Fires, spirit, healing, and practical strategies for our future

The last couple of weeks have seen Victorians facing the worst bush fires we have ever experienced in this state, and those fires are unleashing a great torrent of caring as people from all over the country, and even the world, contribute money and resources to help those who have lost everything.

It's almost presumptuous to comment when one has not been directly affected, but witnessing the courage, love and spirit of those who have been touched by the fires is immensely inspiring and reminds us that every cloud has its silver lining. 

For those who are in Melbourne, I'm offering two Sacred Writing workshops in Croydon on 1st March so that participants can express their feelings and help heal the land by owning our own Fire and Rain energies... Half of the proceeds will be donated to the Fire Appeal. (Email me if you'd like more information.)

Meanwhile I'd like to mention that last Friday I attended the launch of a wonderful new book by futurist Dr Peter Ellyard called Designing 2050 - Pathways to Sustainable Prosperity on Spaceship Earth. Dr Ellyard's mission is to convince humans that our task is to become 'planetists' and 'future makers' rather than 'future takers'. He offers many practical suggestions including the new businesses and products that will need to be created in the years ahead... and will cause some entreprenurial people to become the new billionaires. For those of you who are interested, visit www.preferredfutures.org

It's not about talent!

I've been teaching a creative writing course that I now call "Writing Mastery" for about 20 years, and one of the very first things I tell my new participants is that writing success is NOT about 'talent'. How well you write has very little to do with your instinctive ability. It's much more about your attitude and your application. 

Why do I say this? Because 'talent' is not something we can have; it's something that we DO. And every talent is a combination of actions and attitudes. The people we perceive to be 'talented' just demonstrate various actions and attitudes that result in successful output. So.... since it's not about being lucky enough to be born with talent, ANYONE can be 'talented'. You just do what the 'talented' people re doing. Ie You apply the attitudes and actions that they are applying. 

The science of NLP has shown us that all behaviours can be modeled (i.e. copied). Every outcome we achieve follows on from certain behavioural strategies that are often quite unconscious. Some years ago when I was very blocked as a writer, my research revealed to me that there are specific strategies that allow us to overcome writer's block (and write with impact), and successful writers have them down pat. 

I reveal these strategies in my writing courses, but what I wanted to share here is a wonderful article that one of my students has just shared with me that provides 'academic proof' for what I have just said about talent. Follow the link (below) and enjoy the read. 

Liliane

What a stirring and inspiring inaugural speech Barack Obama gave today. I was moved to tears listening to him commit to accountability, honesty and fair play. His determination to revive old American values sent shivers down my spine - I even caught myself thinking about moving to America. It would be so good to be a part of that shake-up and guided by that leadership.

And when I read some writer's critiques of his speech in an article by Susan Salter Reynolds, I was particularly struck by this comment from author Ron Carlson, who was 'watching the President's syntax': ' "What courage," he said, "to use a complex sentence talking to a million people! By expecting the best of us, he just might get it." '

Hear, hear! I echo this comment heartily. Here's to the end of the dumbing-down era; here's to leaders who really lead, who are prepared to stand up and be counted; here's to America's renewal by drawing on inner strengths and values. And here's to the rest of the world stepping up to join them as we co-create our world.

Welcome to my blog!

Watch this space for news and inspiration.

Liliane Grace.