#79 - Action... Action... But No Satisfaction?

This blog post can be found at You Inspire Me.

All future blog posts will be published at this address; the title of this blog is now:

The World Needs Your Passion

Subscribe to The World Needs Your Passion via the sign-up box on the website to receive future blog posts direct to your inbox.

I look forward to staying connected.

Warm wishes
Corrina Gordon-Barnes

#78 - Press My Button

Everyone has a weak spot. Mine? Things breaking.

When a piece of equipment fails or some software doesn't work properly, a button of mine gets pressed. Some old pattern of not feeling safe in the world gets triggered and I utterly freak out. I have tears, I punch pillows, I tell the world how much I hate it and that I don't want to have anything to do with it if it's all going to be so unreliable.

It's irrational, it's out of character and I'm almost reluctant to share it - but I'm doing so because I know that we all have our own triggers. One close friend has dyscalculia; figuring out train times, dates and logistics sends her in to a cold sweat. Some of us dread the dentist, others find it hard to be around food; some shake at the thought of speaking in public, others throw wobblies when choosing what to wear; some of us become different versions of ourselves around authority figures and others of us can't bear criticism and failure.

When our buttons get pressed, here are some options....

#1 Avoid
Ever notice that desire to evacuate... from yourself? When something breaks, I can go into "I cannot deal with this" mode and shut down or disengage in order to protect myself. Others of us - to use the examples above - will avoid meal times, giving talks or travelling.

#2 Delegate
This option is expected in most organisations and it's important to remember that finding our own path doesn't mean we have to do everything ourselves. There are certain emails or pieces of paperwork which I simply forward to my web developer or my accountant. Conversely, I'm happy doing activities which others feel less comfortable with, like giving talks or sitting with with someone who's crying in total despair. What are we comfortable with that others aren't? This can be a great clue, revealing to us our niche a.k.a. where we're most needed.

#3 Turn The Light On
This option is about recognising that often the monster under the bed is scary only because it's the unknown. I can avoid and delegate all I like but sometimes I'm going to be home alone when a circuit blows and I need to know what to do with that fuse box. It takes a deep breath and a swallow of pride. I need to allow myself to be incompetent and vulnerable and say: "I find this hard. Help me learn" if I am committed to moving forward in an empowered way.

The world needs your passion, so...

1) Without judging, scan your life to see: What are your buttons? What triggers your fear, your discomfort, your desire to run and hide? What overwhelms you so much that you short-circuit? What could someone say or do that would spin you off track for the whole rest of the day? What brings you out in a cold sweat? Take a deep breath and just look.

2) Assess how you currently deal with these situations by reading back over the three options I highlight. Do you avoid or reactively delegate? What would be your version of getting up close and personal with that fuse box?

3) Leave a comment, letting us know how you deal with your trigger points....

© Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

** Does failure trigger you? **
When you fail at something, do you come up against a default mantra like "I'm no good" or "I should give up"? Or do you attempt to avoid the experience in the first place by sticking with seemingly 'safe' paths?

It's important that we 'catch' this mantra, examine it and then ask ourselves: Is this what I choose?

If your current mantra on failing isn't working for you, grab the final place on the Fail Is NOT A Four Letter Word workshop on Sat 20th June in London. Click here for more information and to book that place.

#77 - It's Not About Me

"At school, certain kids were being labelled as 'disruptive' or 'low achievers'. Then we created a farm. Suddenly, these tough kids with harsh backgrounds were going gooey over the rabbits. It was the first time some of them had ever cuddled anything. They were people, not labels. That's when it started for me."

Jane Tewson is the pioneering imagination behind Comic Relief, PilotLight & Timebank. We'd met at the Chain Reaction event (see my earlier post) and I asked for her words of wisdom: What would she say to other women who had ideas that could make a real difference in the world, but were blocked from seeing them into action?

Her perspective is that our focus needs to be over there on those we want to help. "People sit back and say 'I'd love to help'. I say, if you have an idea, just get in there. Go and test it out. If you want to work with homeless people, find out about a charity, visit the night hostel, learn more about the area. Talk to people, listen to what they need. Once you do that, you can't not follow your passion".

She finds her way through blocks that many of us would stumble over because of this focus. She's also an advocate of acknowledging what you're not so suited for. "The reason I do the work I do is that I learnt very early on that I'm not made of the stuff you need to work directly with people who are suffering. I do the second best - which is supporting those people who are made of that stuff."

I tell her she makes it sound so easy. "You have to find where you are most able to use who you are. I recognise that I'm not very good at very much. I'm shy, I'm not good with numbers or writing or speaking. I'm not actually that clever or talented. At school, I really lacked confidence because of my dyslexia. As I've got older, I've got much more honest about that. What I am good at is being a catalyst. I have an idea, I think about all the people you need to get a campaign off the ground and I get us all together in a room to brainstorm. My role is to inspire people and help them feel confident about the idea. More and more, people just come and say, 'I want to work with you'. I've been overwhelmed by that."

As we find and follow our passion, what would it be like to make it less about us? Imagine if we could all put ourselves fully in service, warts and all, knowing that we aren't brilliant at everything, that we won't always be successful, but that we will act anyway because something other than us compels us to do so. Each of us carries ideas and gifts which others need. It is our duty and our honour to put them into action, into reality.

Do Things Differently
1) What's it really about? Your dream, that nagging ambition that won't go away.... Imagine that the idea is not yours, not for you, but that you are just a vehicle for it. Who are you carrying the idea for? Action: Make a list of the people your idea would help and commit to speaking with some of them about what they need and how you can help. (Some would call this 'market research')

2) What are the strengths that you currently have which you can rely on to help you turn this idea into reality? What are the areas you need to seek the help of others? Who could you enlist? Action: Contact them to ask for what you need.

3) Leave a comment here on this blog, letting us know what it's like to see yourself as carrying an idea which is for others, what it's like to put your focus on others, and what it's like to enlist the help of others...

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

** Ready to make the difference you're here to make?**
If you're blocked by fear of failure, it's not just you who's missing out. Your project could be helping others... and that means you need to risk the highs and lows, the successes AND the failures. Ready? Join the Fail Is NOT A Four Letter Word workshop. Only 4 days left at the early-bird price so if you know you're ready to drop the baggage and put yourself in service, do book now.

#76 - Change One Thing

We used to sleep in the loft. The previous owners had it converted into a beautiful bedroom space that many our visitors have made appreciative noises about. However, the designers neglected to include heating so for four years we shivered through cold winter nights. This week we finally admitted that much as we'd tried, it just wasn't working for us. It was time for a change, time to take ownership so we pulled the bed apart and moved it down to the first floor. Other rooms had to be gutted and rearranged to compensate which was hard work but very much worth it. Our primary goal has been attained - we're cosier and more comfortable - and there have been extra benefits too. We want to invite people round more, it's better for our relationship, and I've got a more organised office space.The house just makes more sense this way round, with rooms having more appropriate roles, and we've felt much more inclined to tidy and clean (I've turned into a super-proud domestic goddess, in fact).

Change isn't always easy, pleasant or beautiful. Sometimes we have to create a mess before we get things in order. If you'd taken a snapshot of us trying to squeeze the mattress down our spiralling staircase or the two of us attempting a four-burly-men reassembly job, then you'd have thought we were worse off than if we'd still been in that cold bedroom. My clients experience this too. Sometimes they risk a change and things don't go brilliantly at first: a new kind of work is far more exhausting than the previous one, they take brave moves and others don't respond well or they sell their house and the eco-community they dreamed of finding doesn't emerge.

This is why it's so important to remember that finding and following our passion is a journey. There will be wrong turns... and also right turns which go up hills before we can sail down the other side. There may be chaos initially and things can look worse before they get better. This is why I love the metaphor of a sliding puzzle which you'll see as the image above. The picture could look 90% right but if we want the picture to be complete, something has to give. We have to change some thing, make the move and risk dismantling and rearranging if we want to really go for what we want.

Do Things Differently

What one thing could you change? What could be reallocated or rearranged to get things moving in the direction you want? For example, reallocating ten minutes of your day to meditation or planning, asking to reduce your employed hours to four days a week or turning the corner of a room into a mini home office. Make a list of options and then do one. What happens when you change one thing? Let us know....

** Want to change something... but scared of failing? ** Every time we change something, there's a chance we'll fail. How are you with that possibility? For many of us, failing is not an option we embrace and so we stay stuck, not taking that risk. The impact? Stagnation, abandoned projects, bottom line = not achieving what we want to achieve or being as happy or fulfilled as we know we can be.

Click here to find out more about a workshop that will change this for you. NB The early-bird deadline of 30th April is getting closer so if you'd like to join us, save £10 by booking in the next couple of weeks.

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009.

#75 - Spirit of Competition

I used to believe I wasn't competitive. Growing up, my three siblings would race to play Monopoly; I would groan and drag myself over to join them. I dropped out of swimming lessons as a child because I hated how geared they were towards racing, and I dreaded Sports Day. So I was overjoyed to find, through my involvement with the sustainability movement, that there was support for this position. I would often encounter polarised, black and white lists which laid out: old paradigm = competition, new paradigm = co-operation. I felt such relief to be on the side where competition was no longer relevant.

And then I won the Ooffoo Laureate 2008 award. Throughout the process - entering, promoting the competition, waiting to hear - I've found myself having to think anew about how I feel about competition. How could I square my lifelong disdain of competition with how delighted I was to be involved, and then to have won?

I wondered this aloud and my partner, a teacher, gave me an alternative perspective whereby co-operation and competition happily co-exist. Her students enter a nationwide competition, submitting creative work which represents their personal response to a philosophical question. The project spans a number of weeks, during which time the students support and bounce ideas off each other in order to improve their work. Even though their work ultimately will be judged against each other, they don't seem to feel any need to hoard or conceal their ideas.

In this example, I see the true spirit of competition. I see how crucial the set up of the task is - how my partner emphasises the process, not the winning; how the experience is presented not as a cut-throat venture with just one prize to aim for, but rather one that they can share and enjoy with their classmates. I also see a pervasive trust in the uniqueness of each individual and their ideas. It reminds me of a jigsaw. When we seek to put pieces in position, we're not assessing which ones are 'better' than others, we're simply noticing the right fit for the right gap.

I've been wondering: did I make up this story that I hated competition.... because I was a bad loser? My siblings always beat me at Monopoly, my short-sight meant I couldn't see where I was going in the swimming races, and I was a slow runner. Had I shied away from competition because I hadn't always succeeded?

We need to investigate the stories we tell ourselves about what losing, failure and rejection mean. As we compete for jobs, contracts, prizes or places on training courses, there will be those instances where we fit... and those where we do not. Our role, then, is to put ourselves out there, to play the game. By doing so, we're not asking: "Am I worthy? Am I a good person? Am I valid and allowed to be on this Earth?" We're simply stating: "I'm here. Am I needed for this?" Competition can be uplifting and part of what moves us forward IF losing is just as valid and bearable an outcome as winning. As long as we ensure that losing won't destroy us, I'm coming to believe that competition has its place.

Do Things Differently

1) Inquiry: How healthy is your relationship with competition? What story do you tell yourself when you win, and what story do you tell yourself when you lose?

2) Action: Scan your To Do list for those actions which always seem to get put aside. Would they involve competing in some way? If they do and you notice that your perspective on losing, failing or rejection is what's keeping you stuck, take action to get a new perspective on these possibilities [see below for my upcoming workshop].

3) Comment on this post, letting us know how you perceive competition and how that perspective helps or hinders you. Also, what do YOU think about the place of competition in a sustainable society?

** Workshop: Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word **
Are you a bad loser? Do you hold back because the idea of failure is horrific? If seeing life in terms of success or failure is stopping you from playing the game and claiming your place, join us for the Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word workshop on Sat 20th June. There are three place left and the early-bird price ends on 30th April.

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

change of pace & special announcement

This Doing Things Differently blog is shifting to fortnightly as I dedicate time to creating content for my new website.

There's no blog post this week but instead I am delighted to announce that my article, The World Needs Your Passion, has won the Ooffoo Laureate 2008 award. Thank you SO much to those of you who voted and to those of you who have sent me messages letting me know the impact of this piece on you.

Click here to read the full article and the judges' feedback. You can also get a feel for what Ooffoo is all about and enjoy other fantastic pieces of writing.

See you back here next week when I'll be exploring: What place is there for competition in a sustainable society?

#74 - Age of Genius

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDDE8JUm9jA



How often have you contemplated the extinction of the human species? I hadn't, until I watched The Age of Stupid last year (see trailer above). The premise of the film is that it's 2055 and we humans have made our planet uninhabitable through our climate-changing activity. The film premiered this weekend in London in true walk-the-talk fashion: solar-powered projection, pedal-powered popcorn maker and celebs arriving on bikes or by tube.

When I first watched the film, I felt total despair. It's like receiving news that you have a terminal illness... and that the entire human family has it too. It is so important that we give ourselves space to feel the enormity and potential tragedy of the situation AND that our feelings can be channelled into impassioned action. It's perfect, then, that this film is now launched in conjunction with the Not Stupid campaign, aiming to turn 250 million passive viewers into climate change activists in time for the all-critical Copenhagen Climate Conference later this year.

What is it to be an activist? Well, writer/director Franny Armstrong and her crew made this film. A client of mine joined her local carbon reduction group the day after seeing the film. Many of us will vote with our feet by marching on 28th March and 5th December. The President of the Maldives has announced his nation's commitment to becoming carbon-neutral in the next ten years. Actor Pete Postlethwaite has pledged that if the Kingsnorth dirty coal power station is commissioned, he will give back his OBE and ask the Queen to dissolve this present parliament. We are all finding our role, our Contribution Footprint as I call it, and I am privileged enough to work with individuals who take that journey.

We need nothing less than a revolution, nothing less than a miracle. The good news? We're fully capable of that. Our history books have told us about human potential and reminded us never to underestimate the significance of the one and the power of the many. We have had many dress rehearsals for the revolution now needed. Let us not limit our imagination; let us change our climate to one of individual empowerment and collective solution-creation.

My perspective is that we are now entering the Age of Genius - a time in which we are engaged, empowered and uplifted, connected to our community and confident about what we have to offer. I don't believe we are stupid. I don't believe that when we really see what is happening, we would choose to make a collective suicide pact. I believe that after millennia of societal evolution, this is our opportunity to be what we've deep down hoped we are: Genius.

Do Things Differently

1) This week, enjoy being part of a revolution; get aware and get active. As Franny Armstrong, writer/director of the film says, it's not about 'the one thing I can do', it's about doing everything we can. Watch Age of Stupid this weekend, watch the clips from the premiere on YouTube, join the Not Stupid campaign and check out what Stop Climate Chaos are up to. Find ways of politically engaging by connecting with your MP, signing petitions, marching or joining a local group.

2) Notice what emotions and 'stories' arise within you - "One person can't make a difference" "What do I have to offer?" "I'm a nobody compared with all these people". Or maybe "It's all their fault" "This is a fight" or "How can I live with my guilt?" Notice, give space and decide what you want to do with this internal monologue.

3) Here are a few other options to throw into the mix. A couple of films on my radar: Fuel and The Next Industrial Revolution. We also have Earth Hour coming up on Sat 28th March and finally, if you'd like 100% renewable electricity, sign up to Good Energy, quoting GEP0071 when asked how you heard.

4) Join the discussion here. Seen the film? What were your thoughts/feelings? Don't want to see it? What are your reasons? I'd love to hear....

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009.

** Are you desperate to make your contribution to this Age of Genius, but notice fear of failure holding you back? Perhaps it manifests in procrastination or disengagement? Time to address this very common block. New date for Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word workshop: Saturday 20th June 09, Euston, London, 10am - 4pm. For more information and to book, click here. **

#73 - Think For Yourself

It's not often I criticise but for the sake of Doing Things Differently, I want to share an experience which shook me this weekend.

I went to a talk by a highly articulate, charming and entertaining speaker. The topic was exactly my field of interest, his words were beautiful and I made copious notes. His core message made sense to me... and yet I also felt a nagging unease. It later became apparent that his governing agenda was to sign people up to become members of his global networking 'nation' which would cost a few thousand pounds. I happily pay to be affiliated with wonderful organisations so this wasn't the problem. No - here's what bothered me....

The more he talked, the smaller I felt. His promise was that if I joined his organisation, I would feel big, important and connected. If I joined his team, I'd be 'in', if I didn't, I was 'out'. His talk was about a more equitable world and yet when I looked for evidence of him walking the talk, I couldn't find it. His air miles, his choice of breakfast provision and large corporate hotel venue did not reflect the sustainable future to which he was referring. I tried to ask a question during his presentation, but I was ignored amid all the cheering, whooping, "Yes!" shouting and raised hands he was encouraging. I went over to speak one-to-one with him twice. He was like plastic. He wouldn't hold my eye contact and seemed entirely uninterested by me and my desire to connect. He didn't hear my acknowledgement and he batted away my questions.

I actually cried when I'd got far enough away from the venue to take a breath. I realised the feeling I had was of being violated - taken away from my own truth and whipped up into a 'bigger, faster, better' frenzy, so far from the message he ostensibly was conveying. Beautifully juxtaposed was what happened next. I hopped on a bus and asked the driver whether he went to Angel tube station; he looked at me with a smile and said, "YOU'RE an angel". I glowed for the next half hour. That's my compass - how I feel when one-to-one with a person and how I'm left feeling afterwards. A true leader is one where you come away feeling inspired to find YOUR way, YOUR possibilities. Where you feel big enough to lead, not scared enough to follow.

I've had my beloved grandmother staying with me the last few days and I am always fascinated by her tales of growing up as a Jewish girl under Nazi oppression. Perhaps I get so passionate about this topic because I still cannot understand the herd mentality which allowed such atrocities to take place. In a time of fear and uncertainty, charismatic leaders undoubtedly emerge, promising us wealth, safety and freedom - IF we go their way. We must keep thinking for ourselves. Healthy criticism and discernment are imperative. When a new idea comes our way, let us chew it. See how it tastes, see how we feel. Only then, let's decide if we want to swallow.

[And please chew, taste and feel THAT suggestion before even thinking about swallowing.....]

Do Things Differently
1) Inquiry: What is everyone jumping on board about... but something in you tells you otherwise? What would you have to do if you let yourself trust those instincts?
2) Action: Next time you hear a broadcast, read an article or blog post (yes, including mine!), engage head and heart fully and feel whether this is true for you. How do you know? How do you use your body, your instincts and your rational brain to decide? How do you ensure fear isn't speaking, or your Saboteur? What's your compass? Challenge: Be bold enough to say when you don't feel aligned with someone's message. Speak out in a crowd if no-one is questioning the status quo. Dare to do things differently, for the sake of freedom of thought.
3) Leave a comment here, letting us know your take on thinking for yourself. Refreshing? Challenging? Have you needed to be brave, put your neck on the line, stand out from the crowd or lose friends? Have you gained new respect, realised others thought the same, or felt more fulfilled because you were living your truth? Let us know....

Ooh - and do look closely at the picture. Herd mentality.....? :)

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

#72 - Food For Thought

I've just watched the most amazing BBC documentary, A Farm For The Future. It's available to watch on iPlayer until 14th March and I'd highly recommend it (with thanks to Maddy Harland, editor of Permaculture Magazine, who alerted me to this must-see).

In the documentary, Rebecca Hosking takes a thorough and honest look at our food chain and how the end of cheap, abundant oil will affect what we eat. Her explorations take her to peak oil experts, a Soil Association conference, and permaculture-designed small-holdings.

I found it very accessible because she doesn't set out to preach or convert. In fact, it's a tale of her conversion. She's a very regular woman coming from a family of farmers and yet doesn't cling stubbornly to 'the way things are done'. Instead, she's willing to look anew and investigate her (our) inherited assumptions about how we feed ourselves. She acknowledges with deep respect and gratitude what her family have passed on to her AND is brave and humble enough to explore doing things differently. She doesn't know if alternative ways of managing her land will work but she recognises that the current way is unsustainable and so other options must be found.

As she takes in the alarming facts and statistics about our imported food and fossil-fuel-dependent system, we can see her fear and yet rather than going into denial - as we all so easily could - she keeps her eyes open so that she can find genuine solutions.

Here is a living, breathing example for all of us of how to compassionately challenge the status quo in the area of life most close to our hearts. Whether it be food production, medicine, or our education, housing or transport systems, the message is: Another way is possible. It might take courage and hard work but perhaps what's at stake makes it worth it.

Do Things Differently
1) Inquiry: What's the area you're most passionate about? What other ways are possible there?
2) Action: What's one step you could take to find new solutions for this area? Is it getting together with like-minded people or doing research? Or is there a big project you're just on the verge of starting already? Take a deep breath, gather your courage, and just get started. Let the passionate urgency of Rebecca's work inspire you.
3) Inquiry: Where in your life do you need to swallow your pride, acknowledge that things aren't working, and go back to the drawing board or seek support?

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

** What's it like to have a goal you're passionate about, but keep feeling it slip away from you? How important does it feel to see it through this time? Jump on to the New Way Resolutions e-course. At £7.50, this offers a super-affordable way of staying focused on what you want to achieve. Click here to read how the e-course works, how it has helped others and subscribe now to join the March 2009 course. No more excuses. Resolutions are not just for January 1st. **

#71 - Staying Slow In The Fast Lane

I'm giving up speed for Lent. It's losing its appeal. More and more, I'm experiencing the benefits of slowing down and creating space for breath, for inspiration.

I came back to my emails after a gloriously relaxing and nurturing week away with a commitment to process them fully. I am allowing myself time to engage fully with the person and ideas behind the words, instead of feeling I have to frantically catch up.

Then my pace changed. In the last couple of days, I've received three HUGE and fantastic pieces of news (I'll reveal all soon!) and the latest, this morning, just sent me buzzing with excitement. After a good amount of running around and squealing with joy, I sat down to write this blog post. Adrenalin was rushing round and my mind created ten possible drafts in as many minutes and promptly discarded them all. My pace was too hectic; it wasn't comfortable.

Later, as I walked in the beautiful Botanic Gardens, I realised that one of my Saboteur's most cunning strategies is to wind me up so fast that I start stumbling and no longer hear that quiet, still, secure inner voice - that part of me which breathes in excitement, which basks, floats and savours.

This week, I've also received emails from several of my clients sharing their big news. Outer achievements such as an album launch and a TV interview, inner shifts such as relationship breakthroughs and realisations about their evolving Contribution Footprint™. It's been a total pleasure to really 'meet' each one - to slow down, sink deeply into that encounter and respond from my heart.

My speedy Saboteur loves to tell me that life is a race and the faster I go, the safer I am. In calmness and steadiness, I can see that my inner voice is continually wanting to lead me and I feel so much more secure listening to and following that. I am making a resolution to go a new way. Old Saboteur with his rollercoastering and brake screeching can't compete when I remember I get to choose my pace.

Do Things Differently
1) Right in this moment, what pace are you moving at - internally and externally? Speed up 10% for a few minutes and then slow down 10% for another few minutes to get a sense of where you are on the full spectrum of possibilities. Which animal, vehicle or aspect of nature is your pace like? How does this current pace serve you? What does it make possible and what does it hinder?

2) Let us know whether you're someone who could do with a jump-start and acceleration or whether you need to take a breather and move slower. I'd love to get a sense from these blog comments of what the most common challenges are - and what speed settings YOU might like to give up for Lent! And if you're craving more slow, take the opportunity of this moment to do that right now: re-read this blog post at a languid tortoise pace and notice what's different.

3) Resolving to pursue a new way is often a process of forward-movement and slip-backs, rather than a done-and-dusted one-off event. Let my New Way Resolution e-course support you through that process for a whole month for just £7.50. Click here to read how the e-course has helped others and subscribe by next Monday to join the March course.

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

#70 - Give Me A Journey

I have been immersed in workshops this weekend. I ran my full-day Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word on Saturday and then threw myself into the experience of Katie Rose's Singing The Song That We Are on Sunday. Both were gloriously full with eager participants, despite the snow and distance they had to travel.

Many of us have been to workshops which engaged only our brains. We've sat with paper and pen, talked through relatively superficial questions, and left without knowing each others' names. When I go to a workshop, I want to be taken on a journey. I want to go from somewhere to somewhere and I want to trust the workshop facilitator to be my guide. I want them to have a map, but not grip on to it too firmly. Katie did this beautifully. There was a flow from one exercise to the next and my whole body was involved through sound, movement, words, drama and more. She stood back and allowed us to explore and then stepped in with her exquisite intuition to nudge us towards new places to look. I left the day with so much serenity, humming contentedly to myself all the way home.

When I go on these journeys, I also want to feel like others are there with me - that's we're seeing each other and being seen. I am always blown away by how my fear-of-failure-busting gang connects and supports each other. This group shared hugs and tears, acknowledgements and whoops of celebration. They've all swapped emails and are already continuing their conversations. In fact, a couple of them have suggested that they have a six month reunion - and this is a group who spent just six hours with each other.

It is a precious honour to be trusted to guide people through a learning journey and this weekend I've been reminded of how equally wonderful it is to find someone, such as Katie, who can do that for me. It's a true skill to create a space safe enough for a group of strangers to explore an issue such as fear of failure, resistance, self-doubt, and insecurities. After my workshop, one of the more apprehensive participants said to me: "It was amazing how quickly and easily I could open up to people I didn't know. I realised that we were all in the same boat so no-one was judging anyone else". If as a workshop facilitator you can set up the expectation of openness and model vulnerability, something sacred is created. It's a container which allows people to let go and go deep. They can cry and sing and shout - as they did this weekend! - and actually move through a block, rather than merely thinking about it.

Do Things Differently
1) What kind of journey do you already take others on? Fear to freedom? Stress to calm? Overwhelm to simplicity? Unfitness to health? What do you do naturally, just because of who you are? - and are there ways in which you could package this and actually offer that journey as a 1-1 or group process?
2) What journey are you ready for? Where do you want to go from and to? Who can be your guide?
3) Check out Katie's website, The Rose Window, for her full moon chanting, workshops & upcoming second album launch.


(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

** There's no Doing Things Differently next week so here's a challenge... If YOU were writing this blog, what would you write about? Where are you noticing yourself doing - or wanting to do - things differently? How could your experiences help others in finding new pathways? **

** Fail workshop coming to London.... June 2009, date and venue tbc. Book early to avoid disappointment**

#69 - Out Of The Extra-Ordinary

Today in Cambridge, my neighbourhood is at its most beautiful. Covered in powdery snow, the landscape exudes a regal calm. I've been out for several walks and whoops, the cold air waking me up to the magnificence of being alive. I've chatted with neighbours I've never seen before and laughed with kids throwing snow-balls. There's a real feeling of community here as the extra-ordinariness of today takes us out of our houses and jobs and into our streets. We've been given the chance to see the familiar anew.

For some, weather like this is inconvenient at best, dangerous at worst. I'm under no illusions that snow is pure magic. If you're dependent on help arriving at your door or need to get somewhere urgently, this is no fun and my heart goes out to you. For many of us, though, we can seize today as a chance to get off the treadmill, postpone till tomorrow, grab our friends, family, partner and colleagues and reconnect, rest, energise and reflect. We can take time out of the ordinary to enjoy the full potential of the extra-ordinary.

At its very least, this weather reminds us of how beholden we are to nature, to our climate. We are not in control, no matter how much we pretend to be. The huge snowflakes blowing in my face this morning said loud and clear: Sometimes you have to receive and adapt. We must be open to negotiating new ways of living. When the bus doesn't run, the car's snowed under or the school's shut down, we create new options - for one day, maybe for more. When we allow ourselves to detach from business as usual, we find different - sometimes preferable - ways of living in these times.

Sometimes our world does things differently - and we just get to follow...

Do Things Differently
1) Inquiry: How do I respond when the extra-ordinary happens, when 'business as usual' is not possible?
2) Inquiry: Where in my life am I trying to fight to re-establish business as usual when I could let go and trust that another way is possible? Which of life's circumstances could I receive and adapt to?
3) For goodness sake, get out there! In the UK as in other parts of the world, this snow is so rare and so precious. Let's get wet, get dirty, take the risk of saying hello to people, swing out.
4) Please feel free to comment on this post, letting us know about your laughter and learnings on this snow day.

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

** Does fear of failing keep you plodding on with business as usual, even though you're longing for the extra-ordinary? **
My Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word workshop this Saturday only has ONE place left and I may have a taker so instead of promoting that, I'm including a link to an 'expression of interest' form. This means you'll be first to hear about future workshops, 1-1 coaching & e-products to support you with breaking free from this discomfort.
Click here to let me know you'd like to be free from fear of failure sometime soon!

#68 - Throw Out The Baby

Change is afoot at You Inspire Me. Behind the scenes, my website is in revamp, automated systems are being put in place, and I'm growing a team - all of which will allow me to communicate my work more easily and give me more time to develop and deliver services I love.

And as I've been putting these new plans and procedures in place, my Saboteur has been having a field day. [Saboteur = that part of us which wants to keep things as they are, not rock the boat, and therefore sabotage any forward movement]. His stance is that change is a bad thing and he drags me down, telling me that these changes must mean that everything I've done before has failed, been wrong. He would love to convince me it's all too much, to throw out the baby with the bath water. When he's in charge, I feel wobbly, even despairing. Thankfully, over the years I've become intimately acquainted with his strategies and when he allows me a moment to breathe, I can eventually shake him off and put ME back in control.

Anyone else recognise that feeling?

Just as you often feel clearer after a cold has passed, so too with the banishment of good old Sab. I feel refreshed and stronger now, like something stagnant and toxic has been washed out of my system. Without the distorted vision he gives me, I can now see that it's time for celebration. I am standing clearly in the acknowledgement that I run a rapidly-evolving business and it's time to hire people and put robust systems in place for the next phase. I've seen too many amazing businesses fail because they weren't functioning as businesses. They positioned themselves as community services and didn't take that leap into solid professionalism.

Just as Obama's inauguration speech focused on the dawning of responsible maturity, so too for me it is time to put off any childish, amateurish ways. You'll soon see a cleaned up website, fully hosted under my own domain name; a request for you to opt-in to a new email list; automation of e-courses & digital product delivery; sexy incorporation of audio and video; and perhaps even a few new names and faces as the You Inspire Me team.

Yes - You Inspire Me just grew up.

Do Things Differently
1) What does YOUR Saboteur have to say about you making changes, growing up, evolving? How do you ensure you move forward anyway?
2) Inquiry: What do I need to give myself permission to do?
3) Action: Take the next step forward, noticing and bypassing your Saboteur's efforts to stop you.
4) Share your comments on this blog post.

** I was interviewed about one of my favourite topics, Fear of Failure. Listen here today only - it's up on the radio archives for one more day, after which we're looking to upload an mp3 version to my website. If you know that fear of failure blocks YOU from moving forward, commit to change that today. Join our workshop on Sat 7th February in Cambridge - full details here **

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

#67 - We The People

Little things can change the world. A simple 20 minute film is doing just that: The Story of Stuff. The story of stuff is the story of us. It explains why we came - by design - to be related to so heavily as consumers, and it explains why we have forgotten how valuable we inherently are.

If you've read my article, The World Needs Your Passion, you'll know that this premise is at the very core of what I do and I have been delighted to see such synergy in Annie's approach and my own. We share an insatiable passion for people, and for the planet upon which our survival is dependent. We believe in human potential - that we are all walking, talking, breathing solutions, and that we don't need anyone other than who we have right now to bring forth what is required. We share a conviction that we need to look somewhere other than the work-spend-shop cycle for our sense of value and purpose.

We both recognise that our current set-up wastes people and communities (at best) and destroys them (at worst) - all because we are putting 'stuff' above principles such as equality, health, earth stewardship and justice. There's also a tremendous amount of excitement as we see people uniting to reclaim communities and means of production. I am continually inspired, at the moment more than ever, by being connected with so many inspirational people and projects. Every day, I get to work with women who dare to hope that their passion is of value to the world and who are brave enough to overcome the obstacles which would otherwise prevent them from following it. All around me, I see engaged, proactive citizens taking small steps which make a big difference.

If you're inspired by The Story of Stuff, click here to see Annie speak further about this project and its global impact. [With thanks to Mark D for directing me this way].

Do Things Differently
1) Consider: What does your identity as 'consumer' feel like? How - and how often - are you related to in this way? What are your consumption habits? How much of this enriches and nourishes you? How much of it connects you with others and their passions? What's next for you in this area?
2) Consider: What does your identity as 'citizen' feel like? How - and how often - do you engage in this way? What do you contribute as a citizen, and what do you receive? What's next for you in this area?
3) This week, become acutely aware of your relationship with the 'golden arrow' that Annie describes. As you read news articles, participate in conversations, and sell or buy services/products - where is that 'golden arrow' in the equation? If it's not there, what's there instead? What do you notice about our system, and about the importance of your place within it?

** Come and hear me speak about 'The World Needs Your Passion'. It's the first time I'm turning the core message of my article (and my work generally) into a talk and I'm nervous and excited! Tues 27th January, 7.30pm, Cambridge, UK. See here for more details.

#66 - Easy Does It

One morning, I woke up at 7am with an article in my head. It was a bundle of words and phrases, it had a tone and a voice. I got up and wrote it out in less than an hour. It was the easiest thing I've ever written.

I popped it up on a blog, then Permaculture Magazine picked it up and published it back in July 08, and that led to a Canadian textbook buying reprint rights, as well as an extract being featured in Earth Pathways Diary 2010 and it being requested by an on-line magazine called Celsias.

So many people have said it has inspired them to find work that fulfils them, or it was the wake-up call they were waiting for. I write about finding and making our Contribution Footprint, our way of making a difference in the world.

Now a friend has suggested I enter the Oofoo Laureate competition - which I have! I haven't read the other entries yet - my guess is there could be some other fantastic ones in there - so make yourself a cuppa, have a browse, get inspired - and perhaps even vote for mine? :-) It's called The World Needs Your Passion and you vote simply with a tick.

The website link is above - look for the 'Vote now' bit in the competitions, or use this link to jump straight to the articles: http://tinyurl.com/9jakac

Thanks and happy reading!

Do Things Differently
I decided to make today's blog super easy for me. I've recycled a note I wrote on Facebook and have done without a photo. I'm continually learning that there's only so much I'm in charge of - I don't have to make everything perfect, triple-checked, all-singing all-dancing for it have impact. Let me know the impact of this easy approach for you by posting a comment on this blog.

An inquiry for you: Where could you make life WAY easier for yourself today? And what will you do with all that extra time and energy?!

#65 - Right Footing

We have a number of New Year traditions. From my partner's grandparents, we've inherited and modified a version of 'first footing'. Just after midnight, Sam leaves the house as the old year, carrying away anything we want to let go of AND our appreciation for all that is to be celebrated. She then returns as the new year and is welcomed in holding three objects to represent fuel, food and wealth. We like to ensure it's eco-fuel - 2008 was a solar lamp, 2009 an energy-saving light bulb... We then go out into our neighbourhood to wish everyone a magical year ahead.

We also spend a day on what we call Reflection and Intention. We go back through last year's calendar, plucking out the gifts. The challenges with all their learning and the strength we developed to deal with them; our achievements and how we celebrated them; and the heart-warming surprises and little kind touches which made the year what it was. We make lists and gather photos. We treasure the chance to do this and are horrified to think that these precious memories might otherwise get lost. We then decide what ingredients we want to ensure are present in the new year and put the list on a wall as a reminder of what our priorities are.

I love this time of year because the air is always buzzing with hope and possibilities - and I love it because that's what I want for every day. Greeting people and wishing them health and happiness, prosperity, dreams come true; having encounters which start off on the right footing - Good morning, Namaste, Aloha.

Several of my clients have a value called 'day one', 'fresh start', 'blank page' or a variation on that theme. Just as we are continually given new mornings, so do we always hold the power to change the course of our life in any moment. Whether at the level of thought, word or deed, if we catch ourselves engaged in something which doesn't align with our values or vision for who we want to be, we can in that moment choose differently.

That's why I call them New Way Resolutions because the opportunity to find a new way exists in every moment that we decide to be at choice in our lives. There is a band of inspirational women, committed to steering their lives, who subscribed to the New Way Resolution e-course and received their first issue this morning. I'm so looking forward to hearing from them how the step-by-step process, over the month, supports them in making meaningful shifts in their lives.

When my partner and I got married, we entered through two archways, met in the middle, and then walked down a few steps together. We practised that walk several times and when we watch the video of the day, we see ourselves grinning as we hold hands and focus on walking in step.

As this new year stands open before us with its abundant possibilities, what are we holding hands with? What are we ensuring our steps are aligned with? How will we set our intentions, decide our course?

Doing Things Differently
1. What are your New Year traditions? How do you - or how do you want to - seize this opportunity for reflection and intention? If you need inspiration, you might like to ask your family for their traditions, or search on-line. Squeeze one or two in at the start of this year and calendar them in for the next.
2. Ask: What are my priorities for 2009? What key ingredients do I intend to focus on?
3. If there were a newspaper headline for this year, what would it be?
4. Share on this blog your nuggets from 2008 and your vision for 2009.

(c) Corrina Gordon-Barnes, 2009

** Ready to get unstuck? Want to escape the grip of procrastination?**
It could be fear of failure that's holding you back. Start 2009 on the right footing with the Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word workshop.
The Early Bird price ends this Saturday (9th Jan) so book now and enjoy a £10 discount**

** Grab 2009 and start doing things differently **
This is your last chance to join the merry group of committed women who started today on their New Way Resolutions journey. Click here for more details and book YOUR journey - only £7.50. **