Getting Creative for the Holidays

Hey Love,

As the holidays quickly approach, it can be a magical and fun-filled time, but also one that comes with a lot of extra pressure, anxiety and expectations. Searching for the perfect gift, hosting the perfect dinner, planning for the perfect trip.

One way to bring a little more simplicity and soulfulness into this busy season is to tap into your natural talents, interests or creative passions. Here are some inexpensive ideas to try based on your particular zone of genius:

If you are tech savvy: Create a family slideshow, design an email holiday card, make a shared pinboard for holiday activities

If you are a born philanthropist: Organize a family closet clean-out, pack toiletry bags to give to homeless, collect canned goods for distribution

If you love family time: Plan wacky holiday-themed games, schedule a pj movie marathon, create an in-home scavenger hunt

If you are a kitchen wiz: Make homemade treats for teachers, develop a special holiday mocktail, set-up a cookie decorating station

If you are a music maven: Put together a seasonal playlist, host an informal holiday jam session, research local choral concerts

If you are a visual artist: Get extra crafty with present wrapping, make handmade decorations, visit holiday craft markets

Notice that none of these ideas cost much money, but there's a huge reward in aligning your interests with activities that can bring more meaning to the season. It's not just in our words (or purchases!) that we show our love, but through our actions and intentions.

Remember that creativity isn’t reserved for the few - it’s a gift we all were given. But it sometimes takes help to reconnect with our natural abilities and interests. And that's exactly what I can help you with. If you are feeling creatively blocked, stuck or unfulfilled, let's work together to find that missing spark. I've got all the tools to help you feel reinspired, realigned and ready to take on whatever creative dream you desire.

If you want to get back in your creative flow, let's start with an Unblocking session, a powerful 60 minutes 1:1 to uncover, shift and brainstorm. If you are ready to dive deeper into a full month of transformation, check out my new Creativity Container, packed with high impact sessions, custom resources and ongoing support

To creating memories this season,

Lauren

Rewrite Your Story

Hey Love,

We all tell ourselves stories. Tall tales about who we are and aren’t, what we can and can’t achieve, why we do and don’t have the life we desire. Some of these stories are positive and empowering, motivating us to keep moving forward towards our goals. But, you might have other stories, ones filled with excuses, justifications and limiting beliefs. These are the ones that fuel doubt, self-sabotage tactics and a lack mentality.

It can be hard to overcome a negative story that you’ve written about yourself. But if you want to make a change in any area of your life, then it’s time to create a new story - one where you are the hero, the boss, the one who wins the golden ticket. Here's how:

Pick your focus area. What’s one meaningful thing you’d like to change in your life? A new job, improved health, better boundaries? Pick something that’s really important, you’ve thought about a lot and deeply desire.

Identify your current story. What have you’ve told yourself about why you don’t have this yet? Using the example above, maybe you’ve thought: I’m not smart enough, I don’t have enough discipline, I can’t handle upsetting people. Be really honest with yourself and get it all out on paper, each and every negative part of the story.

Shed and shred. Say out loud “This is an old story, that I…(use the negative words you wrote above)”. Next, visualize peeling it away from every corner of your mind, and shake it loose from each part of your body. Imagine it all being pulled together and into a big wad of paper that you can destroy as you see fit - throw it in the trash, light it on fire, tear it into a thousand pieces.

Rewrite your new story. This is the time to be creative and reinvent your identity, bring your future self into the now timeline. Who are you in your most amazing version? What are you truly capable of achieving and experiencing? What life do you believe is absolutely made for you? Feel into what it’s like to live as if all of this were 100% true. Soak up every ounce of joy, excitement, pride, gratitude.

This is a powerful exercise and one that takes practice, so please don’t worry if it felt hard! It requires time and energy (aka attention and intention) to make these types of mindset shifts, so just be patient and keep trying. You can repeat this exercise daily or weekly as you start to notice a difference in the story you are telling yourself and the results that are showing up in your life.

You can create anything you want for yourself. But you may need some support to determine what's been getting in your way and how to move through to the other side. And that's exactly what I can help you with. If you are feeling creatively blocked, stuck or unfulfilled, let's work together to find that missing spark. I've got all the tools to help you feel reinspired, realigned and ready to take on whatever dream you desire.

If you want to get back in your creative flow, let's start with an Unblocking session, a powerful 60 minutes 1:1 to uncover, shift and brainstorm. If you are ready to dive deeper into a full month of transformation, check out my new Creativity Container, packed with high impact sessions, custom resources and ongoing support

To writing a new story,

Lauren

6 Weeks To Change

Hey Love,

I don’t want to set off any stress alarm bells, but… there are just 6 Thursdays left in 2023! Aghh, I know!

And as much as I love the idea of coasting through the remaining weeks and starting off the New Year fresh, here is the truth: what we do (and don’t do) in these next 6 weeks has a major impact on our 2024 success.

Imagine if you started doing the work NOW, for changes you want to implement next year. With a little bit of intention and attention, you will already see meaningful progress on January 1, rather than using the whole first month to get momentum going.

Here are some powerful questions to set the stage for our next 6 weeks of transformation. And yes, you can still fully enjoy the holiday season, while also laying the foundation for Future You!

What is one challenge you are currently experiencing? It could be big or small, work or personal. If it’s coming to your mind, then it’s ready to be addressed.

Why is fixing or improving this issue important to you? Try going deeper here to get to the root of why this matters.

What possible solutions haven’t you tried yet? This is the brainstorming part! What have you heard or seen from others who’ve overcome your same challenge? What are they doing you haven’t done?

How will your life be better after this problem is resolved? How will you feel differently? What ripple effect will it have?

What is your accountability plan for giving this desired change your attention and effort? Hints: Find a friend/coach, join a group, set up a reward system.

See that wasn’t too bad, right? And now it can get even better. If the answer to #1 has anything to do with Creativity, then you are in luck! As I lean more into my role as a Creative Catalyst and champion for others, I am gifting (yes that means FREE!) a limited number of 1:1 sessions to help those who feel creatively blocked, whether it's a neccesary part your career or simply a missing piece of your life.

If this is calling to you, then hit reply asap and get yourself on the top of my list. Remember, the next 6 weeks are going to go by anyway. Don't wait for the perfect time, best idea, or right mood - let's take the steps to get you back in your creative groove now!

To your creative flow,

Lauren

Ending the Comparison Trap

Hey Love,

Are you suffering from Comparisonitis? If you are 1) Often looking around to see what others are doing, 2) Frequently measuring yourself against the goals set and/or achieved by someone else 3) Feel bad about yourself when you see others succeed, then you probably are.

It’s so common to compare ourselves to others even though we each:

Think, act, feel, see, hear, look and learn differently

Have had unique family structures, upbringings, schooling, work and life experiences

Enjoy specific passions, talents, desires and points of view

Have been through various traumas and losses, successes and truimphs

So how can we expect to have what someone else does, when none of our journeys are the same?

Somewhere along the way, we took on the belief that it’s us vs them, a competition, a fight for some slice of success pie. But in reality, it’s you vs you.

Yes, there are some benefits to occasionally looking at what others have. It can show you what’s possible, highlight a desire you may have been unaware of and motivate you to challenge yourself. It can also help you clarify and refine what you don’t want and what you are unwilling to compromise on.

So take your quick glance around and then move on. It’s time to walk your path, honestly and authentically. Pursue what makes you happy. Strive for goals that light you up. Redefine your priorities and values.

I’ve been busy retooling my own version of success, who I’m here to help and how I’m meant to live my purpose. And while my interests remain broad and ever-evolving, my business focus has narrowed and I am beyond excited to move into this next iteration of Open to Alchemy. Stay tuned for more.

If you want a creative, empowering place to find your path and transform even more into your fullest self, please reach out via email or send me a DM on social. As always, my 1:1 offerings are available, so find the right session for you on the Open to Alchemy website.

To being the one and only you,

Lauren

Your ARE a Big Deal

Hey Love,

I recently had a pretty meaningful realization…I am a Minimizer. I’m not sure this is an official term or classification, so you might be hearing it here first (trademark pending, lol). You see, I had a rather chaotic childhood. While it was filled with so much love and wonderful family, friends and experiences, there was also a lot going on behind the scenes. As a result, I learned how to navigate my big feelings and sometimes unstable surroundings through various coping mechanisms. Some of them were beneficial (the belief in positive thinking, self-reliance, resilience), but others not so much (normalizing chaos, compartmentalizing traumatic events).

The big aha though, was in seeing how this minimizing didn’t just happen with the bad or hard stuff, but also with the good stuff. As in, hiding my successes, not wanting to promote myself or celebrate my gifts fully. Lately, however, there has been a noticeable shift and I keep getting the messages of self-love, trust, stepping into my power and abilities. And I know this is a message for you too:

You are a big deal. You are a gift. You are a treasure. Do not let others dissuade you from your brightness, from your bold, beautiful “beingship”. You may not always be understood by everyone, but your voice is needed and will surely help those it is meant to reach.

So many of us work hard to fit in, purposefully dim our light and hide from too much attention. We make ourselves and our accomplishments smaller. But who is that serving? How is that helping us live our purpose or set an example for those around us?

It’s time to be who you truly are and step into who you were meant to be. No more standing in the shadows. Let’s celebrate our strengths, our wins, ourselves and each other.

I don’t know what this energy will turn into, but I’m holding space for each of you who want a safe, loving place to own your power and transform even more into your fullest self. If this is resonating with you, please reach out via email or send me a DM on social.

As always, my 1:1 offerings are available, so find the right session for you on the Open to Alchemy website.

To our wholeness,

Lauren

Dealing With Emotional Overload

Hey Love,

Back in March 2022, I wrote the basis for this email. At that time the world was being rocked by the Ukraine/Russia crisis. It saddens me beyond words to be here again, feeling the same anguish, needing many of the same tools and practices, as we witness the violence in the Middle East.

As sensitive beings (aka Empaths) we can take on so much of the collective pain and suffering, that we can begin to physically, emotionally and mentally experience them ourselves. These are some of the Empathic Distress symptoms you may be experiencing in the past weeks:

A heightened level of anxiety, despair, worry, stress

Insomnia, procrastination, lack of interest in productivity, passions or hobbies

Increase in self-soothing habits like mindless eating, drinking, shopping, binge watching, etc

Becoming hyper-focused on an area that *think* we can control, i.e. kids, partners, work, home

When we have difficulty separating our own emotions and feelings from those around us, it can be overwhelming and totally disregulating. Here are some of my favorite practices to help calm our nervous systems and get back into our bodies:

Get Quiet: I can not overstate the benefit of quiet time when you feel overloaded. Sitting in silence with no outside stimulation, a few times a day, is an incredibly peaceful practice and a beautiful way to start becoming an observer of your own energy. If you think you can’t sit still, then try walking or driving in silence to get started.

Take a News Break: I know you want to stay up-to-date, but constant doom scrolling and breaking news alerts just wire your brain to look for and become addicted to the negative dopamine hits. Give yourself a few minutes to check-in, but stay offline the rest of the day to give your body and mind a chance to reset.

Reinforce Personal Boundaries: If you want to stop taking on other’s emotions, it's time for some boundary creation. Notice which people increase your anxiety or always share the most graphic or upsetting stories and tell them you need a mental-health break. Be firm on what topics you will and won’t allow in.

Prioritize Feel-Good Activities: It might feel strange to focus on what you deem to be trivial or selfish actions, but it’s exactly what you need to stay focused, level-headed and resilient. Remember, you can’t suffer enough to prevent someone else from suffering. Take care of yourself so you can stay in the energy of being a problem solver and helper.

Remember Common Humanity: It’s really easy to extend compassion to people who think and act just like you. But can you have the same care for those who might have a different perspective? While we may have a vast range in our experiences, opinions and even values, at our core we are all humans, who love, suffer loss and do the best we can in our circumstances.

I know we all pray for a quick and peaceful end to the current violence in the Middle East. I hope you'll find these tools helpful and remember to take each day as it comes.

My most recent Open to Alchemy podcast episode goes into more details on this topic, so take a listen. And if I can provide support in any way, please reach out via email or send me a DM on social.

To peace,

Lauren

How To Believe In Yourself

Hey Love,

I was journaling this week about ways to grow my impact and be more aligned in my purpose (yes these are really the things I think about, lol!) when a question dropped in that gave me goosebumps: When did you stop believing in yourself?

I continued writing and was soon able to make the connection between my self-image and achieving my goals. I realized that what I really needed to do was feel fully on the inside how I want to be received outside. After all, how can we ask and expect others to believe what we question?

If this is something you’ve struggled with too, here are some ways to reignite your faith:

Affirmations. It might sound silly or feel uncomfortable to get started, but this practice really works. Tell yourself “I love you”, “You’re amazing”, “You’ve got this” or whatever you specifically need to hear and notice how different you feel. Try to make it a habit by pairing with other daily activities, like brushing your teeth, driving to work or at the beginning of an exercise session.

Slow down. The frazzled nature of our culture can prevent us from feeling grounded and connected. And in that open, often chaotic space, comes confusion, doubt and the inability to focus and prioritize. By approaching life just a little slower and more methodically, through rituals, meditation and a reduction in screen time, you will start to remember who you truly are.

Keep your Self-Promises. Our confidence grows each time we uphold a commitment to ourselves. With this increasing integrity, comes a beautiful cycle of believing in and trusting our intentions, words and planned actions. Find an accountability buddy if this is something you need support with.

As good as it feels to be recognized or receive praise from others, our true power is rooted in our core relationship with self. It’s where our authenticity is generated and our connection with intuition and purpose develops. And remember, there’s a reason a dream or goal sits in your heart and whispers in your ear…they are yours to achieve.

If you’d like to talk through this 1:1, that’s what I’m here for. Changing mindsets, busting through limiting beliefs, seeing and sharing your highest truth and potential, providing tools to know where you want to go and how to get there, that’s my work, right alongside you.

Here’s how to connect: Book a Free Call to see how we can best work together, Schedule a session directly on my website, listen to an episode of the Open to Alchemy podcast or hit reply on this email and let me know what's on your mind.

Also, I have an incredible new freebie, Finding Your Creative Flow, on my website to help you better connect to your incredible creative potential. I'd love for you to check it out or share with someone!

To your infinite potential,

Lauren

How Do You Measure Success

Hey Love,

I was thinking the other day about our need or desire for evidence that it’s all working out. We want to feel like we are on the right path in pursuit of whatever our goals may be - health, relationships, professional success, etc. It feels so good to know that our hard work is paying off.

And while the big promotion, new relationship status or dropping of 10lbs represents tangible and celebration-worthy proof, for parts of our transformation journey, the shifts can be slower and much more subtle. But that doesn't mean that progress isn’t happening.

What if we changed our “required evidence” to be so much smaller?! We would always see and feel that it is working out. If we viewed each minor shift as a major accomplishment, we would create a wider field of opportunity and a beautiful feedback loop of empowerment, encouragement and positivity.

So here are some questions to ask yourself while you are setting and pursuing your goals, while aiming for the tiniest, most accessible, easiest-to-achieve answers:

What is the evidence I need to believe that change is happening?

Is this something I need to physically see or will feeling/knowing it suffice?

Do I need others to notice or can I be internally satisfied?

How often do I need to see or feel this hit of approval or satisfaction?

When will I know that I’ve achieved my goal or successfully arrived at the next milestone?

If we are going to play the roles of Judge and Jury (and even Sentencer!) of ourselves, we should at least know what proof we would accept. The lower our bar is set, the more proof we will find, the better we will feel, the more motivated we will continue to be and the more likely we are to find success. And that is how you bring your future desires into the present timeline.

If you’d like to talk through this 1:1, that’s what I’m here for. Changing mindsets, busting through limiting beliefs, seeing and sharing your highest truth and potential, providing tools to know where you want to go and how to get there, that’s my work, right alongside you.

Here’s how to connect: Book a Free Call to see how we can best work together, Schedule a session directly on my website, listen to an episode of the Open to Alchemy podcast or hit reply on this email and let me know what's on your mind.

Also, I have an incredible new freebie, Finding Your Creative Flow, on my website to help you better connect to your incredible creative potential. I'd love for you to check it out or share with someone!

To being all the proof you need,

Lauren

Connecting Your Intuitive Gifts

Hey Love,

They say seeing is believing, but so is hearing, feeling, and knowing. While you may not think you have any “psychic” abilities, we all have an inner guide that’s constantly giving us information on our environment, ourselves and other people. We just need to be open to receiving it!

How many times have you known something that was going to happen before it did? Heard a little voice telling you something was off? Visualized a specific situation and then watched it unfold? Or walked into a room and sensed your partner was sad or hurting before they said a word? These are all your intuitive gifts bringing important insights into your field of awareness.

We all have the ability to tap into and strengthen each of these (and others!), but one of the following might feel more natural or “online” for you:

Clairvoyance (Seeing): This is probably the one you’ve heard most about. It’s the ability to see visions, colors, images that provide information and a deeper meaning. These visual messages can often come through as a symbol or a play like a metaphor for a larger situation.

Clairaudience (Hearing): This is the ability to get messages through a voice that you hear in your head. This voice can sound just like your own inner language or it can have a different tone, cadence or other way of speaking to you.

Clairsentience (Feeling): This is the gift of experiencing sensations in your body that give you guidance about yourself or others. It can feel like an emotional connection or understanding and also be present in physical symptoms, like chills or pressure in your head.

Claircognizance (Knowing): This can come through as an immediate and strong dropping-in of information, seemingly from nowhere. It can also feel like a more subtle, but deep recognition of the truth about someone or a situation that you wouldn’t otherwise have knowledge of.

The ability to connect with these “secret powers” is one of the most impactful elements of my personal and professional life. And they are 100% accessible to you too! I love helping people connect more with their inuitive abilities, so they can find more ease, trust and alignment in their life. If this is giving you any hits or pings, book a Free Call to see how we can best work together.

Also, I have an incredible new freebie, Finding Your Creative Flow, on my website to help you connect to your Co-Creative abilities! I'd love for you to check it out or share with someone!

To strengthening your intuition,

Lauren

Are You Hiding or Hibernating?

Hey Love,

Whether it's required for work or just for fun, most people spend a lot of time posting on social. There can be so much pressure to constantly put yourself out there, you can end up with a dreaded Vulnerability Hangover from oversharing. It’s completely natural to go through periods of wanting to dial it back a little bit or even "go dark" to get some relief.

If you are in one of those quiet modes, one question to ask yourself is are you hiding or hibernating? While you might not see an immediate distinction, I think there is quite an energetic difference between the two. Here are some qualities of each:

Hiding: This is a place based more in fear, limitations and self-doubt. You can feel closed off, not wanting to be seen based on a lack of worthiness, imposter syndrome or the search for perfection. People that are hiding can feel stuck, lost and have a generally negative internal dialogue.

Hibernating: This is a space with more restorative and nourishing vibes. You can feel purposeful, open, like you are making progress on things that you aren’t quite ready to share yet. People that are hibernating can feel like they are enjoying time for self-reflection, exploration and have a generally hopeful internal dialogue.

While it might look the same from the outside, you will definitely feel the contrast between Hiding and keeping yourself small vs Hibernating and preserving your energy as something new unfolds. When you have a better understanding of where you actually are, you'll know better how to move through these periods with truth and trust.

You’ll find lots more information in my most recent Open to Alchemy podcast, which is also my first video episode (YAY!). After being in a period of hibernation, I got the big time intuitive hit that it was time to show myself in a new way. Can't wait to hear what you think!

If you haven't already seen, I have a brand new freebie, Finding Your Creative Flow, on my website and some upcoming availability for new client Energy Boost sessions. I'd love to help you get back to your authentic self, feel empowered and take creative action to make your dream life a reality.

To showing yourself,

Lauren