Many cultures view the elephant as a symbol of strength and power. It has also been praised for its stamina, mental faculties, cooperative spirit, and loyalty. These are wonderful qualities. In fact, these qualities are ones that I feel we all should to strive for within ourselves, especially in these challenging times. So how can…
In this short video, Gordon Hempton, an acoustic ecologist who has spent over thirty years recording the steadily vanishing natural soundscapes, talks about the impact that one square inch of silence can have on nature and the world. As I listened to this video, I began to ponder what the impact that each of…
How do you respond when the outcome you envisioned is different than what you wanted? Does your need to be in control override your ability to see the humor and growth opportunity the situation has created? Are you able to laugh, look at the pattern you are tripping over and make a different choice? Or…
It doesn’t matter if you win or lose; it is how you play the game. Really? Winning the game may seem important in the moment, but if you walk away knowing you compromised values that are really important to you, you will have lost something more important— your integrity. With this in mind, ask yourself:…
Do you have to be in the right mood to create? Or does creating put you in the right mood? I personally feel that creativity is a simple and powerful way to put yourself in the right mood because it activates your conscious mind. When you are in the conscious mind, your brain dumps oxytocin…
A Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania study found that coloring, drawing, and doodling make us feel more relaxed because they activate the prefrontal cortex, which helps control the brain’s reward pathways and contributes to our emotions, decision-making capabilities, and motivation. In this study, the participants were given paper and markers and instructed to doodle in several…
Over the years many teachers, therapists, and parents have shared some of their novel adaptations of the ICWIB program with me. Today I would like to share some of them with you. A woman who works with high risk children and their families told me that whenever she does a home visit she always carries…
When was the last time you scribbled? I mean really scribbled with abandonment. When was the last time you allowed yourself to cut loose and do something as childish as scribbling? Well, today may be the day you need to cut loose again. Scribbling can serve many purposes. It can be an aerobic activity that…
This short excerpt from the I Create What I Believe!(ICWIB) Instructional Guide DVD explains how the ICWIB Activity Four-Labyrinth-Activity Four can be used to relax the body and quiet the mind. This more harmonious mind state can help an individual connect more deeply to their authentic nature, create more peace in their life, and increase…
“I am stronger because I had to be, I am smarter because of my mistakes, happier because of the sadness I’ve known, and I am wiser because I have learned.” –Unknown Personal growth does not magically happen. Growth takes place because we are challenged and instead of running away, we step up and accept the…