When Inspiration hits
After 12 years of learning and growing in private practice and 15 years of navigating long-term commitment with my husband, inspiration has hit. ‘It’ occurred to me. The ‘it’ I am referring to is inspiration. All the research and blogging, all my hours as a workshop junkie, the thousands of hours in private practice and years of applying the theories in my own marriage, it all came together. I sensed/ thought/ received/ created/ understood how all the knowledge fits together into one cohesive framework. It assembles all the wisdom I have come to learn, with regards to the pairing of people.
People Pairing. The Art and Science of Love.
For as long as I can remember I have been intrigued by and fascinated with intra-personal (within one person) and inter-personal (between two people) development. Whilst I explored many vocations (in the hope of finding one I was willing to commit my heart and mind to one day) I had a broad variety of experiences, like, working in the fashion and beauty industry, film and TV production, personal training, public relations, journalism, real estate, make-up artistry, events and dance show productions. By the time I was 30, I had seen the world, met incredible people, made some good money and even done a personal training gig for an Arabian prince. Unfortunately, none held my attention enough that I wanted to make a life-time career out of it.
In the background, as a hobby, I was always reading and learning about personal development. Sometimes the wisdom would stick and I noticed myself becoming a better-version-of-me, and sometimes the words motivated me for a week or less and then I would forget them. Like a sieve, only the bold pieces of work stayed with me.
The biggest and boldest in the 90’s was ‘Conversations with God’ by Neale Donald Walsch, the teachings of Dr. John Demartini (any and all of his work) and a real kick-in-the -backside course called Landmark Forum. I remember getting so caught up and inspired by Landmark that I quit my job in real estate and left my long-time boyfriend that I was living with. It might have been a rather drastic and spontaneous decision (which is not the best way to go about make life changes) but it did get me to look very deeply into the core of myself.
It created a habit of connecting with myself often to establish whether I was being true to myself. I became more discerning of doing something, or being with someone because it was MY heart’s desire to do so. I became more introspective about the kinds of things that would lead me to having a fulfilling life- things that I could commit my heart and mind to.
My inner voice/ intuition/ gut – whatever name you like to call it- led me to a counselling course at life line. It was exhilarating. I loved it. I was in my late 20’s and I was working as an international model for Storm, a top global modelling agency, but I couldn’t wait to get back from my travels to do the counselling training. I had finally found my passion, it was a huge relief for me.
To cut a long story short, it led to me becoming qualified as a SACAP counsellor (South African College of Applied Psychology). SACAP had a strong focus on personal development as well as practical counselling skills. I loved the training so much I dragged out a two year course over four years, taking extra modules, just so that I could stay and study personal development with a purpose.
As luck would have it, I gave birth a few days after my final lecture and I made the decision to change careers from one with a focus on looking good to one with a focus on feeling good. My new vocation required building a practice which meant that I could take my time in losing the 23kg I picked up during my pregnancy. That was fortuitous. It took about 10 years.
That was twelve years ago. The title ‘counsellor’ gave me permission to make studying part of my career. I was invited to research human potential, making progress and living our best life as part of my professional development. The perfect job for me.
That lead to another qualification as an internationally accredited professional coach (ICF-PCC) which also provides credits for additional studying. They even have a name and system for it. We are required to collect a specific amount of CCEU’s annually (Continuing Coach Education units). Having carte blanche to study and acquire knowledge on any subject I am naturally passionate about (facilitating positive change) is one of the many privileges of being a life-long learner.
Fast forward to recent times. After qualifying as a PSYCH-K facilitator, I was catapulted into exploring my own limiting beliefs. The process has been enlightening to say the least. I didn’t realize how many implicit (subconscious) dis-empowering beliefs I had carried about my own competence. The self-doubt had stopped me from expanding and growing my reach. It has kept me from stepping up and working with groups, from public speaking (without coercion), from creating and presenting workshops that I am passionate about on topics I am passionate about.
And that is about to change. Inspiration has hit.
There is a lovely expression. Learn it. Live it. Give it.
I can confidently say I have been learning it for 25 years. Since I united with my husband in 2002, I have also been living it and applying it to myself. My life has become the place to experiment and practice many of the tools and strategies I have acquired from the theories in these books, workshops and events. In my professional practice I have facilitated incredible change within individuals and between two people.
This is not to say that I a perfect specimen (by any stretch of the imagination) but I am consciously and deliberately crafting a life that excites and inspires me. I am a work in progress. I do my best and sometimes my best could be a little better but I am mindfully and continually growing and striving – to live my best life. My heart is enriched with quality, special people and I am inspired by my work and colleagues. I make a good living doing work I love that is meaningful and making a positive impact. I consider my marriage to be a ‘collaborative work of art’. Together, we do our best to create a stable, healthy home for our son to grow. And so now, I finally feel after 45 years that I have earned the privilege of giving it.
This giving it comes in the form of a series of 4 workshops. It will provide relationship skills for ‘relationshipping’, strategies and competencies for healthy partnerships, and a good exploration into the inventory of your beliefs- the ones that get in your way.
If you are curious to learn who, when combined with you will make a good match- it’s ideal.
If you want to become someone for whom a healthy relationship is possible- it’s even better.
More intimacy, optimal growing, improved relating and connecting? – perfect for you.
Inspiration has hit. I am excited to invite you to People Pairing- The Art and Science of Love.
(For more information, please make contact below and we can discuss.)
And what about you?
When has inspiration hit in your life? Did you listen and notice the whispers, did you follow its calling?