My word for 2021 has been “Balance”
Curiously seeking and moving towards balance in the external world, and within myself. Over the year that word was the catalyst for several amazing happenings, even when they didn’t feel “amazing” at the time …
One of the main things that have helped me to consciously cultivate Balance is working with my Coach, Melanie MacIntyre throughout 2021. This constant, unwavering support in all things business, intuitive and soulful has made a vast difference to how I think, feel, listen to my inner wisdom, and live my life through the ups and downs.
Loosing And Finding Balance
The first part of 2021 was very much about digging deep into what makes my Soul sing, what gifts I have to share, and moving beyond my fear of sharing them. At the same time, Business Mentoring with NEA became far too much about ticking boxes, rather than actively mentoring the people on the programme. I missed being able to speak at length with each person and share insights and ideas to help them consider how they could market and grow their business, or streamline processes behind the scenes to maintain the balance of admin, business creativity, customer needs, and life outside of business.
A Different Business Mantra
My constant mantra was that Mentees ensure downtime was built into the business plan! Time for replenishment, time to enjoy life, to relax because these are the keys to greater productivity and efficiency when nurturing a baby business. It’s not always easy to maintain this Balance, and so part of my seeking has involved looking at how each of us can become more aware of when we’re out of balance and consciously find ways to return to the equilibrium – life ain’t all plain-sailing so how do we navigate that?
It became apparent that I wasn’t practising my preaching as work/life balance got seriously out of balance! In July 2021 I made the difficult but essential decision to step away from this relatively secure role and move back into running my own business full time.
Synchronistic Signs
Another word, that has followed me around since my days of acute depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder, is “Empowerment”. Everything I’ve ever done has been about empowering others, and myself, to move into what we love, what we’re capable of, even when we don’t realise just how capable we are!
August, therefore, became a time of rest and replenishment, researching how I might serve others in discovering their own ways and means of self-empowerment.
I went on a solo holiday to Wales and visited Aberystwyth just because for. I got there early and parked up on the South Beachfront in front of a shady-looking concrete building. As I considered where to go first, a lady with a humongous cake disappeared into a doorway that had a sign outside: “Bookshop By The Sea”.
Naturally, I followed and peeped inside. The musty smell of books reminded me of childhood visits to Robin Hoods Bay with at least 3 little second-hand bookshops tucked away, and hours of finding wordy treasure in exchange for pennies. This bookshop was everything I’d hoped for and more with shelves and tables gorgeously arranged alongside deep, comfy sofas, a couple of guitars, a keyboard, a kiosk selling food and drinks, and a little balcony with tables overlooking the harbour – perfick!
Lockdown Creation
The young lady who created the space had walked past it most days during lockdown in 2020 and envisioned what it could be, then made it happen. I spent ages talking to her, learning about the open mic nights, the children and adult storytelling sessions, and more wonderful ideas she had planned. On browsing the shelves, I came across Shakti Gawain’s book “Developing Intuition”.
As I’d just enrolled on Mel’s next programme about that very thing, I bought it, a cup of coffee, and sat myself on the balcony to read – a perfect example of synchronicity as Mel messaged me at that very moment!
Discovering Our Inner Voices
Throughout that day I read the book all over Aberystwyth. As well as learning to listen to the “voice” of our intuition or inner wisdom, it identified that there are many “voices” or sub-personalities within us and that it’s important to distinguish between them so we can discern, develop and trust the voice of our intuition. It suggested a method called Voice Dialogue which intrigued me greatly as a tool that could be used for self-empowerment through understanding our “selves” and thereby establishing a balance between the wants and needs of these “selves”. I made a mental note to find out more once home.
Creative Empowerment Coaching Go!
In September, I launched my Creative Empowerment Coaching practice, giving myself time and space to play around with ideas and catch up with lots of folk post-covid to get a sense of where I might be able to support. It was such a wonderful time and I’m thankful to all those lovely people!
My Voice Dialogue research uncovered the Institute for Transformational Psychology based in the Netherlands, offering online training. I poured through the required reading and undertook a week of intensive training in November/December with Robert Stamboliev (author of The Energetics of Voice Dialogue) and Hedy Heijting (Leadership and Transformation Coach).
It felt like a massive breakthrough on this adventure in self-empowerment! The process looks at discovering, understanding, and working with the many different sides of our personality or ”selves” (that often want different things), and developing the sides that have been disowned or not had a chance to develop so they can help us more effectively in various situations – like an inner team working together instead of pulling us in different directions. It is a process through which we can learn to live life from a more balanced, understanding, creative, restorative and productive, and conscious perspective.
Cultural Ecology 101 Workshop
In the first week of December, I was immensely privileged to work with the Cultural Ecology Project set up by my good friend Madiha Ansari, supported by another good friend, Siara Illing-Ahmed.
After working with me several years ago in the early stages of her career as a “Creative Changemaker”, Madiha has pulled together support from Bradford Producing Hub, Common Wealth Theatre and Bradford Impact Hub. The Culture 101 project was born which supports ethnically diverse women to access opportunities in the creative arts that have not previously been open to them – empowerment!
Working Intuitively
Historical, social, economic and cultural “norms” have all served to disempower many people, and so the focus of the workshop was to cultivate self-empowerment in running and marketing a creative idea and/or business. Working intuitively with these women enabled me to draw from my research and experience to dynamically support each on her journey. We looked at understanding how the brain/mind
works, how to become aware of then harmonise and harness different aspects of ourselves depending on the situation, collaboration versus competition, building and protecting confidence, relationship and guerrilla marketing, and how these things can support us in employment and/or self-employment.
We envisioned the very best version of ourselves, the person each of us has the potential to be if fully supported and resourced. This is what we’re aiming for and is the grounding principle when the going gets tough. Toughness is an inevitability, but there are things we can do to move through it, overcome it, and restore the balance between what we are passionate about / love to do, and the “selves” that fear (and often block us from) moving into the apparent unknown.
It was an amazing workshop with lovely feedback that has opened up yet more avenues that can be explored through Culture 101 … I cannot wait to see where it leads!
Year Of Music 2023
I also had the joy of meeting Satnam Galsian, a Singer (folk/cross-genre/Punjabi) and all round creative. She’s working with my good friend Supriya Nagaranjan of Manasamitra on community engagement.
In October we took part in the Kirklees Musik Talking Heads networking event in preparation for Kirklees Year of Music 2023. Whilst we looked at the immense challenges facing creatives through the Brexit and Covid situation, we also looked at the support available, and other support that is needed. This will form part of the work in the run-up to Kirklees Year of Music 2023, which also ties in with my role on the Advisory Board of Dewsbury Creative Town.
Creative Grassroots
There were other great conversations too. Nigel Greenwood, the founder of BuBul, shared his vision for supporting those just starting out in business. Sam Heaton, of Outlookers, shared the charity’s aim to empower the visually impaired. I finally got to meet Sophie at Conscious Youth and was privileged to be taken on a tour of their new space in Huddersfield – what a joy to listen to the plans and possibilities! All were totally on my wavelength, not least because of the passion that they have for supporting those they work with in creative grassroots ways.
Navigating Difficulties
The Covid shutdown and austerity have, in many ways, disempowered vast swathes of the creative industries worldwide. I’ve personally felt the weight of it as this year also brought family illness and stresses that have been incredibly difficult to deal with, whilst at the same time rebuilding my business from scratch – and I know this resonates with pretty much all of you in one way or another.
Nevertheless, we are witness to the fact that creativity is in and of itself empowering to every being on this planet, whether you would call yourself creative or not! As such, it simply cannot be kept down and continues to rise and rise again – but sometimes it needs a little help.
I’ve been here before, a few times, so I’ve learned how to ask for help and find my own ways of navigating these difficult times to rise empowered. This time I sought Balance through stepping back from client-facing work in December. This gift of time and space has allowed me to focus on the health and wellbeing of myself and my family, and contemplate all I have discovered during 2021. It means I can consider the ways in which I can support people and organisations on a deeper level as we move into 2022.
True Empowerment
I know what it is to be at rock bottom, I also know what it is to find my way out by learning from those who’ve gone before, discovering what works and how to move through the ebbs and flows of life. I’ve learned that no two people will ever rise in the same way, but that they can rise up with intuitive support, which in turn helps others to do their own rising. This kind of Balance, between our vulnerability and power, is true empowerment, as identified by Drs Stone who created Voice Dialogue.
Lasting Transformation
Who knows what the year 2022 will be? What I do know is this: I will continue to creatively empower myself and support others in their own creative self-empowerment.
My theory is that in doing so, everyone I work with, including myself, will support each other, and create an empowering ripple effect that spreads through communities and creates lasting, positive transformation.
I’m already seeing this in collaborations like those between Madiha, Siara, Satnam, Supriya, Mel, (and many others), and myself, so there is nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Here’s To 2022!
My immense thanks to all who have been a part of this adventure – far too many to name here but if you’ve been a part of my life in ways big, small or fair to middling, then my gratitude is yours.
As I continue to create a strong foundation for my Creative Empowerment Coaching practice, look out for some exciting announcements in the New Year designed to support you on your own journey of self-empowerment. It will range from free support, discounts, Masterclasses, Workshops and Programmes that will set you up for moving through 2022 from your own firm foundation.
Here’s to 2022 and all the wonderful ways in which we can creatively empower ourselves, each other, and our communities!
Love & Blessings!
Jax