unpolished thoughts 4/18/2019
Nice to meet you. So, what do you do?
I help people who feel stuck to get moving again so they can bring creativity back into their lives.
How do you do that?
I help them see that they have more options than they think they do.
How do you do that?
It’s easier if I show you, if you’re willing to try something out quickly.
Are you game?
Um…
It’ll be painless, I promise! If you don’t mind, stand up.
(If that’s not comfortable right now, you can also sit).
Just close your right eye and open it again.
Uh, OK.
What did you notice?
That it closed?
Sure. Maybe try it again. Do it very slowly.
Close your right eye and open it again very slowly four or five times.
What do you notice now?
I kind of squinch up the right side of my face.
Yup! What else?
Um, my head moves a little?
Yes! Which direction does it move? Do you turn your head? Do you tilt it?
Hmmm, lemme see . . . a little of both maybe? Is that right?
I don’t know – what do you feel?
Try it again. When you close your right eye, what happens to the distance between your right ear and your right shoulder?
Whoa! I’m tilting my head down every time I close my eye! Is that what I’m supposed to do?
Who said what you were “supposed” to do?
I’m just asking you to notice what you already are doing. People do it many different ways.
But make sure. So every time you close your right eye, you move your left ear closer to your left shoulder. Now do it a few times on purpose.
OK, yup.
Alright then. What about this – can you close your right eye and move your head so the distance between your right ear and your right shoulder increases?
Oh, that feels weird!
I bet it does – that’s cuz you’re not used to it!
But I bet you could do it easily if you just tried it three or four more times nice and slow – just make sure that you don’t hold your breath while you do it!
OK, here goes . . . Yeah, I can do it. It’s weird though!
Well, try this then: slowly close your right eye many times. While you do, alternate between one time taking your right ear towardyour right shoulder and one time taking it away from your right shoulder.
Once you pay attention to what you’re doing and get a little more used to it, you’ll see that you can do it whichever way you want.
Whoa there – it doesn’t have to be a big movement!
Just do enough each time so you are clear which direction you are moving in.
Good!
So, how do you feel now?
That was really strange. I feel kind of different. My right eye feels so different than my left one!
Does it feel bigger?
Actually, yeah, it kind of does! Is that what’s supposed to happen?
Many people notice things like that, but there is no one way it’s “supposed” to feel.
What you feel is what you feel – no one else can tell you what to feel.
What about your neck? Does one side of your neck feel longer than the other? Is it easier to turn your head in one direction or the other?
That’s crazy!
Isn’t it though?! Try walking around a little and see if you feel any different when you step on one foot versus the other.
Walk in a circle. Notice which foot you put on the inside. Now walk in a circle the other way with the other foot on the inside. Does that feel different?
Whoa man – that is some of the weirdest shit I have ever . . . wait what did you say you do again?
I help people who feel stuck to get moving again so they can bring creativity back into their lives.
Huh. How do you do that?
What we just did!
But that’s just a tiny thing. It can be taken much further.
Basically, I help people to see that they have more options then they realize.
Did you ever know that you could change the way you feel that quickly?
No, honestly, I’ve never done anything like that before.
All you did was close one eye and move your head a few different ways. How long did that take?
Maybe 5 minutes?
Can you imagine how much would change if you did this kind of thing for 30 minutes or an hour?
Yeah. Hmm.
Tell me – which side of your neck feels better. The left or the right? Which side feels the way you’d like your whole body to feel?
The right.
Would you like both sides of your neck to feel that way?
Yeah, can we do the other side?
Sure! You already know what to do.
But the point isn’t the movements – the point is that you are paying attention to details of your experience that you usually completely ignore.
So don’t get hung up on the movements, and don’t rush through it.
You are learning how to relate to yourself in a totally new way.
Hmmm. That’s interesting.
Yeah, it’s fascinating stuff.
It totally changed my life too.
I used to be completelystuck. This stuff keeps memoving and keeps mefeeling creative.
When I feel creative, I feel more confident too. Then I do a better job of breaking out of my shell, going out into the world and connecting with other people.
I love being able to offer other people that same opportunity.
How do you do that?
Well, I teach classes and workshops and I also work with people one on one.
I would love to try out a session.
Great – let’s set it up!
Private sessions in Washington DC
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