Hello and welcome to the festive edition of our Focus newsletter.
Merry Christmas to those of you who are celebrating and happy holidays to everyone.
I hope your dreams materialised this year and if you are still on the journey, let’s face it that’s most of us remember anything that moves you forward is a step in the right direction and that’s progress.
For many, December is full of pressure to be prepared and perfect, give the perfect gift, the perfect party, and have the perfect plans. On the other side, there is also a lot of trauma and heartache in the world.
What if we plan to focus on what’s important to us and tell those that we love that we love them?
What if we are present for each other because that’s the biggest gift we can give to one another?
What if we see, hear, and acknowledge each other and our differences, because that’s what makes us, US!
We are here on the earth together, we are all humans “being”, so what if we plan to unite not separate?
The world is unravelling, let’s plan to enjoy being with those we love and open our hearts to those we don’t yet understand.
Creative Fuel
Here in Europe December is a time for wrapping up in layers, warming ourselves by the fire and celebrating the festive season.
“We do not learn from experience.
We learn by reflecting on experience.“
John Dewey
December is a great time to reflect on the past year.
If you can allow yourself some quiet time, ask yourself:
What worked?
What didn't?
What wasn't completed?
What you’ve learned?
Everything is an opportunity for creative growth, be honest with yourself, trust your answers and let your creative spirit guide you.
Reflect back on what you have uncovered about yourself: if we learn from our experience, we don’t repeat the same patterns.
Endings are magical because there is a new beginning, so remember to allow yourself the time to see what you want to call into your life next year.
Fire doesn’t burn unless we add fuel and it’s the same with creativity, so remember to add fuel to your creative fire.
Nurture your visions and intentions for 2024 and fuel your creative fire regularly.
When your creative heartbeat and your creative self are energised the magic happens.
Over the years I’ve learned that when I get a feeling of irritation, I’ve stepped over my boundaries, my energy drops and my focus goes, so I no longer feel energised and creative.
This can be a slippery slope of self-destruction, so I know I need to take action and, for me, the quickest route to regain my energy is to spend time in nature.
Nature feeds your soul and heals your wounds.
Nature refuels and gives a sense of hope and that everything will be ok.
If you can add time in your busy schedule to be in nature, I recommend the gift of calmness that it brings.
The Magic of the Season
Over twenty years ago talking to another participant on a training course they told me they carried a small notebook, and each day wrote down three things that they thought were magical. My mindset was way different back then and I thought how many!
They saw the look on my face and said “Start with one thing, the magic will grow!”
I was in London at the time and at the end of the day walked passed Paperchase on Tottenham Court Rothad on the way back to the hotel. Walking in without thinking I bought a beautiful small notebook with a red cover. I began to carry it with me. At first, I jotted down something each day that I felt was magical, a stranger paying for my parking when I hadn’t got the right change, a friend buying me a coffee, a colourful bouquet arriving: small moments that were beautiful and uplifting.
I realised quite quickly there was a lot of magic in my life!
Within a short time, I had filled the book. What surprised me was it was also full of poetry and that poetry was healing my soul.
I called my book ‘The Little Book of Magic’ and it is…because what you focus on grows and transforms your mindset 😉
Anything that uplifts or helps with mindset is a gift, and as this is the season of magic, what if you bought yourself a small notebook?
What if that single thing helped you see a brighter day?
Wishing you season greetings, a peaceful end to 2023 and here’s to a successful and creative 2024.
Learn, create and inspire together!
This was really beautiful, Nikki! ❤️ A great reminder.