Fresh perspectives on life ...

While playgrounds exist all over the world for children, where are the playspaces built for adults? There seems to be an assumption that once you grow up and start working that play loses importance, or becomes a personal hobby or activity separate from everyday activities. But what about spontaneous play?

Contrary to what society seems to say, play is equally important for adults as it is for children. And it might follow that there should be as many play spaces that invite and cater to adults as there are for children. And when I say adults .. this must also include the elderly. There are many ways this could happen, from elaborate ‘playground’ type spaces to simple interventions in public spaces. What is important is that opportunities are provided that inspire playful interaction and exploration, and that offer ways for people to connect to themselves, to other people, and to the world around them in fresh new ways.

In Brene Brown’s research into the habits of whole-hearted people she made a simple but profound discovery – “Adult play is important”. And yet so many things get in the way of adult play. Work is valued over play and fears such as ‘looking stupid’, or ‘wasting time’ often prevent adults from the important benefits that play provide.

The need for play-spaces that cater to all ages is relevant both for cities as well as smaller towns. In cities I believe it is essential. Given the rise of technology, automation, obesity and depression, facilitating physical play needs to become a priority for urban planners. The rewards of creativity, connection and meaning may not have an obvious monetary benefit, but the benefits are priceless and reflect an evolving society.

It is October 23 and I am in a process of radical clearing of my space to make way for a transformation in how I relate with the world.  Sorting through papers I’ve come across a mastermind update from a year ago.  At that time I was working at a relative new job (at the nursing home), deep diving into the Enneagram, and had just finished a course called Shine Your Light.  I was booked in for the SXS* Sculpture in Public Space conference, focused on my vision of creating Cloudscape.  I was working on a new blog post, and in the process of making a video.  

One year later and things have shifted significantly.  The biggest shift has been taking my business concept and putting it ‘out to market’ by actually running a market stall to promote and sell the rings.  Most significant from this has been that I am actually selling the rings.  This year has really been focused on bringing the Circles of Life rings ‘to life’.  They are evolving.  My first ring sold on Saturday was ‘evolve’ to a lovely boy from Joey’s soccer team.

So Cloudscape has been shifted into the background for now, and I am fully focused of making the Circles of Life rings a profitable venture that brings lots of joy, connection and clarity to lots of people.    I’m still doing courses.  This time I have just officially finished a course called Feminine Power, which has been quite a wonderful and transformative experience (which I am still in the middle of) and I have just started a course called The Copy Cure – to help me with my writing which is about right where I’m up to right now.  

Cloudscape is evolving at it’s own pace.

I have taken a big leap of faith by asking for nine weeks of leave from my regular job over the Christmas school holidays, to focus both on being with Joey and launching my business.  WORDS|CIRCLES|LIFE is my means of finding focus and purpose and evolving myself.  

In the past year, while working at the nursing home, I have:

• updated to a new website at circlesoflife.net
• created video for Circles of Life rings
• completed small business course component for writing my business plan and creating financial tables
• developed the vision for my business with much more clarity
• create a word guide as both a physical book and an e-book
• created a ring display unit and stock box that was intended for set-up in shops but has now been used at my market stall setup.
• started market stalls (6 done now)
•  

Words | Circles | Life is my business.  It’s overarching vision encompasses writing, creation, spirit and human relations.  Under the umbrella of WORDS|CIRCLES|LIFE I am creating Circles of Life rings and other creations, including Cloudscape.  I am exploring through writing, and words, and circles, and life.  Over 20 years of studying and practicing aikido has had me embody the circular nature of life.  I am fascinated by sacred circles, and inspired by the purity, clarity and perfection of the circle, and the sense of wholeness that it implies, and how it can be used as a tool for understanding life.  

Clear expression is a dream of mine, and one that I have struggled with, having lived in an almost permanent state of confusion and uncertainty that inspired me to explore and study, but robbed me of my acceptance with the simplicity of what is, in this moment.  I love that the rings are such a simple and pure form of self expression.  

Given that the rings are a perfect present to give to others for Christmas, and to yourself for the new year, I need to get moving on promoting the rings online.  That is where I am currently up to.

Though the word I chose at the beginning of this year was ‘INSPIRED’, the word I have mostly enjoyed wearing has been ‘life’.  In part this has been related to my focus on making the rings concept a reality, and a reminder that I am on a journey, which is changing and evolving.

I will post this now, along with the beautiful image of Joey, hiding behind spinning wheel of a rainbow umbrella.

Onwards and upwards.

 

Choosing a word that acts as your guide is a fundamental part of Circles of Life rings.  To help people choose their word I created a Word Guide for people to download.

I recently discovered a book, ‘One Word that will change your life’, which elaborates on the power and value of choosing One Word and offers a simple process of finding it.

This post outlines the ideas in this book, including the three step process to finding your One Word.

 

 

The secret to life change

 

Written by three friends, Dan Britton, Jon Gordon and Jimmy Page, ‘One Word that will change your life’ gives examples of the power of choosing and living by a single word. The book claims “it will help you become the person you were born to be”.

The book mostly promotes a practice of choosing a new word at the beginning of each year and living into that word over the year.  “By living a single word that is meant for you, you’ll find renewed purpose and meaning through the year and achieve laser like focus and power for your life”.  Having a One Word vision or theme is described as “the secret to life change”. 

Choosing a word at the start of each year is contrasted to the less successful practice of setting new year’s resolutions.  The difference with choosing a word is that we are setting a ‘to-be goal’, what we want to become, as opposed to setting ‘to-do goals’, which are about what we want to accomplish.  Part of the power of One Word is its clarity and simplicity.  Each of the authors tells stories of how powerful the One Word concept has been in their own lives and the lives of those around them.  

 

 

Three steps to One Word

 

The One Word process involves three steps: 1. Prepare your heart  2. Discover your word  3. Live your word.  Following is a detailed explanation of each of these steps.

 

Step One: Prepare your heart (look in)

This is a process of taking the time and space to look inside.  It means taking time out of our busy lives to be still and open our heart.  As the authors point out, this does NOT have to only happen at the start of the year.  They recommend going through this process whenever you are ready, and to simply choose another word at the start of the next year.  I would suggest that your One Word can in fact span a longer time than one year, although I understand the clarity inherent in choosing a fresh word for each year, as well as the opportunity to check in with your life to see how things are going and what needs attention.  As part of preparing your heart and looking in the authors suggest following two simple steps: (1) Unplug, and (2) Ask.  

Taking the time to unplug and find some solitude may be challenging, but it is extremely important.  The book quotes: “A word with power is a word that comes out of silence”.

The next step for preparing your heart, while unplugged, is to ask the following questions:

1. What do I need? (what areas of your life need the most change and why?)
2. What’s in my way? (What is preventing me from having what I need?)
3. What needs to go?

In asking the first question, “What do I need?”, it is helpful to contemplate on which of the areas of your life need the most change, and why.  This can help to highlight which aspects of your life need attention and I found that this part of the process was really helpful for me.  Reflecting on the six areas of life; spiritual, physical, mental, relational, emotional, and financial, can help to reveal areas that need attention and start the process of coming up with some possible words.

The second question, ‘What’s in my way?’, involves looking for obstacles preventing your growth.  Asking the question “What is preventing me from having what I need?” is suggested as a way to reveal what we feel is stopping us.  This was a powerful question for me as ‘self expression’ came up as a big issue for me and the word I finally came up with was ‘EXPRESS’.  

The third question, ‘What needs to go?’, can help to highlight things that we need to let go of in order to move forward.

Asking these three questions, with an open and inquiring heart, helps to create the conditions for your word to appear.

 

Step Two: Discover your word (look up)

The authors describe this part of the One Word process as where you receive your word – “After preparing your heart, all you have to do is plug in and listen up.  Then God will reveal your word to you.”

I am a spiritual person, but after a childhood filled with fear from a fire and brimstone God, along with a fiercely independent personality, I tend to shy away from organised religion.  However, I appreciate the essence of this step, which involves letting go and opening up to receiving.  This ‘plugging in’ process is specifically referred to as making time for prayer.  It is suggested that ‘during your prayers, ask God to take control’, and to ‘ask God to reveal the word that is meant for you’, asking “What do you want to do in me and through me?”.

Each person will have their own way of asking for their word.  The power of this step is that it takes it away from being a mental process, and opens up the opportunity for inspiration to guide you.  Having asked, the next step is to listen.  Your word may be revealed to you in a number of ways such as while reading, in a dream, in prayer or during daily activities.

 

Step Three: Live your word (look out)

This final step where you live your word, which often involves stepping out of your comfort zone.  As the book explains, the yearlong process of living your word may start with obvious areas that could be improved, with more difficult areas of life change coming later.  

Staying focused on your word throughout the year is very important and there are many ways of doing this.  Posting your word in prominent places is recommended.  Circles of Life rings are an ideal way to see your word every day.  Having your word on display in your home or as a screensaver on your computer or phone are other ideas.  Recording weekly insights and lessons about your word into a journal is another suggestion.  Other suggestions include finding sayings, quotes or a song that relate to your word, having weekly discussions about your word or writing a poem or a prayer.  The book also recommends sharing your word with a  ‘Stretch Team’ – close people who you trust and who will stretch you and help you to grow and help to keep you accountable.  The two main points, therefore, for achieving growth with your word are to “post your word prominently and share it with others”.

 

 

Share the Power

 

The book ends with a rally cry to share this One Word concept with others as a group activity, giving many examples of where this has been done successfully with families, schools, businesses, workplaces, sports teams, and organisations.  

 

 

My One Word

 

In going through this process, the word I came up with was EXPRESS.  Expressing myself, especially verbally, is something I have not had a lot of practice at in my lifetime.  And the truth of how your word can have you step out of your comfort zone and open up difficult areas of life change is very front and centre right now after I spoke out of line last weekend and have been feeling the sadness and shame of my transgression ever since.  There is no doubt that for me this is a word that I have a lot to learn from.  

 

 

In conclusion

 

This book gives a very comprehensive account of the life-changing power of choosing a word to live by for each year.  The process described in the book for finding your word is simple and powerful.  It is a process of opening up your heart, asking and listening for the word you need, and then opening up to the lessons that your word brings over the course of the year.  It is ultimately a process of clarity, alignment, stretching and growth.

I would love to hear your word if you have one, and anything else you’d like to share.

 

With gratitude,

Charmaine

 

 

Links

 

‘One Word that will change your life’ on Amazon

One Word website

 

This rambling story begins with some musing on boundaries, specifically between public and private, and onto my journey,  and some current thoughts, to a little stab at storytelling with the telling of a memory, to this moment and where I am at in my life.  And perhaps I am describing a circle, or circles within circles, because each realisation I have had is like the closing of a circle.  My life has been a journey of wondering, searching and answering in endless circles.

 

public vs private

I’ve always been a very private person.  I’ve tended to protect my boundaries like a spy infiltrating a danger zone.  When I was growing up I felt my private became public too easily, and so I went into shutdown, hiding out, laying low.  That has been my comfort zone for such a long time.  And that’s the comfort zone I am currently challenging by opening up and sharing.  words | circles | life  represents the journey, the circle of life, described in words, telling a story.  The irony is that I have never been a good storyteller.  I’ve marvelled at people who could with a sense of dismay at their handling of the truth.

And telling stories, and my own truth, were intertwined with my obsession with privacy and need to cut off from people, which came about from a deep sense of disconnection.  I turned inward and away from people and learned to live a life of extreme self sufficiency, isolation and emotional disconnection.

Right now, while things are quiet and mostly noone is watching, I am going to be brave and start to tell some stories.  I plan to improve as I go.  Because stories can be fun.  And I can tell my stories while reading other’s stories.  And I can release some of my closed off, private self into the public realm and take my place in the arena.  

 

public speaking

Expression is my simple breakthrough life change experience.  All I need to do is to do it.  So simple and yet so difficult.  I need to stop worrying about what others think or even what I think.  In fact, I am my own worst critic.  In telling my truth, maybe I can tell someone else’s too.  

Seeking to understand life has been my lifelong quest.  And my search has taken me on some amazing journeys.  And though I feel like I am running late, I am right where I need to be and with perfect timing.  

I am going to do some random ramblings while I work out what it is I really want to say.  And I am going to get more comfortable with speaking in public.

 

disconnection

My extreme sense of disconnection at an early age turned into a longing for disconnection.  My bliss was total aloneness.  My desire to be alone had me live a simple life of self sufficiency, enjoying the anonymity of large cities and opportunities for solo travel.  It opened me up to lots of different experiences and perspectives.  I refused to be bound to any person, place, thing or belief.  I wanted to understand the world from every possible perspective.  I was open to all views and held few of my own.  I embraced any opportunity for learning and was constantly in search of the meaning of life. 

 

a story

I am trying to zero down on a story.  The place that keeps jumping into my mind is this small town in Japan called Iga Ueno.  I lived there for about seven months in 1997 & 98.  It was an intense and isolating experience for a number of reasons, but it also helped to break me open and shift me into a new experience of life.  

Okay .. here goes .. I will tell a memory which popped into my head the other night, of one particular experience I had in that small town.  

 

karate

Here is the memory.  I am walking on this slightly main road in this small town, to get some food.  My body is covered in bruises and I am wearing a singlet.  I feel defiant in exposing my bruises.  This was perhaps the beginning of the end of karate for me.  I had just been to a spring camp with my karate club.  The style was called GishinRyu, a small full contact karate school I had found that fit into my schedule of teaching English classes afternoons and nights.  The dojo was on the edge of town looking out over farmland and I could ride there by bike.  I had been having private daytime classes with the teacher and founder of the club in exchange for English lessons.  We forged a sort of friendship and meeting him late at night to drink and chat at a local bar became a favourite pastime.

On this day my friendship with my teacher had gone through a rocky patch, partly due to my decision to do less drinking.  My life had started down a new trajectory.  I had quit my job, moved in with a new friend, and been on my first Vipassana meditation retreat.  My hair was cut very short and I must have felt a bit monk-like.

And in a highly sensitised, post-meditation retreat, super introverted state I had gone away on this karate spring camp.  I was an extreme outsider.  And the training was brutal.  I was pummelled.  I felt so overwhelmed and defeated I was in tears – and tears did not come easily to me.  I returned from the camp covered in bruises.

And on this warm spring afternoon I walked out into this still very foreign town, which I would soon be leaving, wearing the bruises like battle scars with a sense of defiance, a “this is me, deal with it” attitude.  I felt quite bold and liberated.

 

life shift

That was before a big life shift.  Before I moved to Tokyo and then back to my hometown of Sydney which I had left for dead both five and nine years earlier.

 

Sydney

As feared I got stuck in Sydney and stayed for thirteen years, at least nine years longer than planned.  But in that time I found aikido, found a partner, finished my architecture degree, made new friends, had lots of adventures, had a baby, sold a business and explored, designed and created.

 

excess baggage

And I finally moved to a fairytale hamlet six hours north of Sydney, surrounded by nature and culture and an alternative way of life.  In this paradise I have finally started to settle down and to let go of my excess baggage.  

 

writing into the light

And now I am writing into the light.  In speaking up I am starting to shine my light and be a beacon for others.  

And as I write I can step into that singlet wearing battle scarred memory from twenty years ago and remember the “this is me, deal with it” feeling of bold self assertion.

 

here, now

So here I am.  Sitting by a blow heater, indulgently using electricity rather than setting up the fire, which would involve collecting wood in the dark.  Now I’ve switched it off.  I just do it in short bursts.  It is winter solstice and tomorrow night I am going to a community bonfire and lantern parade 20km out of my local town at a community hall and fire shed.  I truly live in paradise and I am very grateful.  I have a sense of having finally landed.  I can start to tell my stories and run my business from home, sending inspirational rings all over the world and working towards creating massive public sculptures.  My house is filled with inspiration and I am taking focused action in my life.

 

breathe

I need to treat this writing more like breathing .. not holding my breath for too long (as is my wont) but releasing in order to keep the fire alight. 

Breathing is so important.  Breath is the spirit of life, the essence of life.  Being ‘inspired’ is really just about living and breathing.  So I hereby release my concerns about my naive expression, since I know I don’t know everything and I don’t pretend to.  And I continue to be open to listening to other points of view, but here I am offering my own quirky perspectives, explorations and takes on life.  

 

words

‘breathe’ and ‘release’ were my words for  2016 and 2017.  ‘INSPIRED’ and ‘EXPRESS’ are my words for 2018.

 

connect

I’d love to hear your thoughts so please write or comment.  And sign up to stay connected.

 

Get connected.  Shift your focus.  Keep it simple.

 

Bold Love,

Charmaine

words | circles | life is my new business.

Today, June 14, 2018 is my official start date onto the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS), a government support scheme which provides mentoring and financial incentives to people starting new small businesses in Australia.

My business mission with my first product, Circles of Life rings, is to inspire people towards a clearer vision for life.

I have recently put together a detailed business plan for this new business including two years of financial tables, market research, online research, a marketing plan, an action plan for the first year, a weekly work schedule, and all legal requirements.  This process alone has brought a huge amount of clarity and hope in terms of helping me to see how I can really make this dream a reality – the dream being of me working for myself on projects that I’m inspired by.

I am excited about words | circles | life  because it brings together everything I’ve been looking at and gives me one place where things come together.  

words | circles | life is my space for being creative and making connections.  It is a place to put my otherwise unspoken and avoidant voice out into the world – a voice for a silent minority, offering new perspectives on life.  This is my playground for exploring, surrendering and finding peace, clarity and joy.

As I am still in the process of gathering market research I would LOVE it if you could fill in my Online Survey (please click here) (takes less than 10 minutes).

 

What are Circles of Life rings ?

Circles of Life rings are stainless steel bands stamped with words of inspiration that act as guides for clarity and support.  They are a simple, elegant and meaningful gift to yourself or someone else.

Circles of Life rings come in six sizes with the option to stamp any word with up to 14 characters including spaces.  The rings can be purchased online and include free postage worldwide.

These rings appeal through their simplicity, ease and playfulness, and suit both males and females.

 

How did Circles of Life rings come about ?

The idea for the Circles of Life started in 2006 when I was given an offcut of aluminium tube, filed and engraved with Vortex 2006. I wore it as a pendant and called it a Circle of Life. It was created during the construction of a sculpture piece, Vortex, which I designed and created, and then erected on Tamarama beach in Sydney, November 2006.  2006 was a very special time in my life with the creation of the Vortex and birth of my son with my then partner, Ian.  I offered to make similar pendants for friends but kept running into different challenges and ‘Circles of Life’ stayed on my to do list for many years.

In 2016 I returned to the idea and started looking at alternatives. I realised aluminium wasn’t an ideal metal and decided to go for stainless steel. I found some stainless steel rings that I loved and purchased a ring stamper and started to make some rings. They turned out really well and friends loved them. I worked out a range of six sizes to fit most people and designed the packaging. I designed and printed temporary tattoos as part of the packaging.

 

A platform for inspired expression

words | circles | life is my platform for sharing my ideas and my truth, and for making a difference in the world.  It brings opportunities for learning, inspiration, connecting with others, and supporting myself and those around me.  I intend to expand and share my writing, design, and all types of creation.

 

 

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave