"When we listen to people there is an alternating current, and this recharges us so that we never get tired of each other. We are constantly being re-created. There is this little creative fountain inside us that begins to spring and cast up new thoughts and unexpected laughter and wisdom. If you are very tired, strained, have no solitude, run too many errands, talk to too many people, drink too many cocktails, this little fountain is muddied over and covered with a lot of debris. The result is you stop living from the center, the creative fountain, and you live from the periphery, from externals. That is why, when someone has listened to you, you go home rested and lighthearted. It is when people really listen to us, with quiet fascinated attention, that the little fountain begins to work again, to accelerate in the most surprising way." - Brenda Ueland; Strength to Your Sword Arm: Selected Writings

I adore this quote by Brenda Ueland. The image of our "center" and our "creativity" as a fountain speaks to me and leaves me wondering what I'm doing to keep the water fresh and flowing (although, I'm all for honoring debris or a beaver dam from time to time). 


Here is some metaphor moxie to play with:

• If we are constantly being re-created, what's the "new" or "current" YOU?
• If your home (or work or relationship) could be a place of re-creation, what would that look like?
• What keeps your water fresh and creativity flowing? What debris is mucking up your waters?
• How do you live from the center? What activities make that possible?
• Take this inner journey OUTWARDS now....Who can you listen to today? Spot the fountains around you and invite them to fill up!

Caravan On,
Tammy Rose

No, I did not turn into eccentric cat lady overnight (but thinking my ECL might be rather bad ass and maybe I should try it). The reason a feline is filling up the blog page today is to offer you a metaphor to play with in your own reflection and inner caravan journey.

A senior supervisor I was coaching with was feeling big time STUCK about how to deal with a particular work situation that involved the potential for high conflict. Can you relate? For many, conflict can feel heavy, anxiety ridden and most of us would rather ignore that the whole thing is going down. That wasn't an option here. 

Together we hunted for the truth and different ways to apply her wisdom to the situation, which was NOT coming easily. New possibilities opened up when she went with the ridiculous (insert ECL now)!  

"I will approach this like my cat! If I start to feel unsure, I'll imagine rolling on my back like my cat does and look at the situation upside down and not from my position of "saving face". For my cat, life's not really so serious, I'm confident here, can relax back and let the other person solve the issue for themselves". MEOW.  (insert a little cat attitude + personality here).  

​Sometimes all we need is to "get out of our head" and one way of looking at things. Metaphors like this open the channels to our higher creativity which creates new solution making pathways.
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It CAN be that easy to move through a block!

Metaphor Challenge:

• What's different if you imagine how a cat (or any animal) would respond to a situation that has you feeling stuck/lost/unsure? 
• Purposefully use at least 2 metaphors this week to help you look at things differently. 

Caravan on,
Tammy Rose