepreneur. I discovered there are some things I'm extremely passionate about. My greatest passions are writing, teaching, compassionate communication, and helping people fulfill their dreams.
Some of the other activities were more about making money, and although I don't intend to eliminate them from my repertoire, I decided not to put more of my energy in those directions. I will focus more of my resources toward the activities I truly love.
This led me to an idea for combining compassionate communication with creativity. In compassionate communication, a language process developed by Marshall Rosenberg in his book Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life, there is a very specific way that we begin to think and communication with ourselves and with other.
The basic process is: Observations, Feelings, Needs, and Requests.
We learn to make observations without judgements or evaluations. "Just the facts." We learn a vocabulary for identifying and expressing feelings. We learn a vocabulary for our needs. And then we learn how to make requests.
Through this process, we can communicate more authentically and therefore be more true to ourselves.
Two weeks ago I began a course in The Artist's Way at Colorado Free University. The Artist's Way is a 12-week program designed to help artists get unblocked. One of the first realizations that came to me was that we need to begin with what we love. In other words, we need to follow our bliss.
I took a look at the different things I was doing as part of my career as a self-employed writer, teacher, and entrepreneur. I discovered there are some things I'm extremely passionate about. My greatest passions are writing, teaching, compassionate communication, and helping people fulfill their dreams.
Some of the other activities were more about making money, and although I don't intend to eliminate them from my repertoire, I decided not to put more of my energy in those directions. I will focus more of my resources toward the activities I truly love.
This led me to an idea for combining compassionate communication with creativity. In compassionate communication, a language process developed by Marshall Rosenberg in his book Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life, there is a very specific way that we begin to think and communication with ourselves and with other.
The basic process is: Observations, Feelings, Needs, and Requests.
We learn to make observations without judgements or evaluations. "Just the facts." We learn a vocabulary for identifying and expressing feelings. We learn a vocabulary for our needs. And then we learn how to make requests.
Through this process, we can communicate more authentically and therefore be more true to ourselves.
