Successful Sunday, July 21st, 2024

Hello, Subscribers.? One of my former leaders told us it's not worth doing if it isn’t fun.? This forms the core philosophy of my weekly writings and will help you prepare for the week through the power of play to set yourself up for success. As your guide, I believe that incorporating play into your daily routine can enhance your creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall well-being, leading to personal and professional growth. I glean insights from my inner child about behaviors and patterns and can help you do the same. Let’s get set up for success.? Want this weekly newsletter delivered directly to your mailbox?? Sign up and never miss a week.

?It’s time for an accountability check-in.? Mission Inseparable launched successfully this week, and I received tremendously positive feedback.? My Mindful or Mind Full Live went smoothly, and we received positive feedback.? I also had my mid-year check-in in my day job. Though generally positive, I realize how often my impulsive ways of processing information can be interpreted negatively if you don’t know me.? My personal life is somewhat of a country music song, as I have termites and blown electrical plugs.? Fear not; the power of play kicked in, and every meal is a romantic candle-lit event.? Also, a big win is embracing bad gyal energy (Thank you, Yinka Ewuola), and I am taking back control.? Despite my brilliant Mary Poppins interpretation, I did not realize how formidable an opponent keeping up appearances can be.? I recognize that I am not for everyone and don’t need to be.? When the lightbox sparked out, I recognized that I needed professional help.? There is no shame in asking for help.? I went to an art exhibit this week, and a frequent question artists get is how long it took you?? For one artist, it took years to finally paint two lines.? It’s like the meme of a bill to cut a wire.? $1 to cut the wire and $999 to know which wire to cut.? Once done, it’s easy enough to replicate but deceptively simple.? If you see a Rothko painting in real life, you will notice a shimmering quality that they still have been unable to reproduce.? I post enough wisdom that you can DIY play in your life, but if you need a guide, slide into my DMs.

?Run Lola Run is a movie where the protagonist lives a kind of Groundhog’s day trying to save her boyfriend.? We rarely get to undo our choices, but this week, let’s play “What if.”? I will “begin” our week using four different decks.

?It’s a new week. ?Where should we direct our energy?? According to the Affirmators! Tarot created by Suzi Barrett, we get The Hermit.? The Hermit portrays a pink hermit crab wearing a yellow shell, holding a staff, and carrying a lantern, traversing past a rock formation under the sea.? What if you chose to focus on your projects in the week ahead?? You would stay focused and not allow any distractions.? Maybe you will get invited to a happy hour after work.? You would decline and head home.? At home, you would continue your disciplined execution of home projects, ignoring everyone around you.? Is this really me time?? Or are you using your goals as a distraction from being present?? What if you began the day by taking deep breaths and practicing gratitude?? How would you incorporate intentionality without completely isolating yourself?? The hermit crab has a lantern that it uses to navigate the rocks carefully.? What’s the point of it all?? My goals will not warm my bed, but they also keep a roof over my head.? My cat just told me my purpose is to pet her and comfort her ?? so I am typing one-handed, luxuriating in the warmth of her companionship.

My cat, Kali, wants us to explore the Cat Tarot by Megan Lynn Kott.? The 6 of Cups depicts two tabby cats; one is mature and eating from a bowl, and the other is a kitten with most of the food spilled on the floor.? There is a background of yellow cup wallpaper.? What if we embraced our inner kitten or helped to guide that young cat this week?? Perhaps you could focus on mentoring or empowering others this week.? It’s a good reminder that everyone does not share our skill set, and what is easy for us may not be the same for others without guidance.? That week could block focus time on the calendar while keeping some space open for Question and Answer sessions.? I notice the mature cat is eating its fill, reminding me to fill our cup.? Do you have the emotional bandwidth to have that conversation when communicating with others?? My youngest cooked arroz con pollo for the first time this week.? Would it be faster to do it myself?? Probably, but if they are empowered to cook, they get the opportunity to learn, and I have another set of hands to help.? He did a great job seasoning the rice, and the chicken was tender.? Empowering others means letting go of some of our control.? They may use different techniques (R.I.P. tomato), but the result will be functional.? This also provides an opening to coach them and help them discover improvements.

Roxan McDonald, creator of the Spiritual AF deck of inspirational cards, prefers more direct communication.? What if your goal this week is “Don’t involve yourself with wack sh*t.”?? This ties in a bit with our hermit vibes and involves much discernment.? Perhaps instead of doom-scrolling social media, you focus on your goals and being kind to others.? Not your circus, not your monkeys may be your mantra for the week.? I’m reminded of the Karpman drama triangle.? How do we avoid being sucked into other people’s problems?? The hermit lights the way for us to recognize it, and the cats remind us to communicate effectively.? We do not have to play the blame game, enable their victimhood, or rescue them.? Ignoring problems does not make them disappear, but we must also ensure we wisely direct our energy.? Seek to empower others by maintaining your boundaries while acting with compassion.? My mom once told me, "she nuh badda wid pickney dem bizness.”? I am realizing what she means as a parent.? My son came to me about his cousin spamming their counting game.? “What is wrong with him?” he asked.? I countered that they are all learning.? “If you made a mistake and I said, ‘What is wrong with you’? Would you like it?”? He would not and instead chose to ask his cousin to explain his behavior.? It was for the sheer joy of pranking, and they needed to work it out with the other cousin who moderated the room.? What wack stuff do you need to nip in the bud this week?

For our final scenario, we return to Suzi Barrett and consult Affirmators! At Work illustrated by Naomi Sloman.? What if we took Risks this week?? “Risks” features a moose in a bathing suit soaring amongst the clouds.? What does a bold week look like for you?? What if you spoke up and advocated for yourself instead of cowering in fear?? What if you owned your skills and did not shrink to make others comfortable?? Putting all the other choices together, what if you began your day by taking a moment to clear your mind and set your intentions?? You carve out the time for what is important to you and model compassionate leadership, even if it means how you lead yourself.? Holding people accountable and setting boundaries can feel risky, but it frees you to pursue your grand vision.? I’m pretty sure this moose set up a landing pad because it soars unbothered through the air.? Instead of asking yourself what the worst thing that can happen is, embrace the best thing that can happen.? Today is a great day to plan for your landing and count the cost of your risk-taking.? This sort of risk is not asking yourself how much you are willing to lose, like budgeting your loss at a casino.? You want a playing field where the odds are not stacked against you.? If you like what you are reading, I’ll risk inviting you into my world.? Namaste

I am Stacy, a Creative Coach who knows that Play is Serious Business.

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