Creative Journaling Prompts For The New Year

By Andrea Schroeder / December 31, 2013 / healing, intention, Journal Prompts, journaling, Manifest Your Dream Life

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals post. Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing… new Dreamtastic posts show up regularly right here on my blog, click here to check out what’s happened in the course so far.

These prompts are for playing and creating with.

Use them as little diving boards to dive off into other things to explore – the most important part of creative journaling is following your creative impulse.

Use lots of different coloured pens, markers and pencil crayons (when you engage your creativity in your journaling you access your creative genius, the part of you that knows how to bring your dreams to life – plus it’s more fun that way!)

Use collage or make your own art to illustrate your answers.

As you get creative with this pay attention to your inner voice… once you’re in your creative flow it’s much easier for your intuition to speak to you.

If getting creative in your journal is new to you – check out Dreamtastic Creative Journals, (my free creative journaling e-course) for loads of videos & ideas to help you get started.

When you’re not sure about your answers – draw mandalas to help you connect to your inner wisdom.

The prompts are divided into 2 sections: looking back and looking forward.? Start with whichever one you feel drawn to.

Goodbye 2013. Looking back:

What was amazing in 2013?

What did you do in 2013 that you’re proud of?

What do you learn/discover that you want to bring into 2014?

What do you want to leave behind in 2013?

What are you most grateful for about 2013?

How did your dreams grow in 2013?

What did you do to help your dreams grow in 2013?? What worked?? What didn’t work?

How did YOU grow in 2013? What gifts and strengths do you have now that you didn’t have in 2012?

Is there anything you need to do to complete your year? Any unfinished business that you’d like to finish, and leave behind as you move into 2014?

Hello 2014! Looking forward:

List 5-10 things you’d like to have happen in 2014, in each of these different parts of your life:

health
relationships
creativity
purpose/career
money
self-love/self-care
spirituality
happiness
adventure/play

Remember that as you get creative with this pay attention to your inner voice… once you’re in your creative flow it’s much easier for your intuition to speak to you – so as you write this list brilliant ideas may come to you for how to bring these dreams to life.

Go back through your list and imagine how each of these things will make you happier in 2014.? If there is anything on your list that won’t make you happier – consider crossing it out.

What is your Big Dream for 2014?

Why do you want this?

Do you already know how to make this dream real, or is this something you need to learn more about first?

What’s your plan for giving this dream what it needs to thrive in 2014?? Brainstorm 10 things you can try.

What do you want to STOP doing in 2014?? And what are some things you can you do to make that as easy as possible?? How will not having these things in your life make you happier?

Write your year in review for 2014.

Then imagine yourself at the end of the 2014 that you described in your year in review – how are you different?? How did you grow?? What new strengths and skills do you have?? Does you-from-one-year-from-today have any messages or advice for you?

Here’s to a sparkletastic New Year, for all of us.

I would love to help you bring your brightest dreams to life in 2014 – join me in the Creative Dream Circle for a whole YEAR of Creative Dream Support.

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Writing your 2014… a year in review of the year that hasn’t started yet.

By Andrea Schroeder / December 30, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, intention, Manifest Your Dream Life

In my first and second years of being a full time Creative Dream Incubator I was excited to write a year end review… to look over what I’d learned and how it all went and and plan out what I want to do different next year.

This year I feel very meh about that.

Though I did flip through my instagram to share some of my fave photos of the year…

Right now, what I really want is to look forward.

As I sat with that feeling, I realised that what I want to do is want to write a year end review for my business for 2014.

Do this with me… let’s zoom into December 2014 and look back on a truly sparkletastic year.

I started the year feeling fresh, focused and excited about what I wanted to create.? I had the clearest, solidest goal I’ve ever had for my business – to welcome 800 dreamers into the Creative Dream Circle by the end of the year.

This goal was a giant bundle of love.

Love for the dreamers and their courage & brilliance.

Love for the sweet, sparkling dreams.

Love for the Circle and it’s dream-growing magic.

Every time I thought about the 800 dreamers and their amazing dreams, my heart beamed.

With this much love on my side, I knew I could not fail.

With this much love on my side, I was able to heal my wounded relationship with “business”.

I have long thought of myself as “an artist, not a business person”.? I have been angry about the destructive effect a lot of big businesses have on our world – fueling my beliefs about how “business is bad”.? I have felt like I just don’t know how to successfully grow a business.

I started my business with a strong belief in the quality, power and importance of my work, fueled by purpose and spirit and love – and a belief that these things, not business skills, were enough to get me where I want to go.

As I learned more about business, I came to understand that these are 2 different things: your soul work and your business skills.

And most people are not naturally equally gifted in each.? I mean… It’s possible for lackluster products to become superstars in the marketplace.? It’s possible for superstar products to be virtually invisible in the marketplace.

And it seems true that as you polish and perfect the shining jewel of what you are here to offer you’re going to start looking for ways to get better at offering it.? For many, like me, this means a business.

So then the journey of activating and living your purpose merges with the journey of starting and growing a business.

Creativity, heart and soul cannot replace the need for practical business skills.? What they can do is fuel and activate the practical business stuff so that your business can be your (very helpful!) partner in bringing your creativity and your purpose to life.

I knew that already.? But in 2014 it changed.

It’s like I had marinated long enough in ideas about spiritual business and creative business to be able to live from them in a new way.? I developed a new sense of trust in my ability to do this.

I spent the first 35 years of my life marinating in ideas about how I am not a business person.? I needed to spend a few years marinating in ideas about how I am a capable and gifted business person before they could really clear out the old beliefs and sink in.

Ultimately what this means is approaching all aspects of my business from my creative genius, which means not being all tangled up in my limiting beliefs.? Being in the flow.

In hindsight, this harder to do before this year because I was still getting my business sea legs, so to speak.

Which is why I had to keep things smaller before.

Which is why, in 2014, I didn’t need to keep things small anymore.

I spread my business wings wildly and widely.

I tried all the things I knew to try, to get the word out about my work.? When things didn’t go as I’d hoped, I re-adjusted and tried again.

I stretched some more and sought out more ideas for things to try.? And I tried those.

I played with my business.?

I brought a whole new level of creative genius to it.? Just like being in my art studio – throwing paints down and fooling around and trying new things and experimenting and exploring.? I approached my business like a fantastically inspiring art project.

Meanwhile, I was more committed to my personal daily creativespiritual practice, to build stronger roots, so my dream tree could grow giant leafy branches.

And it worked.

My business grew wildly in 2014.

The Creative Dream Circle started to fill up… and as the Circle members practiced the art of Creative Dream Incubation and delighted in all the magic of that – word spread and momentum came to play.

The more fun I had, the larger the Circle got, the easier it became to grow it.

The important feelings + qualities of my 2014:

Trust. Alignment. Purpose. Spirit. Joy. Knowing. Stability. Growth… all of it Glowing with Love.

Writing this feels amazing.

I didn’t set out to write exactly what I wanted to have happened.? I started by looking at how I’m feeling about my goal for the year, and then followed those feelings and the story started to write itself.

When I got to the end it felt like a deep affirmation of how, as long as I stay committed to being true to myself, my spirit and heart, and to clearing/healing all the things that make that hard to do, of course I am going to get to somewhere that is gorgeous, abundant and fulfilling.

What’s your story for 2014?

Success, love, wild creative abandon – it’s all possible for you.

And I’d love to help you make it all come true, in the Creative Dream Circle.

Writing your 2014… a year in review of the year that hasn’t started yet. Read More »

Making A Big Dream Real #4

By Andrea Schroeder / December 27, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, intention, Manifest Your Dream Life

Christmas happened this week! I had a great time doing Christmas things, and did not make much progress with my dream.

Though I did spend some time with it – meditating and journaling.

And I spent making art, really enjoying getting into the flow of my creativity.

I took Samie Harding’s Gelli Printing class this fall and have really been in love with gel printing ever since.? So playful and fun!

While I was playing with my gelli plate this week, I got inspired to add something new to my weekly Creative Genius Planning Sessions.

Right now I’m using my large Moleskine planner with a page a week, with a blank page on the other side for journaling, which is perfect for Creative Genius Planning (I shared it in this video about the Creative Genius Planning Sessions).

Now I’m adding a sheet of watercolour paper, taped onto the edge of each page, so it folds out.? One side has fun gelli prints on it.? On the back of that sheet I journal about the inner work I’m focusing on for the week – affirmations and energy I want to focus on.

That leaves the whole blank page in the journal free for keeping practical lists of what I want to get done and journaling my way through the blocks I encounter in getting it done.

And it makes my planner more fun and creative looking, which just make it a happier thing for me to work with.

How art-making helped me grow my dream this week:

While I was making the gel prints for this new project, I was wishing I had a really cool feather stencil.

I’ve wanted one for some time, but I don’t ever go to places that sell stencils, and I guess I have not wanted one enough to go out specifically looking for it.

This morning, I was thinking about wanting one and thought… well why don’t I just try to make one?? I’ve never drawn a feather, but I do have a degree in fashion design which included 4 years of fashion illustration, visual communication and life drawing classes.? Surely I can draw a feather?

Surely I CAN draw a feather!? I made many feather stencils and I love them.

I was so happy with my feathers.? And then I sat with that story:

I thought I couldn’t do it.
I let that thought control the story and keep me from having what I wanted.
When I questioned that thought, possibility opened up.
When I brought my creativity and curiosity to it, everything lightened up.
Just the act of being in creativity and curiosity was so fun it didn’t matter what the outcome was.
Getting what I wanted, and finding out that I can do it was really delicious icing on the cake.

And I let myself marinate in that energy.

When I am willing to question my story, possibility appears.
When I approach my dreams with creativity and curiosity everything changes.
When I approach my dreams with creativity and curiosity what I want is in my reach.
When I am willing to change my story, miracles happen.

And I am reminded that as long as I stay connected to the heart and soul of my dream, EVERYTHING I do helps me move towards my dream.? I love that!

I also started making a deck of cards with affirmations specifically about this dream.? Not so much “I now have 800 dreamers in the circle” but juicy nuggets of inspiration that help me develop the bigger/stronger roots I need to grow this dream.? As I play with this, I am thinking of doing an affirmation workshop in the Circle later this year.

Discipline: Continued from last week

Last week discipline came up as I was exploring how to make this dream real.? This week I’m noticing how I move in and out of being disciplined.? And how I used to think being less disciplined was worse, and being more disciplined was better.

I’m seeing now that it’s more of a cycle.

Your desire to make your dream real puts you on the path.? Discipline puts you on the superhighway.? Sometimes you need to pull over and have a picnic.

And then when the picnic is done, sometimes it takes a little while for your car to back up to full speed.

I think that’s where I’m at – revving the engine and getting myself back up to full speed.

And that’s all the update I’ve got this week!

I’m feeling creatively all filled up and ready to GO in 2014.

I hope you’re having a gorgeous holiday season!? Next week we’ve got the Creative Dream HOLYday – a creative playdate and a virtual creative dream retreat.? I am SO looking forward to that.

Making A Big Dream Real #4 Read More »

What I want to create in 2014

By Andrea Schroeder / December 23, 2013 / intention, Manifest Your Dream Life

This is when I am happiest:

Not just making art, not just journaling – playing with my creative genius fully engaged.

Reaching for new depths of connection with who I really am.
Stretching out into who I want to become.
Creating the foundation to bring my vision to life.

As a celebration of and commitment to all of this, this is what I want to create in 2014:

Playbooks for Creative Dreamers

Guided Journals & Colouring Books (but secretly they’re magic wands).

Mind-expanding journaling prompts, transformative energy processes, delightful mandalas to colour, adore and make your own. Space to PLAY your way into deep connection with yourself, your genius and your dreams.

I want to make them, and sell them on Amazon in 2014.? (And give them away to Creative Dream Circle members)

I did make about 15 Playbooks For Dreamers in 2013, as a part of my classes and playdates I did in the Circle. These Playbooks will be different – they’ll be for you playing in on your own instead of as a part of a class.

What do YOU want to create in 2014?

I would love to hear – share in the comments below!

And, if you want my support & guidance in making YOUR (big or small) dream REAL – join me for the 2014 session of the Creative Dream Incubator – my master-class in the art of bringing a dream to life with ease and joy.

We’re starting on January 28.

The Creative Dream Incubator is a part of the Creative Dream Circle – which means when you join the Circle for just $100, you’ll get the Creative Dream Incubator PLUS a whole YEAR of Creative Dream Support.

Join us today.? Your dream is waiting.? (PLUS PLUS if you join by Jan 2 you’ll also get the Creative Dream HOLYday Creative Playdate & Virtual Creative Dream Retreat on Jan 3)

What I want to create in 2014 Read More »

Making a Big Dream Real #3

By Andrea Schroeder / December 20, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

It’s already week three of my new adventure!

Early this week I started to really come into alignment with this new dream.? I started feeling more flow and inspiration.

I had so many ideas for things to try, and so much energy to play with them.? Sunday night I had a hard time falling asleep because I was So Excited for Monday morning to come so I could get to work.

It felt amazing.

Until it didn’t.

I went from super inspired on top of the world to way down in the dumps.

This happens with dreams!? You dig through stuff, get to a new layer of clarity, but then there is all this… debris from your digging.

The debris was messy this week.? Remembering all the reasons why this is impossible.? Loosing my connection with why I want this.? Not trusting my dream.? Not trusting myself.? Not fun.

And I kept trying to push myself to act anyway.? Which is never a good idea. But I felt frustrated and impatient and wanted to see some results.

I found myself very focused on externals, which is usually what’s happening when you feel stuck like that.

So then I thought… hey why don’t I do the things that I know work when I’m down in the dumps.

Treasure mapping.
Meditation.
Drawing mandalas.
Journaling.
Meeting my sadness with creativity & love (there is a beautiful class on this in the Creative Dream Circle).
Using the Un-Sticking Station in the Creative Dream Circle.

That stuff kept this week from being a total disaster.? And as I played with these tools, I learned A LOT about why I was so in the dumps.

And even found gifts & treasures in the dump.

Bringing a dream to life is more about growing yourself than it is about making things happen in the outer world.

I’ve got painful stories that I carry that me-who-lives-this-dream does not carry.? These stories were so troubling for me this week because I was waking up to how troubling they are.

You know how when you’re just used to something you don’t really notice it?? It’s like that with your stories and patterns and limiting beliefs.

When you consciously choose to grow, and set your sights on a new way of being – the old ways of being start to become horribly uncomfortable.

This was uncomfortable this week and I’m guessing I’m not finished being uncomfortable.

I am grateful to start to see the patterns behind the patterns more clearly.? I’m grateful to have the tools & skills to transform this.? I’m grateful that no matter how sad & frustrating this gets, I do hold onto the knowing that I will move through this.

I made friends with Discipline.

Discipline appeared this week.? Not all drill sargeant-y and pushy, more like a beautiful and benevolent Goddess of Possibilities.

Last week I talked about creating daily and weekly practices that support and sustain me as I support and sustain this dream.? Daily meditation, energy work, journaling and art-making.? Weekly learning.

This week I learned that I need this to be more disciplined.? It’s not enough to just to these things each day, they need more structure and I need more structure in how I approach them.

These structures are the most supportive things, ever.

This boy became my business role model:

Everything about this represents everything I want in how I approach my work.

He’s relaxed and trusting and barefoot.

He’s playing.? In a soft space in the sunshine.

He’s got pens and toys and an open book.

Spaciousness. Freedom. Creativity. Trust. Alignment. InTUNEment.

Flow. Flow. Flow. Flow. Flow.

Tangible Things I did this week to move towards my goal:

Given how hard this week felt, it feels like a complete miracle that I did anything.? But I did!? Because I am kind of chatty here talking about why I’m doing things, I am making the things I did bold, and everything else plain.

I figured out how I want to start advertising, and started!? I updated my Fabulous Free Stuff page, created a button for it and signed up for an ad on Kind over Matter, to advertise my Fabulous Free Stuff page.

(Advertising my free stuff has been the best way for me to advertise my business.? This way the ad is an invitation to peek into my creative world and see if you want to play here.? Ads that point to a sales page are NOT how I want to grow my business – I would much rather people got to know me FIRST, then decide if they want to join the Circle, instead of advertising the circle.)

I’ll also advertise the freebies page on Facebook, starting in January.? And I did some research for some new places to place ads in January.

I did a lot more tweaking to the Creative Dream Circle page.? (do check it out!)? I thought a lot about how I want to connect with people as they’re reading that page, and what I want them to know.

Made some images to promote the Creative Dream HOLYday to share on Facebook and Pinterest.

Spent more time exploring my new favourite question: Do I need to step up what I’ve been doing or do I need a totally new plan?

Did more inspiring business reading to nourish my brain with possibilities.

Worked on my promotional plan for January.? I’ll be running both the Creative Dream HOLYday (Jan 3) and the Creative Dream Incubator e-course (Jan 28).? This is an amazing course that really does grow dreams – I want to get as many people as possible participating this year.

Planned my first Spreecast: The Creative Dream Journal Playdate (it’s free and it’s happening January 7)!!? On Monday I got to play with Connie and Lisa on Spreecast and wheeeee it was fun.? I’ve been thinking about doing this forever and finally – I’m doing it!

Being able to speak to people one-on-one has been the best way for me to grow my business.

People do not realise how much I can help them – until I do it!

When you have a mindset like “this is hard” or “I don’t live my dreams – that’s for other people” someone telling you they can help with that doesn’t even register.? Because you’ve been carrying that story so long it feels like Absolute Truth for you – you don’t know that you’re carrying it.

When I work with new people and start to shift the energy around the story to open up new possibilities – they’re stunned.? Then they start to get what it means to play with possibility.? Then they start to want more for themselves.? It’s so beautiful.

Last year I gave away 100 free mini coaching sessions.? As much as I loved that, energy work takes a LOT of energy and I simply can’t do that again.? So this year I’ve been doing free monthly coaching circles and tele-classes since November, and now I’m going to branch out into the free live stream.

I think the tele-classes/circles may work better because then people get to actually talk to me and I can do energy shifting & coaching with them.? For that to happen on a live stream, they’d have to be willing to go on camera and a lot of people are not comfortable with that.

On the other hand, a lot of people don’t want to pay long distance for a phone call (though I do have to pay long distance charges to call my own conference line!) but would watch a video stream online.? So I think the video stream will have more participants – but will they be as engaged?

I don’t know!? Let’s see if I find out at the Creative Dream Journal Playdate.

I added new posts to Dreamtastic Creative Journals.

Did a little re-tooling of the space inside the Creative Dream Circle to make space for more members.

This week wasn’t easy and I feel like I didn’t get nearly as much done as I would have liked, but still I’m proud of how I faced how I was feeling and brought in love & creativity to transform it and stayed on track as much as possible.? The inner critics are not going to knock me off track!

Last week I started a score card to keep track of everything I’m going, inner and outer, in bringing this dream to life.? This week I’m exhausted at the thought of even looking at it, so I’m just going to ignore it.? Suffice it to say – it’s going to take a zillion steps and in the process I will defeat a zillion inner critics, fear & limiting beliefs.

Making a Big Dream Real #3 Read More »

Creative Journal FAQ: Help! I Get Stuck Trying To Put My Dreams into Action

By Andrea Schroeder / December 19, 2013 / journaling, Manifest Your Dream Life

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals post. Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

Today I’m answering a question I got…

My question is the best ways to use your journal to put those dreams into action. I am decent about dreaming it up a bit in my visual journal however I seem to often get stuck on that part.

It’s good to start with more clarity about why and where and how you get stuck.

Often, when we get stuck we just… stop.? It’s good to remember that it’s not the stuck that gets you stopped, it’s the decision you made to stop that gets you stopped.

Stucks are our fears, limiting beliefs and established patterns.? They try to put up a wall when we try to change out of that old way of being and step up to create something new.

And they are a natural part of the process of bringing a dream to life.

Exploring stucks ALWAYS leads to something amazing.

Start with the assumption that there is a good reason why you got stuck.? The stuck indicates that there’s something for you to look at.

Welcome the stuck.? Make space for it.? Let it be a part of the process.? Find out more about why it’s here and what it wants.

Journal about being stuck about how to bring your dreams to life.? Journal about what you would do if you weren’t stuck.? Journal about it every day until you don’t feel stuck anymore.

Journaling through the emotional stucks gets you clear enough to be able to take action.

Yesterday I felt stuck.? I drew it out in my journal:

See here at the bottom – that yellow circle with small orange rays?? And the arrow pointing to it that says “I AM HERE”?? Right on top of that – that’s a pile of boulders.? That’s how I was feeling when I started exploring the stuck – like I was buried under a giant pile of boulders, and my dream was on the other side, and I had no tools.

Because I do this all the time, I quickly found the gift in the stuck, and got myself un-stuck.

You can see the rest of the page looks pretty happy… this was me working it all out and getting myself back on the Woo Hoo I Can Do It Possibility Train.

If you’re new to exploring stucks, it will take a little longer.? It’s like with anything – the more you practice, the better you get at it.

Resources:

Read Creative Journal Prompt For When You Don’t Know How To Make Your Dream Real.
Read 100 Reasons Why You Can Do this.
If you’re in the Creative Dream Circle you have an entire Un-Sticking Station to quickly un-stick ANY stuck.
And, of course, sometime you need support to get through a stuck!? We’re starting a session of the Creative Dream Incubator on January 28… I guarantee no stuck is stronger than the Incubator.

Creative Journal FAQ: Help! I Get Stuck Trying To Put My Dreams into Action Read More »

More on why Dreams/Ideas are DANGEROUS

By Andrea Schroeder / December 17, 2013 / healing, intention, Manifest Your Dream Life

Yesterday during Connie’s Holiday Paint Party (a super cool live streamed art journal party – you can watch the whole thing here) Connie asked me if I get a lot of ideas and I said yes… and I added that following an idea blindly is DANGEROUS.

I was at the paint party to draw a mandala and chat with my friends, I wasn’t in teacher mode.

This morning, teacher me really wants to clarify and explain this because it is really important and what I said may be misconstrued.

Creative people have a lot of ideas.? We’re open minded, we’re connected to inspiration, we love ideas so ideas come to us.? This is good!

But acting on all of those ideas is NOT good.

Ideas will meet you in the state of consciousness you’re at, in the moment.? Most of the time, we’re not fully aware of our state of consciousness.

For example, let’s say you’re carrying a story about how our mother doesn’t approve of you.? You’ve carried the story so long you’re not longer aware that you’re carrying it, but it is energized in your consciousness.

An idea comes in that is a perfect match for this story about your mother.? An idea that this part of you believes will finally win her approval, once and for all.? Again – you’re not aware of what’s happening on this level.? You just know the idea feels exciting and inspiring.

So you jump into it.? You ride the wave of inspiration.? You pour your heart and soul into bringing this idea to life.

Either the creative process goes well or it goes badly.

If it goes well:? you successfully bring your idea to life, but your success feels hollow somehow and you don’t know why.? You don’t feel the way you thought this would make you feel.

This is because deep down inside you wanted the idea to succeed so that you could gain your mother’s approval and change how it feels to walk around carrying this painful story.? But even if your mother loves the idea and cheers you on – the story is deep inside of you.? You have to consciously change the story that you carry in order to change how you’re feeling.

This is so dangerous because it feeds a new story about how dreams aren’t worth it and it’s better to just ignore them and you’re not going to be happy anyway so why bother.

Or, if the creative process goes badly: you end up all tangled up in fears and painful feelings you don’t understand.? Or you resist the creative process because on an unconscious level you know this is attached to that painful story you don’t want to go anywhere near.

This is so frustrating because you know you’re more than capable of doing this thing, but it’s like something is holding you back.

This is so dangerous because now you’re going to add a new story to carry around about how when you go after your dreams you fail.? About how you’re not good enough and you don’t follow through.

It’s all tangled up, on the INSIDE.

This is why working with dreams soul-to-soul, inside-to-inside is key.

Your dream is about how you think you’ll feel when you have the thing.

Your dream is about evolving into the person you know you can be.

Your dream is about bringing your creativity and purpose to life.

Your dream is SO MUCH more than the surface thing you want: a solo art exhibit, a published novel, your dream house, etc.

When you stay on the surface – get an idea – run with idea – make idea real – you miss out on the fulfilling and magical part of it all.

This is why you connect with the idea, soul to soul, before proceeding.

Then, in the example I’m using here, you’ll immediately see that what you really want is some healing for this painful story you’ve been carrying about how your mother doesn’t approve of you.

And when you focus on that healing work, other parts of your life “magically” start to fall into place.? Because this story has been impacting you in a lot of ways, for a long time.

And when you focus on that healing work, new ideas spring up.? Ideas that are more connected to who you really are and what you’re here to do, and less connected to this painful story you are no longer carrying.

And, if you stay connected soul to soul as you play with those ideas – they turn into dreams come true.

They help you bring your life into deeper alignment with your inner truth, with your gifts and creativity and purpose and heart and soul.

This. Feels. Amazing.

If you want to know more: the Creative Dream Circle Initiation page has audios that lead you through this process.? (the initiation is free).

If you want to explore this with me: we’re starting up a session of the Creative Dream Incubator on January 28.? Six weeks of diving into the process soul-to-soul communion with your dreams, healing, miracles + transformation – and then once everything is aligned and ready to do – practical action steps + support to make it happen.

More on why Dreams/Ideas are DANGEROUS Read More »

Watch Me Make A Big Dream Real, Part 2

By Andrea Schroeder / December 13, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

OK, I need a catchy name for this series!? But for now I am going to call it what it is: watch me make a big dream real.

I am so grateful to me-from-last-week who started this series and made her commitment public last Friday.? (If you missed it, that post is here)

On Sunday I was doing my regular Sunday stuff, including tidying up in the DreamLoft.? I was enjoying the happy hum of the clothes washer while sweeping and I looked out the window and thought “MAN I am happy here!”.

This space sparkles.? It’s perfect for me.? I thought about how happy I am here and how happy I am doing the work I’m doing.? And, you know, maybe I don’t need to reach for “more”.

Maybe this is enough.? I am already living with so many dreams made real.? I love helping others to do the same as my full-time gig.? Why this push to help so many more people?

side note: This is a good question!? You want to know the WHY behind your dream – you don’t want to go to the work of transforming yourself and bringing a big dream to just to keep up with your neighbours, or because your mom wants you to.? That only brings you further out of alignment with your truth.? But because I use the tools of Creative Dream Incubation my dreams are already aligned with my purpose and soul and heart and creativity.

When I sat with the question, I saw how it was rooted in fear, laziness, resistance and a desire to HIDE.

And I was so grateful I’d made this public commitment and I couldn’t just quietly pack this dream away.? Because that feeling grew the whole rest of Sunday and Monday.

Not just… why bother?? But also a growing feeling that this dream is bigger than me and I am not ready.

And I did want to give up.

But that feeling only lasted until Tuesday.? I think that’s a really important thing to remember when you feel like giving up: it’s just a feeling.? Feelings change.? Don’t give up.

On Tuesday I posted my 100 Reasons Why I Can Do This.? If you did not read that post, READ IT NOW and then make your own list.

On Tuesday I felt great!? I led a free tele-class on How To Stay In The Magic No Matter What Is Happening Around You and it was amazing.

Participants were having the most amazing realizations and I could feel the magic sparkling in the air. I am in love with my work, and with the people who show up to play with me.

Then I went to see a doctor about a rash I’ve got on my legs.? It’s itchy and gross and I had tried every natural thing there is and it’s still CRAZY ITCHY.? Doctor gave me some drugs – an anti-itch pill and a rash-healing cream.

Wednesday I woke up 2 hours later than usual which I NEVER do.? I felt groggy all day.? The last time I took a pharmaceutical was about 10 years ago.? I am so sensitive even Advil makes me loopy, but this stuff REALLY makes me loopy.

Loopy, groggy, mellow and ready for a nap.? That’s how I felt all day.? Kind of the opposite energy of “THIS IS MY DREAM AND I AM MAKING IT REAL, DAMNIT!”

But I remembered this:

When you commit to your dream, everything that happens next happens to support you in the process of bringing that dream to life.

Everything.

The things we think of as obstacles, roadblocks and the universe “testing us” are actually doorways into new possibilities. It’s just our seeing them as obstacles, roadblocks as tests keeps us from seeing the possibility, opening the door and stepping into dreamland.

Pills that make me groggy are actually tiny little doorways into a new possibility.? Pills that make me groggy are here to HELP ME make my dream real.? So, thank you pills!? I will be learning more about you and the superpowers you are here to share with me over the next three weeks.

So being groggy and slowing down right when I think I need to speed up is good.

I’m already seeing that – it’s so easy to get caught up in all the details of things to do when growing a business.? It’s so important to stay connected – heart to heart and soul to soul – with the purpose of what you are creating.

Then you’re coming from a place of real power.?? Like a giant at the bottom of the sea can flick his fingers are create a huge waterfall up on the surface.? And a person up on the surface can use all the energy they have to flail about and not displace anywhere near as much water.

The deeper down you do, the more power you have.? That’s how Creative Soul Alchemy works.

What I did this week:

Last Friday I said I wanted to figure out what I am going to DO and I did it!? I made a list of what I need to be doing every day and every week to stay in the flow of making this dream real.

I’ve created 3 sections: daily practice, weekly practice and business things (the work).

Daily Practice:

Meditation A (A being quiet stillness deep connection, no Creative Soul Alchemy work)
Meditation B (B being transforming energy, lots of Creative Soul Alchemy work)
Journaling
Artmaking

So of the daily practice things, only one (Meditation B) is actually focused on making the dream real.? Everything else is focused on nurturing me.

Before a tree can grow bigger branches and more leaves, it needs a larger root system.? Same goes for dreamers.

I always did meditate, journal and make art most days.? Now I am deepening my commitment in the name of growing larger roots.

Weekly Practice:

Right now I only have 1 weekly practice, this may change.? Every week, I want to spend some time re-reading my favourite business books and e-courses and exploring new ones.? A steady stream of information, inspiration and ideas for my brain.

Starting with Unveiling The Heart of Your Business.? The first business book I read that was profoundly helpful, because it puts all business stuff into spiritual terms – it speaks my language and approaches business as a beautiful heart-nurturing thing.

(Unveiling The Heart of Your Business is highly highly highly recommended)

The first time I read it I was soooo new to business and still had a lot of negative/limiting ideas about what business is, that I had to step over and work around before I could get anywhere.? Now that I have cleared a lot of that, I am interested to see what new gifts I find in this amazing program.

But, since I’m telling the truth here, I will share that I didn’t get to this this week.? I did put it on my iPad so I could easily take it to the coffee shop to play with.? But that was my plan for Wednesday afternoon and I was just soooo groggy from the new pills I took a nap instead.

Self-Compassion is a good companion on the path to making a big dream real.

But having compassion for not doing the things you said you’d do is not compassionate at all – it’s an unconscious self-sabotage system.

The greatest act of compassion is to hold yourself to your commitment to being the person you want to be.

In the grand scheme of things, do you want to have your dream made REAL or do you want to be coddled in your excuses?

I want my dream.? And I want to be compassionate towards myself in the process – so loving and compassionate towards myself that I keep the promises I make to myself.? So I am re-committing.? In fact, I am promising to spend some time with Unveiling The Heart of Your Business this weekend.

Actual Business Things:

This is where I found a really interesting question:

Is it enough to step up what I have been doing or do I need to create a totally new plan?

(I’m going to write a whole post about that question for Dreamtastic.? It’s a really genius kind of question to be asking + exploring and it helped me figure out what to DO with this new business goal of mine.)

I did my How To Stay In The Magic tele-class.

These classes take me about 2 days to create, prep for, facilitate and recover from.? Because we’re doing deep down Creative Soul Alchemy – shifting energy, healing wounds and dissolving blocks, it takes a lot of energy to create and hold that kind of space.

My free tele-classes are NOT just promotional things where I try to convince you to sign up for my programs.? They are helpful + inspiring actual classes.? But they ARE a promotional tool in that once people experience the magic of working with me, they tend to want more.

The Creative Dream Initiation is the same thing… a helpful and inspiring Try Before You Buy for the Creative Dream Circle.

I also:

Updated the Creative Dream Incubator page.
Scheduled the next Incubator session to start on January 28.
Brainstormed how I want to promote the Creative Dream Incubator in January.
Posted about the Creative Dream HOLYday: Virtual Playdate & Creative Dream Retreat happening on January 3.
Wrote 2 Dreamtastic posts: 100 Reasons Why You Can Do This and How To Blend Lots of Dreams Together.
Came up with a system for scheduling things on Facebook so instead of posting everything at once when I’m there, the posts are more spread out.
Started re-arranging things inside the Creative Dream Circle to make space for the new stuff.
Met up with Lisa Wilson from Being Breath?to talk about our videocast, part of 21 Secrets LIVE in 2014.? Wowee we’re going to throw an amazing creative playdate together.? (Join 21 Secrets LIVE right here – weekly video streaming art journal playdates!? With 21 different inspiring teachers!)? This is not directly related, and I said yes to this project not to grow my business but because it seemed like it would be so fun.? But collaborative projects like this do get your work out to new audiences.
Wrote this post.

?When I look at it like this I feel disappointed, like I did too little.

Even though How To Stay In The Magic took a lot of bandwidth this week.? Even though I’m on this new prescription that is making me groggy.

Hey… No Matter How Much I Do It’s Not Enough… I see you there and I choose a different perspective.? I remind you of how much inner work it takes to schedule + announce new classes.? I remind you that I’m giving time and attention and love to each thing, doing fewer things but doing them with more care.? I remind you that this post itself is MONSTROUS and it takes time to write MONSTROUS blog posts.

And, I’m writing this on Thursday afternoon.? I still have all of Friday to do the rest of the things on my list.

Oh, what’s that?? I finished my list?

So, can we call this enough then?? Yes.? Deal.

And Friday afternoon I can go out for coffee and a cookie and leisurely plan out what I want to do next week.? And while I’m at in, I can even get started re-reading Unveiling The Heart of Your Business.

My plans for next week:

Well on Monday I’m doing this:

It’s free, click here to join!

And I’m going to work on a plan for all the behind-the-scenes things I want to have done by January to start this mission with a BANG.

Scoreboard:

I got this idea this morning, to keep a running tally.? Mostly, at the end of this I would like to be able to show that Hey you can have a lot of monsters + obstacles to overcome… and still make that dream real.

Monsters = limiting beliefs, inner critics, fears

Obstacles = outer things that come up and seem to be thwarting my plans

Sold Steps Taken = though there have been millions of baby steps, I am counting each thing in the “Things I Did” section.

Monsters Overcome: 4

What you have already is good enough, I am not ready, I want to give up, No matter how much I do it’s not enough

Obstacles Navigated: 1

New prescription makes me groggy + loopy

Solid Steps Taken: 11

Not a bad start.

Watch Me Make A Big Dream Real, Part 2 Read More »

The Creative Dream HOLYday: a Virtual Playdate + Creative Dream Retreat

By Andrea Schroeder / December 12, 2013 / Manifest Your Dream Life

Creative. Soulful. Nourishing.? The ultimate way to start a new year.

All the fun and play of a Creative Playdate blended with all the magic and healing of a Spiritual HOLYday.

Meditation, journaling and creative play.? You’ll get time in the Circle (on the phone or in the forum) and time on your own to explore:

What’s going on with your dream (like, really going on with it – we’re talking deep down SOUL CONNECTION with your dream).
What your dream wants you to know (dreams are WISE and know how to grow themselves!).
What’s the #1 obstacle facing you and your dreams (sometimes we think it’s one thing, but really it’s something else.? Being clear on this is vital) and what’s the best way around/through/over/under it.

You’ll leave with:

Unexpected discoveries – the kinds of thing you discover when you tap into new levels of intuition + connection to spirit.
Healing, transformation and miracles
A new understanding of what to do next to bring your dream to life
Creative Dream Mojo: fuel for walking your Creative Dream Path in 2014

How it works:

We meet (on the phone, or on Skype, or you can work with the recordings later on) on January 3 at 11am (Central, NA) to create the Circle, open up that deep down soul connection to your dream and build the magic together.
You go play on your own (you do get playbooks for this part, or you can create your own retreat activities).
We meet again (on the phone, or on Skype, or you can work with the recordings later on) on January 3 at 2pm (Central, NA) for coaching, transformationing and closing the Circle.

Your dream is calling to you back to yourself.

It’s asking you to wake up.? To brighten up.? And lighten up.? And create a DREAMTASTIC life that is worthy of you.

Your dream is calling you into your creativity, your heart, your spirit, your purpose and your power.

Are you going to answer the call?

I have led 14 Virtual Creative Dream HOLYdays so far.

Every time, there have been miracles, magic and transformations, rooted in delight and joy and the magic of creativity.

Every time, people’s dreams show up and show them the most amazing things.

They are the most beautiful thing ever.? I can’t wait for the January Creative Dream HOLYday.

If you join the Creative Dream Circle by Jan 2, you get to come to the Creative Dream HOLYday on January 3!

The Creative Dream HOLYday: a Virtual Playdate + Creative Dream Retreat Read More »

How To Blend Lots Of Dreams Together

By Andrea Schroeder / December 11, 2013 / journaling, Manifest Your Dream Life

Today’s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals? post.? Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing… click here to start playing!

Today’s question:

How do I or can I narrow my focus? ?How can I blend all my dreams and ideas together in order to create the reality I desire?

This comes up time and time with my students and clients!? We are BURSTING with dreams and want to give them allll love and attention and nurturing to bring them to life.

And nobody ever likes to hear this, but the truth is you’ve got to narrow in.? You’ve got to pick ONE to focus on.? For now.

There is really only one Creative Dream: to live a life that feels true to who you really are.

All of your dreams are ideas live underneath the umbrella of that dream.

Every time you bring a dream to life, it nourishes the umbrella dream. So bringing one to life does nourish all the others because they’re all connected.

Meanwhile – staying locked in a holding pattern and NOT choosing one dream to focus on nourishes nothing except your excuses.

So, you blend a lot of dreams together as real things in your real life, by bringing them to life, one at a time.

You can pick the one that inspires you the most.

You can pick the one you want the most.

You can pick the one you think is the most achievable.

It does not matter how you pick, it only matters that you pick.? Creative Dream Incubation requires your commitment.

The good news about this is that once you’ve made that first dream real, it gets easier to make the next one real – and so on, and so on, and so on.

How To Blend Lots Of Dreams Together Read More »

100 Reasons Why You Can Do This

By Andrea Schroeder / December 9, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

Today?s post is a Dreamtastic Creative Journals? post.? Dreamtastic is an ongoing (free!) e-course about using your journal as a tool for transformation, healing and dream-growing.

As a part of my new quest to make a big dream real, I started a list in my journal of 100 reasons why I can’t fail.

These lists are magic and you don’t even have to get to 100 reasons before it starts to work.

Listing out all the reasons why YOU CAN DO THIS bolsters your confidence and helps your fears feel safer – ideally, safe enough to just take a nap and leave you alone.

It shifts your energy.? It builds expectancy.? It creates a solid foundation from which to bring your dream to life.

You probably can’t come up with 100 reasons all in one sitting.

That’s part of the point.

When you do this in your journal, write the title: “100 Reasons Why I Can Do This”? and list whatever you can think of.? It’s ok if you can only come up with a few reasons.

hint: one reason why you can’t fail is that you’ve got a LOT of support available to you since you read this blog!? And you can always join the Creative Dream Circle.

You will go on to journal other things in your journal before you finish your list.? Leave PLENTY of space for your 100 reasons.

And your brain will keep working on this, even when you’re not journaling. This keeps your brain focused on possibility.

Remind yourself in the mornings that you are still working on this list.? Whenever an idea comes to mind, add it.? And have a weekly date to sit down with this and think about it some more.

When you have the mindset that “I CAN DO THIS” you start to see things differently, you don’t let fear or old programming get in your way and even “impossible dreams” become real.

Here’s my list, so far:

Love! The Circle was built with love and built to love dreamers and their dreams. And love is powerful and can draw to it more to love.
Dreams are Important. Purpose, Spirit and Heart. Needed. What the world needs is more dreams made real.
I am a Creative Genius. I have created everything I have ever set my mind on creating, no reason to think that may stop! (Though, of course, I don’t control the timing)
I have the Creative Dream Incubator!
I have been taking business classes for the last 4 years! I know how to do this.
There are people who will help me spread the word.
I am so ready! I have done all of the foundation building, this dream has sturdy ground to grow on.
My intuition says so.
My heart is happy about this, I’m not feeling a lot of resistance.
I am determined.
Small steps, every day.
People LOVE the Circle!
800 is a ridiculously teeny percentage of people on this planet
800 is even a small percentage of the number of people who read my blog
I can advertise.
I can be crazy creative about how I promote this.
The only reason is hasn’t grown yet is that I have been holding it back because in the old format, I wanted it to be small.
The new format needs it to be bigger.
I have so many tools I can use!
ENTHUSIASM! It’s a superpower and a magnet. I am enthusiastic about my work, that draws people in.
Intention is powerful.
My intention is crystal clear.
Commitment is powerful.
My commitment is solid.
Purpose is supported by spirit.
People can FEEL integrity, even through the interwebs.
By walking my talk and consistently practicing what I teach I create a safe atmosphere for people to come in and do the work with me.
I have something unique + amazing to offer.
I am willing to work for this.
I am willing to play with this.
I am willing to explore new territory.
My intuition never steers me wrong.
Creativity is contagious!
When you combine creativity with clear intention and purpose and spirit and heart and a genuine willingness to do both the inner and outer work: you can’t fail.
When people start working with this material… They LIGHT UP.
Those lights can help guide new people into the Circle.
I’m not trying to sell to 800 people, I am finding 800 people who who are ready to make their dreams real and want me to help them. I know they’re out there.
800 feels right because they are out there.
In the grand scheme of what I have already created, this is small.
Everything in the universe supports me.
This will get easier and easier, as it creates it’s own momentum

Even if you just grow your list at 1 idea per week you’re still doing yourself a HUGE favour by playing with this.

100 Reasons Why You Can Do This Read More »

Watch Me Make A New (BIG!) Dream Real

By Andrea Schroeder / December 6, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, intention, Manifest Your Dream Life

I am nervous about posting this.? But I promised myself I would do this. So… deep breath….

Ever since I left university (15 years ago!) I have wanted to be an artist.? To follow my creative flow wherever it leads and have that financially sustain me.

When I first set out to do this, this was hard.? Very hard.

But in the last five years or so, things have really changed for us sensitive creative types – the way the internet has evolved has changed everything.

Three years ago I left my part-time day-job to be a full time Creative Dream Incubator and the past few years of my life have been amazing.

I always tell my students that you don’t just make a dream real and then you’re done. Creative Dreaming is a way of life.? As we evolve our purpose evolves, our creativity evolves, our desires evolve.? Our dreams evolve.? It’s a fact of life when you live in a universe of infinite possibility, as we do.

So now I’m reminding myself about this.? It’s time to dream bigger.

Though I want to include a GIANT CAVEAT about what I mean by bigger.? We live in a society that tells us that bigger is always better, unless you’re talking about your body in which case smaller is always better – these rules are childish, stupid and unhealthy.? That’s not the bigger I am talking about.

The universe is alive.? You are alive.? Life is alive.? Your dream is alive.? Living things grow.

My dreams are ready to grow.

My Creative Dream Incubator is ready to grow.? My Creative Dream Circle is ready to grow.

But they have always been ready.? They are sturdy containers for growth, transformation and magic and they work just as well with a million students as they do with one.

I, however, do not do as well with a million students as with one.

And I needed time to feel ready for this.

It takes a lot of preparation to teach transformation.? After 13 years of studying and exploring, I started an intensive 3 year program to become a teacher.? Then I did a 1 year internship and taught TONS of in-person classes… all this before I did a single online course.

Then, in the last 3 years of teaching online full time, my work has evolved.? A lot.

I’m really excited and inspired by what I’m doing.? It’s unique and heartwarming and imaginative and fun… and EFFECTIVE.? I’ve also become more grounded as a teacher and ready to hold a space for more dreamers and more dreams.

As I shared last week, I re-structured my offerings to make space for MORE dreamers and more dreams in 2014.? (From now on, you can participate in ALL of my e-courses and tele-classes AND be a member in my Creative Dream Circle for only $100/year.)

You won’t find this kind of high quality dream-growing support for anywhere near this price, anywhere.

I am doing my part to make it as easy and simple as possible for all dreamers to get the support they need to make those dreams REAL.

Because I am on a mission.

I am going to grow the Creative Dream Circle exponentially in 2014.

My goal: 800 dreamers.

That number makes my stomach jump a bit.? While I have had over 100 members in the Circle so far, I haven’t had over 100 at once.? And now I want to have 800 members in the circle, all at once, by the end of 2014.? It’s a stretch.

Under that stomach jump I feel a quiet sparkling.? I feel how amazing it will be for so many more dreams to be born.

And then… well I have layers of resistance and excitement and joy and fear.? All the usual stuff involved in taking on a new dream.

For the last few weeks I’ve been sitting with this decision.? Acclimating to it.? Writing about it, exploring my feelings about it.? It took some time to actually settle on the number 800 but now that I have it feels exciting and right and it scares me in all the right ways.

I’ve also been figuring out how to do it.

As I was planning away the other day a new idea dawned: to share this process, as I work through it.? I thought about how helpful this would be for people who are interested in how to make big dreams real… and about how it would help me solidify my commitment to myself, to commit to sharing it with others, too.

Sharing the process shines a light.? Fear and resistance can’t hide in that kind of light.

So, I’m doing this! I’m going to share the entire process over the next year, right here on my blog.

Every stumble and mis-step and success and joy along the way.? I’m going to write a weekly post (on Fridays) talking about where I’m at, what I’m doing (both internal and external stuff) and share lists of what I want to do next and keep myself accountable.

I’m excited.

What I’ve done so far:

Not a lot of tangible things!? As I said, I had to be with this decision for a long time before I could settle into it. I’ve been journaling and meditating and arting.? Connecting with the essence of the Circle, and the essence of my business and the Patron Saints of Creative Dreamers to make sure everything is aligned and ready to go.

I’ve been getting to know My Dream Self, the me-who-lives-this-dream and can give me the best advice about how to get there and what it really means to be there.

I gave my website a makeover (if you have my blog posts sent to you by email, do click here to visit the site and see!) to put my amazing new offer right at the top.

I wrote this blog post and made my commitment to this public (gulp!).

And I am asking you, right now, to think about joining the Circle in 2014.?

Imagine what would happen if you had a whole year of Creative Dream Support… e-courses, tele-courses, group coaching calls plus an entire library of resources and obstacle-banishing dream-growing tools and space to bring your dream from inception all the way to fruition.? The act of making that kind of commitment to yourself is MAGIC.

Creative Dream Circle members are using the Circle to work on things like:

starting/growing creative businesses
finding their creative dreams
healing their hearts and finding new loves
taking their art more seriously
making more money
learning how to make TIME for themselves
developing a deep sense of believing in themselves, and their dreams
being more productive
being less productive, and having more fun
practicing extreme self-care

…all sorts of delicious life-enhancing things!

What would you create with a whole year of creative dream support?? (click here to check it out)

My plans for next week:

Well, I haven’t actually thought about this!? I knew I needed to start this post series NOW even though I am not entirely ready.

I’m still swirling in all of the ideas for all of the ways I can make this happen.? I’ve got 4 journals and a giant roll of paper out, sitting beside me.? So I am going to keep doing that, exploring my options for the outer work.

And come up with some daily practices for the inner work.

By next Friday’s post I’d like to have a more detailed plan of what I’m going to DO with this for the next few months.

When you join the Circle, you also get FREE access to ALL of the e-courses and tele-classes I do? all year long. ? It?s going to be a CRAZY AMAZING year.

Click here to join today.

Watch Me Make A New (BIG!) Dream Real Read More »

If it feels wrong, don’t do it.

By Andrea Schroeder / December 2, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

When something just feels wrong, that is your intuition speaking to you, letting you know that something is off.

The more you ignore that inner wisdom and just bulldoze through, the easier it gets to just keep on bulldozing…. which creates a gigantic mess in your inner world, and makes it harder for yout o re-connect with your inner wisdom.

Bulldozing is not a tool for successful creative dreaming.

But bulldozing is basically what built our world. There’s a lot of it out there and it can be hard to not fall into that pattern.

I planned tomorrow’s Calm For The Holidays Creative Playdate months ago. It’s one of those times when what I need and want I want to offer are one and the same, and I was really looking forward to it.

But as the date approached, something started to feel off. It was subtle at first, and then I became more and more uncomfortable every time I tried to work on it.

A few weeks ago I started to think about cancelling it, because it felt so wrong. But canceling it felt even more wrong!

I did a lot of journaling and a lot of sitting with my feelings and just waiting.

Sometimes I can’t prep for an event like this until the day before because the energy is shifting so much. As soon as people sign up for a transformative event, transformation starts. So sometimes I wait until the last minute so that I am working with the energy that will show up at the event.

But that’s not what was happening this time. Something was really off.

So, instead of prepping for the class, I did even more journaling, even more sitting with my feelings, even more waiting.

And the answer came.

I wrote last week about a huge shift I am making in my work.

As soon as I shifted things around, the Calm For The Holidays Creative Playdate changed.

The feeling of something being off was gone. I happily prepped for the calls and created the playbook and once again I am soooooo looking forward to this.

Calm is a doorway that leads you to whatever you need right now.
Calm is powerful.
Calm is magic.

Doing what you need to do to get into a state of calm, instead of bulldozing through your to-do list, always brings you somewhere amazing,

I am so happy I worked through the tangled parts to get to this place.? Now the Calm For The Holidays Creative Playdate is going to be amazing.? (It’s tomorrow! Come play with us!)

I wanted to share that story as a little reminder of the importance of listening to your feelings.

Don’t be so hell-bent on Making Things Happen that you stop listening to your inner guidance.

Even when it seems like your inner guidance is trying to direct you away from something you really want, listen to it and explore it. Often it’s just showing you a shortcut or an easier path.

39 Shares

If it feels wrong, don’t do it. Read More »

Calm Friday

By Andrea Schroeder / November 29, 2013 / Manifest Your Dream Life

Instead of being cranky about how Black Friday seems to be invading Canada this year and that it’s really hard to stay away from the nuttiness, I am writing this list of reasons why I am head over heels in love with winter:

The way the snow fall kind of insulates noise and everything feels softer.
The way the snow sparkles in the sunshine.? Glitter everywhere!
The moodiness of the winter clouds.? The soft grey sky.
The tree branches coated in frost.
The way the low low sun hits the crystals up in the loft windows and sends rainbows shooting everywhere.
The early early sunset, and the lighting of candles.
Knitting fluffy snuggly cardigans.
The permission to just stay in, because hey, it’s cold and dark out there.
Lattes, tea, hot chocolate with Irish Cream.

Winter is the season of quiet and sparkle.? My two favourite things.

And it feels like the beauty and magic of winter get hijacked by our completely insane holiday traditions.

Sometimes this makes me mad, sometimes it makes me sad.

This year I’d like it to inspire me to be more solidly committed to staying in alignment with my inner (quiet!) sparkle.

Because no matter how frantic everything gets out there, you still get to choose calm.

This is what we’ll be doing on Dec 3 at the CALM for the Holidays Creative Playdate.? (And thanks to my new plan, this is playdate now FREE for all Creative Dream Circle members)

We’ll also be exploring how calm is actually a superpower.

And how ending the year with a month of calm creates fertile ground for a dream-filled 2014.

Calm is magic.

And I am wishing you the calmest of Black Fridays.

The Calm For The Holidays Creative Playdate is a transformative experience for people who are ready to NOT get caught up in the craziness of the holiday season.

It?s about connecting, deeply, to peace, calm and your amazing inner sparkle.

>>> Click here to read all about it.

Calm Friday Read More »

I (kind of) messed up.

By Andrea Schroeder / November 27, 2013 / creative entrepreneur, Manifest Your Dream Life

Or, I feel like I messed up.? Even though really I didn’t.

When I started my Creative Dream Circle, I wanted to explore ways to work with dreamers on an ongoing basis (because dreams need ongoing support!) – outside of my classes and in a much-less-expensive way than coaching.

So I invited people who had been taking classes with me to join this secret private group, and started exploring how we could make this work.

The Creative Dream Circle was around for a long time before I ever mentioned it on this blog.

Over the past few years, it has evolved a changed A LOT as I have learned more about what does and does not work.

As I said, what I have wanted to do is offer dreamers rich, on-going support in growing their dreams, for way less money than ongoing coaching.?? And I figured out how many people I needed in the group to make it viable for the amount of work I put into it…

But what I did not include in that calculation was my internal overwhelm-o-meter.

That meter is what has kept the group small, even as I have wanted to grow it.

I have been doing so much energy work with this dream of mine and there has always been part of it that felt tangly… I knew I was doing something to hold this back.

No matter how tangled a dream is, consistent inner work will get the tangles smoothed out and then the dream will grow.? I know this is always true.? So I kept working at it.

And now I see it.? And while I would not change a single thing of what has happened over the last few years (and it has definitely served me ever bit as it has served the group members) I can’t keep doing it this way.

During our monthly (and often twice monthly) calls, I had a promise to make sure no one ever left a call with questions, I would stay on the phone as long as need be.? I love my dreamers, I love talking with them and it was time well spent.

But energetically, this promise meant I was holding space for each member.? Which is a beautiful thing that I loved doing. But my capacity for doing that is quite small.

And that is why the group needed to stay small.? So that I wouldn’t be in a state of overwhelm holding space for everyone.

And truth be told keeping the group small has served also my HSP-ness and introversion and my somewhat neurotic relationship with visibility.

I set things up so that I needed more people in the group than I was able to have.

I messed up.? Sort of.? I see it more as “this is the path I took to get to where I want to be” because as long as you’re doing your best to listen to your own heart – you can’t really make a mistake when it comes to creative dreaming.

You can’t know things before you try/do/experience them!? So I tried.? And I learned.? And now I’m adjusting.

Also: it feels to me like the way I grew this group was the exact perfect way to grow this group. This path has given me time and space to get grounded in my role, to feel sturdy and capable of steering the ship.

But now the group is ready to go from delicate seedling to sturdy tree.

I am happy!

As I make this change, I feel deeply connected to Trust, Generosity and Whole-Heartedness.

So I am re-structuring to make space for MORE dreamers, and MORE dreams come true.

This is where it gets a little convoluted.

I started working on this change a few months ago.

I shifted the pricing structure from monthly to annual, and made the Circle MUCH less expensive.

At the same time, I separated the monthly tele-events from the Circle, and instead offered Circle members 50% discounts on tele-events.

And now I’m seeing how I had it part right, part not-right.? Because to offer these monthly events, and promote each one, and the admin work of creating each one as a separate thing…. the energy doesn’t feel right.? I actualy feels downright WRONG to keep doing this (my stomach tightens up, my shoulders get tense – my body and intuition are screaming at me to stop), which is why I’m not going to keep doing this.

I’m going to go back to offering the events for FREE to Circle members.? At the new, way-low price.

As the group grows, I can’t promise to answer very single question on every single call.? I can promise that the calls will continue to be amazing and fun and they’ll help you get in touch with your dreams and figure out how to bring them to life.

This promise feels so much more energetically balanced.? I can hold this promise as the group grows.

I hold + support the group, instead of each individual member in it.

And I’m creating new coaching and intuitive healing programs for 2014, so when people want more individual support, they can get it there.

It feels like simplicity and spaciousness and ease.

I love it.? More dreamers + more dreams come true in the Circle.? More vibrancy, energy and movement.

Ever since I made this decision, I have felt light and happy – so happy my heart has been kind of sparkling.? A sign of making the right choice.

And I wish I had figured this out a few months ago when I made the first change, so I could have made one big change all at once.

But when it comes to creative dreaming, with each step you take you gain new perspective + understanding which lets you take the next step.? This is at once the most inspiring + the most frustrating part for me.?

It’s just not always possible to do this with neat, logical straight-line paths, the path curves and swirls all over the place.

So now when you join the Circle: you’re going to get EVERYTHING.

ALL the tele-playdates and treasure-mapping parties and group coaching calls.

ALL of my e-courses (yes, including the Creative Dream Incubator itself which we’re going to do together early in the New Year plus Creative With Money which we’ll do later in 2013).

ALL of it.? For just $100/year.

I hope you’ll come play with me, we’re going to have the best time EVER in the Creative Dream Circle in 2014.

PS: While the change itself is in effect now (if you join the Circle you’ll get all the extra stuff I’m adding) my website still has everything set up in the old way. I’ll be changing this over the next few days.? It feels like the whole internet slows down for American Thanksgiving, so this is a good time for me to work on this.

I (kind of) messed up. Read More »