Hannah Braime's Blog, page 26
March 25, 2015
Evolution, Growth, and Finding Your Golden Buddha…
Over the last couple of months, I’ve spent a lot of time pondering the question “What next?”
I’ve noticed a shift in my work and interest, which reflects a shift in what becoming who I am means to me. It used to be about personal re-integration, self-care, and developing a better relationship with myself.
Those things are still present (and will always be a work in progress), but becoming who I am is about more than just returning to what feels authentic and true to myself. It’s also about then taking that knowledge and awareness and using my values, strengths, and vision to contribute to the world around me. I love volunteering, collaborating, and contributing to projects that are bigger than just me, projects that leave people better off than I found them, and projects that improve our tiny corners of the world.
As my sense of what becoming who I am has expanded, so has my vision for “Becoming Who You Are” (i.e. this project). Since starting BWYA, I’ve noticed it’s evolved with my personal development (there’s a saying that we’re drawn to teach what we most need to learn ourselves—so true).
Over the last six months, I’ve focused more on the intersection between self-expression, meaning, and contribution. I’ve been approached & started working with more and more people who want to create and become, and are driven by a sense of meaning and purpose that extends beyond themselves. I’ve hosted a symposium on the psychological and emotional tools we need to be successful entrepreneurs. This is where I see and hear a need, and this is where I see my work and this community heading—not towards entrepreneurship (and I want to be super clear on that) but towards something involving meaning, purpose, change, and betterment.
I don’t fully know what this is going to look like yet (in case you can’t tell ;)), but as I was writing about this I remembered the following story. It captures why I feel so passionate about this next phase of growth, so I want to share it with you today:
The story of the golden BuddhaSeveral hundred years ago, a group of monks in Thailand (then Siam) had a big golden Buddha. Word arrived that the Burmese were about to invade. Rather than have their enemies get their mitts on their beloved (and highly valuable) statue, the monks decided to disguise its worth by covering it with clay.
Their plan worked: the Burmese arrived and figured the statue wasn’t worth looting. They also killed off all of the monks, who took the secret of the statue’s true identity to their graves…
Fast forward to the 1950s and the monastery was being relocated to make room for a Bangkok highway (modern times, yo). As part of the relocation, the monks went to move the statue and found that it was strangely heavy—so heavy that they would likely damage it unless they upgraded their statue-moving equipment. It had also started to rain, so the monks covered it up until they could figure out what to do in the morning. Later that night, the head monk went to check on the statue.
As he shone his torch over the statue, he noticed a crack. Damn. But the crack was… gleaming? He went to get a chisel and started removing the clay around the crack.
Hours later, he found himself standing in front of the solid gold Buddha that had been there all along.
The idea is that we all have our own version of “the golden Buddha” inside us. Throughout our lives, it just gets covered until we forget it’s still in there at all.
Personal growth work is about figuring out how the heck to re-discover our golden Buddha and uncover it again. If you want to stretch the metaphor about as far as it can go, once we’ve uncovered our golden Buddhas, they can shine on the people around us.
That’s enough Budda-talk.
Whenever I’ve shared this story with clients, it’s provoked a lightbulb moment for them. It’s a reminder that we are all valuable in our own ways—if we’re willing to do what it takes to remove the clay.
Are you?
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March 16, 2015
#76: Rediscovering Your Creativity with Margarita Tartakovsky
In this week’s podcast episode, I’m talking to Margarita Tartakovsky about how to rediscover your creativity and add more play to your life. Margarita is an associate editor at Psych Central and author of the upcoming book Make A Mess: Daily Prompts + Projects for Rediscovering Your Creativity And Living A More Playful Life.
Topics we discuss include: Why play is so important to our existence One of the most common myths around creativity, and the truth around what creativity is actually about How to deal with creative insecurity and self-doubt Margarita’s tips for expanding our sense of creativity
…and much more! Share the Wisdom
When we rediscover our creativity, we also rediscover ourselves and different parts of ourselves.
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It’s not our job to worry about what other people will think of us.
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Producing creative work is a vulnerable process
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Margarita’s Website
Weightless (Margarita’s Psych Central blog)
Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life – Dani Shapiro
A Year of Writing Dangerously – Barbara Abercrombie
Playing Big – Tara Mohr (check out my interview with Tara in The Entrepreneur’s Inner World)
The Courage to Write – Ralph Keyes
Jennifer Louden
Alexandra Franzen
Susannah Conway
Austin Kleon
Esmé Wang
Studio Mothers
National Institute for Play
Margarita
Twitter: @MTartakovsky
Website: margaritatartakovsky.com
Blog: Weightless
Hannah
Twitter: @becomewhour
Website: becomingwhoyouare.net
Intro and outro: Stephanie Murphy
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March 11, 2015
Why Your Self-Doubt Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means – with Tanya Geisler
Do you experience self-doubt? (er, are you human?)
I don’t know about you, but I totally get the self-doubt bug whenever I’m trying something new, doing something that requires a greater level of visibility, or growing in some way. In the past, I’ve taken this self-doubt and attached a meaning to it, which usually looks like “I’m not ready to do X,” “I’m not the right person for this,” or “Who am I do be thinking about doing this?”
Enter leadership coach Tanya Geisler, who calls this kind of thinking The Imposter Complex.
In this excerpt from our interview for The Entrepreneur’s Inner World, Tanya shares why our self-doubt doesn’t mean what we think it means (hint: believe it or not, it’s actually a good thing!)
When you reframe your own self-doubt in this way, what is it really telling you?
Want to watch the full interview, plus access 23 other conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, and writers about the psychological and emotional tools we need for entrepreneurship?
The Entrepreneur’s Inner World starts Monday 9th March. Register for free here.
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March 5, 2015
“You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Teach What You Love” — Advice from Sarah K. Peck
One of the most common beliefs I hear from clients time and time again is some variation of “I would love to do X, but I really don’t feel like I’m an expert in that yet…”
I was grateful to have the opportunity to interview writer, storyteller, and designer Sarah K. Peck for the upcoming symposium The Entrepreneur’s Inner World. We talked about the power of starting and touched on this question of whether you really need to be an expert in something in order to teach it to other people and, specifically, to earn money from teaching it.
I loved Sarah’s integrity-based yet inspiring answer. Check out the video below to hear what she said for yourself:
Is there a topic or area you love where you can help people get started?
Want to watch the full interview, plus access 23 other conversations with entrepreneurs, coaches, and writers about the psychological and emotional tools we need for entrepreneurship?
The Entrepreneur’s Inner World starts Monday 9th March. Register for free here.
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March 3, 2015
#75: Is Self-Knowledge Relevant to Entrepreneurship?
This episode of the Becoming Who You Are podcast is slightly different to usual: this time it’s my turn to be in the interview chair! Jake from The Voluntary Life (aka Mr BWYA, my lovely husband) interviewed me about the intersection between self-knowledge and entrepreneurship and why it’s so important.
Topics we cover include: How self-knowledge and entrepreneurship are related Practical tools you can use to deepen your self-knowledge in business and life A few of the psychological tools that are necessary for entrepreneurs
… and much more!
The Entrepreneur’s Inner World is a free online event that will help you develop the mental and emotional tools to take your business to the next level. Join me and a panel of 20+ experts March 9-13. Click here to register!
Hannah
Twitter: @becomewhour
Website: becomingwhoyouare.net
Intro: Stephanie Murphy
Image: Breather via Unsplash
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February 16, 2015
How to Nourish Your Creativity: 16 Creatives Share Their Tips
Nourishing our creative energy is an important way to avoid feeling burned out and drained. I asked 16 of my favourite creatives to share some of the things that they do to keep their creativity alive and well-fed…
Read, listen and observe. I read and I listen and I observe. (I guess that’s three things!) By reading, I’m absorbing someone else’s view on the world, their language, their observations and I’m getting out of my head. By listening and observing, I’m noticing the world, what’s not working, and what the people (specifically, my people!) need, so that I can create more than that. I always get reinvigorated by getting out of my head and noticing the world and the people around me!
- Tara Swiger, taraswiger.com
Focus on simple tasks Notice when you are in the shower, or taking a walk, or on the toilet, and suddenly you are struck with a moment of insight. This isn’t by accident. When we are able to simply soft focus on a simple task, such as showering, our brain is able to slow down, so the unconscious brain is able to leap into action, and create powerful connections we previously hadn’t seen.
Here is a cool Stanford Study about Creativity and Walks.
- Matt Cooke, Creative Warrior Living
Work when inspired and excited When I first started working for myself I was terrible at nourishing my creativity because I’d never needed to sustain it for the long term. Now giving myself time for my ideas to simmer, to make sure I’m rested, and inspired is non-negotiable.
I meditate, read, take classes from people I admire and love to craft and learn new skills. I also try not to work unless I’m really inspired and excited. When my creative batteries are charged my work is better, and I have more to give my clients. It’s been crucial for me to take how I feel into account when I’m looking at my success.
- Kyla Roma, kylaroma.com
Try new things I make an active effort to try new things. Each year on my birthday I make a list of 25 new things I want to try and then I slowly work my way through that list over the course of the year. Each time I get out of my comfort zone, I feel so much more creative!
- Sarah Von Bargen, Yes&Yes // sarahvonbargen.com
Spread creativity across your life The way I keep my creativity alive is to spread it all across my life! By which I mean not boxing it off to one area and saying I’m only creative when I’m doing that. I paint, but I also flex my creative muscles in everything I do, from writing emails to cooking to folding the laundry! I’m always asking, how can I make this more interesting, fun, or effective? Opportunities to be creative are everywhere all the time; once you make that mindset shift life gets much more interesting.
- Tara Leaver, taraleaver.com
Cultivate purposeful connection My creative practice is an ongoing, ever-evolving, changing and growing one. I begin – always – with the breath and with a quiet centered purposeful connection to my body and innermost self. My physical yoga-asana inspires me. My spiritual meditation practice guides me. Trust and intuition light my way.
– Marcie Scudder, marciescudder.com
Sit and breathe Meditation is my path to living creatively. When I feel overwhelmed by the rush of my everyday life or when I feel stuck I take a seat to just sit and be with my breath. My sitting practice helps me pause and get some distance from the rush I am experiencing and in doing that I often connect with an inner wisdom to navigate my right now more mindfully & creatively.
- Aarathi Selvin, Pause for Perspective
Trust in the tools My job – a commercial and documentary photographer – is so reliant on my creativity, my ability to see things, see an image out of whatever I’m photographing and also to see and share the client’s vision for what they want. Sometimes, when I’m not holding my cameras in my hand, I can find it quite overwhelming, thinking ‘what if I’m not feeling creative or I’m just not going to ‘see’ anything, what if I can’t find the shot!’. Over the years, I have taught myself not to panic and to trust that with the camera in hand, everything changes; it gives me confidence and it changes the way I view things, how I approach a scene and also how I see light. Light is THE most important thing and this I search for constantly. It can change an ordinary scene into something utterly beautiful and unique, you just have to look for it.
- Eliza Deacon, Eliza Deacon Photography
Create Space Space nourishes my creativity. That means I let myself have a good sleep because so many of my creative ideas emerge in that space that hovers between sleeping and waking, sometimes in the middle of the night and sometimes in the early morning. That means allowing for downtime during the day to calm the usual mental activity so ideas spontaneously arise in the quiet spaces in between. Space gives birth to my creativity.
- Sandra Pawula, Always Well Within
Honour your energy I make sure I give myself the precious gift of enough solitude and quietude as often as possible. As an introvert, I need to get away from the noise and chatter so that I can dive deep into my inner world, replenish my energy and travel into avenues of creative ideas and splendid discoveries.
– Cigdem Kobu, Peaceful Triumphs
Talking blogging and business offline is one of the biggest things I do to nourish my creativity. I’ve got a few blogging and web design buddies who I try to grab lunch/Skype with on a regular basis. It’s incredibly helpful to get away from work, bounce ideas off someone else, hear what they’re working on, and chat about the good and bad of being an online entrepreneur. I always end up inspired and whip out my phone to take notes. And any business activity that can include dessert or drinks is A+ in my book!
- Sarah Morgan, xosarah.com
My life requires creativity and beauty. It’s one of the ways I feel connected and in full expression of who I am. And as you know, for creativity to flourish, it must be fed. So, the most important thing that I do to nourish my creativity is simply: showing up. I give it space for it to flow through me. Whether that means dedicating time for the studio, pulling out my notebook to sketch while I’m sitting in a waiting room, or just being present and mindful so that I notice when moments of inspiration strike. Showing up for creativity means that I’m devoted to this work. And that allows for more beauty and magic in my life.
- Kristal Norton, KristalNorton.com
– Emma Cameron, resilienceflow.org // emmacameron.com
Engage with materials and processes that are completely different 99% of my art making utilizes one technique — a technique that places great demand on my creativity. I have no idea how my art will turn out. I know what the subject is, I can see it easily enough in the paper, but after that I am working in inspired response to the interaction of the materials. To nourish my creativity it is essential I take time to engage with materials and processes that are completely different, to nurture and receive inspiration in new ways.
– Col Mitchell, colmitchell.com
I often quote a traditional Irish fiddler called Martin Hayes. He says creativity is in the “simple wisdom of knowing what is all around you and playing that” To nourish my own creativity as a contemplative photographer, I listen to fiddle music and it reminds me of my own roots and the soulful depths of the very ordinary. Music is heart stirring and magical. It moves from being something to get lost in to something to jump up and dance to, and I do both!
I talk about contemplative photography here.
Here is Martin talking about roots, music and simple wisdom.
- Catherine Drea, Foxglove Lane Studio
My visionary art comes from my soul and heart, so to nurture the flow of creativity I either do Soul Force Meditation or go on a Shamanic journey. In meditation all except what is of my essence dissolves in the silence. In a journey I take a specific question to spirit for a resolution. In both practices I receive an image, idea or experience of what will come into form.
- Kathleen O’Brien, kathleen-obrien.com
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February 11, 2015
#74: The Gift of Writing with Claire J DeBoer
In this week’s podcast episode, I’m talking to Claire De Boer from The Gift of Writing about one of my favourite personal development topics: journaling.
Topics we discuss include: Why journaling is helpful for deepening our self-awareness and improving our relationship with ourselves Some of Claire’s favourite journaling techniques How to deal with your inner critic when journaling How journaling can help us evolve our creativity
…and much more! Share the Wisdom
Journaling is about being willing to hold the dark parts up to the light.
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Ask your inner critic “What is your role in my life? Why are you here?” Inquire and be curious.
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Our subconscious mind isn’t out to get us. When we get curious, the answers can be quite gentle.
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The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Ira Progoff
750words.com
Claire
Twitter: @ClaireJDeBoer
Website: thegiftofwriting.com
Facebook: facebook.com/clairejdeboer
Hannah
Twitter: @becomewhour
Website: becomingwhoyouare.net
Get your free ebook on how to overcome the 5 most common blocks to authenticity.
Subscribe to the PodcastIntro and outro: Stephanie Murphy
Image credit: Florian Klauer via Unsplash
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February 4, 2015
How I Reframe Difficult Situations, Histories and Circumstances
Earlier this week, I had a conversation with a client, who was second-guessing some of her past decisions. Talking through it, she recognised that she made the best choices she could have at the time, and I posed the question:
What if everything that happened up to now was perfect preparation for what’s coming next?
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I’ve found that when I think about my own life in this context, I feel calmer, stronger, more grounded, and more at peace with my past. Adverse experiences and challenges stop being a weight to carry, a sign of brokenness, and transform into evidence that I have the ability to be creative, capable, and not just survive, but thrive.
So, what if?
What if that bully was perfect preparation for facing the critics of your latest book? What if that angry, aggressive parent was perfect preparation for having amazing boundaries with unreasonable people? What if that snarky, critical mentor was perfect preparation for being able to forge your own path and shrug off other people’s bad juju? What if that rejection was perfect preparation for being able to be the most self-expressed version of yourself you can be, knowing that whatever happens, you will absolutely survive? What if your traumatic experiences were the perfect preparation for being able to empower people to deal with their own experiences in the future? What if that horrible, gut-wrenching, god-awful break-up was the perfect preparation for forming a loving, supportive relationship? What if that betrayal was perfect preparation for heeding your gut instinct in the future?Dealing with this stuff is not easy. Some of it is part of life, some of it should never, ever have happened in the first place. By encouraging you to think about these things in this way, I’m not condoning them, saying they’re OK, saying you should forgive and forget, etc. etc. This reframe isn’t about other people, it’s about you.
We are dealt the cards we’re dealt, either through our own choices or through other people’s actions.
Once we’re dealt those cards, we have a choice: wallow in self-pity, lament life’s unfairness, and reside in resentment, bitterness and anger…
Or, ask ourselves: What if everything that happened up to now was perfect preparation for what’s coming next?
(Hat tip to Brooke Castillo for this powerful question)
Also: How to Shift from Scarcity to Abundance & How to Be Kind to Yourself When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
If you want to make mindset shifts like this, you’re warmly invited to join The Becoming Who You Are Academy. Each month, we cover a new module that will provide you with the tools you need to live with greater authenticity.
The Becoming Who You Are Academy is open for beta enrollment until 14th February. Sign up before then and access the workbooks, group discussions, expert interviews and resources for just £5 per month. Click here for more information and to register.
Image: Grégoire Hervé-Bazin via Unsplash
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February 3, 2015
#73: Emotional Intelligence with Jo Casey
In this week’s podcast episode, I’m talking to Jo Casey about emotional intelligence.
Apologies for the clicking noises in this episode; headphones with built-in microphones + scarves = not a good combination!
Topics we discuss include: What personal development is really about How we can handle our shadow sides Why there’s no such thing has having it “all figured out” Why it’s important to check our assumptions about (and comparisons with) other people How to find the sweet spot between over-sharing and closing off
…and much more! Share the Wisdom
Personal development is about being curious and being able to step into a place of possibility.
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The thoughts in your head don’t define whether you’re a good or bad person.
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Vulnerability isn’t the end goal, it’s a byproduct of living life fully.
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My interview for Jo’s Work Happy Coaching podcast
Myers-Briggs personality test
Jo
Twitter: @JoCaseyB
Website: JoCasey.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JoCaseyB
Hannah
Twitter: @becomewhour
Website: becomingwhoyouare.net
Get your free ebook on how to overcome the 5 most common blocks to authenticity.
Subscribe to the PodcastIntro and outro: Stephanie Murphy
Image credit: Josepha Holland-Merten
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January 26, 2015
How to Get What You Want: Advice from Supercoach Michael Neill
How do you go about getting what you want?
In his book Supercoach, Michael Neill summarises the three main approaches that most of us use to get what we want from life. He breaks our behaviour down into three approaches: acquisition-based thinking, attraction-based thinking, and creation-based thinking:
“—Acquisition-based thinking places the power outside us in the visible physical world. If we want some of that power for ourselves, we need to go out and get it. When we don’t get what we want, it’s either because the world is rigged against people like us or we just aren’t trying hard enough.
—Attraction-based thinking places the power outside us in the invisible metaphysical world. If we want to tap into that power we need to align our thoughts, feelings, intentions and desires. When we don’t get what we want, it’s either because God/the universe has a higher plan for us or we just aren’t thinking positively enough.
—Creation-based thinking recognizes that the power is (and always has been) inside us. We access that power through the choices we make about how to be (our “ground of being”), how to see (our attitude, or “angle of approach”) and what to do (the words we speak and the actions we take). When we don’t get what we want, it’s either beaver we haven’t yet found a way or it’s just taking more time than we want it to. No blame, no fault, no shame. And when getting what you want stops being about you and becomes more simply about what you want, it becomes a lot easier.”
—Supercoach, Michael Neill (2013)
In other words, as Michael writes, the question we need to ask ourselves isn’t “What do I want?” but “What would I love to create?”
What would you love to create this year?
If you want to focus on creating, you’re warmly invited to join The Becoming Who You Are Academy. The Academy is a brand new community that offers the classes in “life 101” that we never received (but would have been very useful). Transform ideas into action, and live, learn and grow with the support of kindred spirits.
The Becoming Who You Are Academy launches 1st February. Sign up before then and access the workbooks, group discussions, expert interviews and resources for just £5 per month. Click here for more information and to register.
Image: Dustin Scarpitti
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