About Stephanie Guimond

Stephanie Guimond is an artist, visionary, and avid left-brainer who believes that through the power of stillness, possibility, and action we can create the life we want to live. You can find her at her website, Creative Living Experiment, on Facebook, on Twitter as @s_guimond, or check out her artwork at Strawbale Studio.

Stephanie Guimond February 4, 2013

Get Out of Your Head and Into the Moment

Baking and cooking are great ways to give your brain a rest and enjoy the present.

I’m an ideas person. I live in a world of options, movement, and possibility, with thoughts churning merrily most of my waking hours. I love it.

On the flip side, with so many thoughts flitting about, it’s easy for me to get comfortable in this cerebral space and remain “stuck in my head.” I get so excited and caught up in my projects that it’s sometimes hard for me to switch modes and experience the physical, present moment in front of me.

Sound familiar?

Sometimes our brain needs a rest, and our body and senses need to take center stage.

If you’re feeling uninspired or overwhelmed, or just a need to connect with the here & now, it may be time to make the switch.

These five simple activities have helped me get out of my head and connect to the present, physical world. They may be useful to you, too.

Move Your Body
Take a walk, stretch, or break out the tunes and dance. Hit the gym, take a yoga class, or dig up your garden. Find something that’s convenient, and works well for you.

Putter
I am a big fan of puttering. Tidy up the living room, put the clothes away, do the dishes. Go through the pile of papers on the table, file the obvious, sweep the floor. Meander in your physical space and see what small task calls you.

Make Something
Paint, cook, slice & dice. Sew, hammer, bake, sink your hands in the dirt. Draw, knit, or pull out the sander. Use your hands to work with textures, colors, and scents.

Touch Someone, or Another Living Being
Hold a loved one’s hand, pet the dog, feel the bark of a tree or the leaves of your favorite plant. Get a hug or, better yet, give a hug. Focus on your sense of touch and delight in the exchange of life energy.

Sit With Your Surroundings
Sit comfortably and straight, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Feel the surface beneath you: the floor beneath your feet, the chair on which you’re sitting. Feel the sensations on your skin, hear the sounds — near and far — and inhale and take in the scents. Become aware of your surroundings. Stay this way as long as you’d like; when you feel ready, wiggle your toes & fingers, and slowly open your eyes.

How do you make the switch from the cerebral world to the physical?

How do you get “out of your head” and into the present moment?

Filed Under: Plot Notes, The Setting Tagged With: creative living, inspiration 4 Comments

Stephanie Guimond January 21, 2013

Move Through Your Fears With Curiosity and Action

Replace fear with possibility. Approach it with curiosity and action.

These past few weeks I’ve been reflecting on the year past and the many things that materialized for me in 2012. The list is long, ranging from piloted workshops, PDF booklets and new consultation services, to new artwork, new connections, and my contributions here.

Though I know there were many factors at play, in hindsight, I attribute much of my ability to make these things happen to my chosen theme for the year: moving through trepidation with curiosity and action.

This new-to-me approach worked so well, I intend to keep it in my back pocket as I move forward into 2013.

How it works: It’s simple, but not always easy.

When faced with an opportunity that scares you, what if you set out with the goal of replacing fear with possibility, of replacing…

“I could never do that, I’m not ready. It scares me.”
with
“What do I need to do to be ready? Is there a small action I can take and see where that leads?”

“I better not push my luck and do that extra <insert challenging task here>, I’m already pretty tired and I’m new to this.”
with
“How about I try and see how far I can get?”

“Who am I to do <insert idea/initiative/project here>? I’m going to fall flat on my face.”
with
“Just try it and see how it goes. If it flops, re-think it. If it doesn’t, do it again and make it better.”

When faced with uncertainty, instead of worrying about every possible way things could wrong, what if you tried asking yourself*…

“I wonder how this is going to pan out?”

“I wonder how I’ll choose to handle this?”

“Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of making this work?”

(* Thank you Susan Jeffers for this line of wisdom.)

Fear has its place and raison d’être, but often it doesn’t serve us at all.

This way of approaching it encourages gentle risk-taking and releases expectations. At worst it amounts to a lesson learned; at best, it may lead to something better than we ever could have imagined.

Why don’t you try it and see how it all pans out?

Filed Under: Plot Notes Tagged With: creating action, fear, growth Leave a Comment

Stephanie Guimond January 7, 2013

Claim Your Path Into 2013

2013 Diary by HandMadeBooks – click on image for info

When it comes to kicking off 2013, are you a Gentle Ginny or a Jump-In Josephine?

Are you easing into the year through reflection and recapitulation, or are you being called to action, eager to get out there and make your mark?

My social media circles are overflowing with beautiful, thoughtfully chosen words and intentions for the year to come. As someone who deeply believes we can create the life we desire, I love witnessing this interest in living deliberately.

Among this energy of hope and forward movement, I am also detecting hints of trepidation, of feeling overwhelmed or fearful of being left behind.

What if I don’t have a word yet? What if I have no clue what I want to do this year? What if I’m not even done wrapping my head around 2012?

Comparison can be a real buzzkill.

Though we may find new year motivation in others, there’s no need to keep up with them if we don’t want to.

We each have our transition pace. Our job is to figure out what feels good and right to us, and honor it.

No one’s keeping score.

The new year is in its promising infancy. If you feel an urge to jump in with both feet and make your mark, then YES, do it! If you feel called to slow down and delve inward, then by all means, do that.

Either way it’s your path into 2013. Claim it, and make this year yours.

Filed Under: Plot Notes Tagged With: creative living, growth, new year 8 Comments

Stephanie Guimond December 17, 2012

What’s Your Rhythm?

Rhythm

It’s hard for me to write about productivity during the holidays. Come mid-November I tend to slow down and focus on the inner world, on what makes me – and us – tick. At least that’s what I’ve noticed these past few weeks.

It’s all part of discovering my rhythm.

Certain times of year bring certain types of energy my way. The spring prompts me to branch out into the new, while summer beckons slumber and ease. September brings me to hearth and home; November and December draw me inward.

By mid-December I’m usually itching to create vision boards and bubble charts, but I hold off, letting business ideas and projects percolate while I deck the halls and wrap the gifts. They will be transformed into specific plans and goals soon, after the holidays.

The moral of this story?

Energy and interests fluctuate throughout the year.

When we recognize these fluctuations, we can decide if we want to adapt our habits – work, play and rest – accordingly.

If we know that January and April are full of creative energy, we might choose to clear our plate during those months to fully engage in project work, while in the summer, we may choose to adapt or manage work expectations and embrace the ever-inviting hammock.

An urge to slow down in November may mean pulling out a few fail-proof productivity tools to make sure end of year business goals are met. Navigating a busy holiday season may mean implementing sacred self-care practices to get through it unscathed.

Once we are aware of these ongoing fluctuations, they may even become a rich resource, providing seasonal or cyclical inspiration for products or ideas we may otherwise not tap into.

As we increase awareness, it becomes easier to work within our natural annual rhythm, rather than fight it.

Have you ever noticed any patterns in your energy levels or interests throughout the year? If so, do you adjust your work, rest or play habits accordingly?

How could you could tap into your fluctuations for inspiration?

Filed Under: Buy You, For You Tagged With: creative business, creative living, seasons 3 Comments

Stephanie Guimond December 3, 2012

Five Practices to Stay Grounded During a Busy Season

Soups are great healthful meals that offer nutrition – and leftovers!
(Photo by Stephanie Guimond, Spiced Red Lentil Soup recipe at OhSheGlows.com.)

I’m a big advocate of creating intentional holidays. Most years, come December, I choose to practice what I dub “slow holidays” (think Slow Food meets Simple Living) – or at least I try to.

For many creative business owners, November and December are the busiest months of the year; taking it slow may not be the most financially viable option. In these cases, there are still great practices that can help make the season manageable, and hopefully even enjoyable!

These five practices have helped me stay grounded through busy times in the past. If you’re working a tight, full schedule during the next few weeks, they may come in handy for you, too.

Get Sleep

Feeling rested does wonders for clarity and focus, not to mention it’s great for the immune system. Try to get to bed early, and give yourself a bit of time to transition from high-functioning wake to sweet slumber at the end of each day. You’ll feel refreshed and ready for work bright and early the next day. And don’t forget the all-mighty power nap! Sometimes that’s all it takes to regroup; just be careful it’s not procrastination in its oft sly disguise.

Drink Water

I confess, my go-to drink when I want to be productive often involves caffeine, but when I’m feeling really sluggish it’s often because I’ve neglected my intake of good old H20. Just like sleep, water can do wonders for energy and mental clarity. Have a glass sitting on your desk for easy sipping. Make it a game and match each cup of coffee with one glass of water.

Eat Healthful Food

Eat decent, as healthful as possible meals. On some days it may mean two toasts with vegetables and hummus for dinner and on others, it might mean ordering a roasted chicken meal with a side salad or sweet potato fries. Fruit, nuts and pre-made salads are quick, healthful snack options. It’s all about keeping it simple and as healthy as possible without too much pressure for perfection.

Give Yourself Clean Breaks

“Sometimes the most urgent thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest.”

~ Ashleigh Brilliant

We all need time off, especially when things are hectic. Whether it’s for a full day or part thereof, break free from your work and find something fun to do. Have lunch with a friend, make art, take in a hike, enjoy live music, or curl up with a book. Give yourself a reboot & release.

Simplify Where You Can

Order takeout, buy healthful pre-made meals, hire someone to clean the house, ask family members to pitch in a little bit extra, or just let go of unrealistic expectations. Figure out where you could temporarily simplify things for the busy season, and do it. You can always go back to your usual M.O. afterward.

How do you cope with your busy season?

Do you temporarily shift some of your habits to meet the holiday rush? Are there any practices you keep sacred, that help you stay grounded?

Filed Under: Buy You, For You Tagged With: busyness, creative living, planning 3 Comments