my 2nd Chakra Dream Chart

Well, here it is. At home, in my art space....my first inspired wall chart. This is a personal chart inspired on Monday morning by reading this from The Chopra Center April Newsletter. 

Below are a few notes about the chart and then a few notes about what I learned about technique as I completed the work. 

Dare to dream has always been a personal mantra of mine so the core word DREAM really popped out when I read the newspaper.  As I saw each of the subtitles. DIGEST, REST, EXERCISE, AWAKEN and MEDITATE...I KNEW I had to draw what flashed before my mind. 

I centered it around an image of the 2nd chakra:

The Sanskrit name for the 2nd chakra is "Svadhisthana." This word means "dwelling place of the Self."

I am generally open here and resonate with the image and the concept. The emotion associated with the 2nd chakra is passion & the element for the 2nd chakra is water.  Yep...that pretty much sums me up. 

I found the E for exercise the most difficult section because for now it feels lost in my life.  I have every intention to re-root myself here and thus chose the brown colors for grounding.  S•T•R•E•T•C•H  &  B•R•E•A•T•H•E are my starting points in the journey. 

Regarding Technique:  

• I will always remember my early work for the dimples caused by the uneven wall I am working on right now (gotta get to home depot and buy and 8x4 foam core board). 
• I can also tell that some markers I like better than others (they tend to be the ones that bleed through and have 2 edges instead of 3).  I will practice my lettering to become more consistent with the density of my lines and letters.
•  For getting low, and staying in my body, I sat on a exercise ball.  I did find that this let me get low, stay with my core and body to the area where I was working and it allowed for a natural movement better than me shuffling across the floor.  
•  My floor- HA!...the poor beige carpet.  I've dropped a few markers, and the chalk dust is everywhere.  Sorry honey, I guess I'll get a little mini vac for my 4th beroom-turned-art-coaching-studio.  

In all...I'm in heaven.  When I started this Monday, I hooked up a USTREAM session (there are a few boring videos of the process..bad sound and apparently I couldn't be bothered to dress up or make up my face for the camera).   Today even, on a group call I used the wall and did some graphic facilitation of our topic via the web with large chart paper on the wall.  That is a whole new area...actually using this live with my clients...and the feedback from them was great.  They loved the visual tools...and so did I.  

Holy Accountablitliy & The numbers don't lie

AllisonCrow's Profile | LIVESTRONG.COM

The past week...I've been reaching the surface of drowning in mediocre and health homeostasis. For 3 days, I've chosen to be extremely conscious of my food intake and have also been tracking my "usual activity" to see what my baseline norm was. The numbers tell the truth.

I coach REALTORS and other Coaches who work with REALTORS and one of the first things I expect is that my clients and their clients TRACK the numbers of thier businesses. Why? Because the numbers tell the truth about where the business really is. They show the gap between the goal and the current state.

I've been pretty good about tracking business numbers and am getting better about tracking personal finance numbers (thanks to my husband who so kindly coaches me in his own way on this). I've never really counted calories or been on a diet. I've always been skinny and could generally eat what ever I wanted to. Then age came. I always knew someday this metabolism would change and my habits would have a hard time keeping up. Long story short...that time has come and gone and brought 10 pounds that could easily turn to 20 if I don't kick it to the curb.

Left to my own devices over the last year...I've begun working out and allowed homeostasis to creep in time and time again. ARGH....so today I chose to step up a notch to unnatural activities and by searching Wendy's Chilli...found the Livestrong.com page!

As a coach...I'm thoroughly impressed with Livestrong.coms site and tools! easy steps, small steps and all the info is there. I can't trick it's database of things I could POSSIBLY ingest in to NOT having what Isearch for. (Hows that for bassackward speak) Basically EVERYTHING I could possibly search for in terms of food, drink...heck even my cleanse and detox pills were in that database). And so off I go. Already downloaded the Blackberry App and logged in for fast tracking...and I'm actually excited to watch my progress, to know the numbers of my BODY...and to look hot on the top of the Buckelew Boat this February in Ft. Lauderdale....in my bikini.

Did I mention that it also fully integrates with all my social media to make it FUN! The only thing that would make it more fun...is to have a few friends who jump in and improve their health with me!

oh and I'm down 3 lbs in 3 days.

list-o-matic

i've been enjoying the fruits of a gratitude centered life lately. it is like the balm that heals everything. it is the magic potion that creates deep satisfaction and joy.
here is my list for today:

1. jing.com and screencast.com
2. doing exactly what I want professionally
3. doors of opportunity opening left and right
   
4. my sister Courtney's writing and her ABC exercise for writers block
5. verbs (hint--use more and watch what happens)
   
6. the jacuzzi hot tub
   
7. my husbands seasonal beard and glasses
8. abundance flowing freely and often
9. markers, books and paper
10. old blog posts and journal entries that are completely relevant today-timeless really.
    
11. hank moody
12. close to debt free---wheeeeeeeeee
13. For finding Christina Merkley and Graphical Coaching concepts in April 09. -specifically drawing affirmations and focus wheels.
14. chuck taylors on my feet : all star slips baby!
    
15. french manicures done at home
    
16. motivated, engaged and committed coaching clients

PS...this is normally posted on crowscaw....and I serendipitously started it on the couch...and so on the couch it will be posted as there are no mistakes!

I've been warned not to read this unless I want to quit my job

well, I don't want to quit my work....but I am curious about the book...and so I read on.

The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Feriss: pp. 32

"Alternative periods of activity and rest is necessary to survive, let alone thrive. Capacity, interest, and mental endurance all wax and wane. Plan accordingly."

The heading to this mini paragraph is: " Interest & Energy are Cyclical." <-------this describes me about almost everything. Ahh...to feel known...and then to be loved past that knowing.

More to come later:

Also bought to read in the next few days or weeks or whatever....Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Dip by Seth Godin. Do you sense a theme? I do and oh how I heart a theme.

CrowsCouch first top TEN Real Estate Blogging/Social Networking/Technology all around YUMMY LIST

Because time is short…and there is so much information and because you can never remember where you saw that post you wanted to read later…USE this tool http://www.google.com/reader to keep track of all the feeds you come across that you want to read. You can star your favorites, share them with friends, be alerted to new posts, and most of all find what you were looking for! All of these resources have “subscribe” buttons….the subscribe button is your new BESTEST friend! This is number ONE.

2.  http://www.netamorfasis.com/real-estate/365-Real-Estate-Blog-Ideas From Netamorfasis- a site by Mary McKnight one of 2008s Sellcius top 10 Women Real Estate Bloggers for 2008.

3.  http://www.mytechopinion.com a go to starting point for Technology in Real Estate—a watering hole of many brilliant minds sharing their goodness with you.

4.  While you are at www.mytechopnion.com,  start by reading this post on having a tweet plan:http://www.mytechopinion.com/2008/11/organize-chaos-with-the-real-estate-tweet-plan.html I can’t stress enough about using your time wisely. The temptation for many of you (and ME) is to all of the sudden be in front of the computer all day convincing ourselves that we are “working/being productive” In ALL of these things, keep an eye on what your MOST important and money making tasks are!  (sorry gentlemen, NikNik is happily married to Reggie Nicolay the social media genius at cyberhomes.com

5.   http://www.cyberhomes.com/content/blog More content for our clients and customers…there is so much here you can contribute to your sphere. Oh and Agents….make sure your listings are showing up here! I know our KWLS auto feeds to this cool site.

6.   http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/ when it comes to marketing, well his bio page say it all and I quote:

• writes the most popular marketing blog in the world;
• is the author of the bestselling marketing books of the last decade;
• speaks to large groups on marketing, new media and what's next;
• and is the founder of Squidoo.com, a fast-growing recommendation website

7.   http://agentgenius.com/?cat=673  ok so I find many, many things on AgentGenius’ site and I find it cool that they are here in Austin, Texas, my hometown.  I chose the subject of “Coaching” because, DUH, that is what I do and can’t help be driven to drive your mind to resources other than straight real estate that include ways to become your very best self.  From the category of “coaching” aka=673…you can find the pure homepage and explore from there – you won’t be disappointed.  Again….a gathering of many minds and authors.

8.   I promise to get back to real estate soon…but don’t they say 98% of success is the mind.http://blogs.briantracy.com/public/blog/149495 Brian Tracy- well if I actually knew him in person I would say he was my HOMIE for sure. I was introduced to his books and thinking by my CPA and have never been the same since. Subscribe to his blog to consume good, healthy, life-giving mind food.

9.   http://www.problogger.net/ I have learned more about effective blogging and tweeting from this one site. @problogger was one of the first people I followed and the information and advice he gives is top notch. Excellent resources for the beginning blogger, and the experienced!

10.I'll finishing this list by Cheating—I wanted to limit my first list to TEN however as a bonafide information junkie I can’t let you not know that there is so much more out there. From http:http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/   is a link to the Inman News’  Top 25 Most Influential Real Estate Bloggers of 2008 (Sellsius Real Estate is one of the picks) These include Brokers and Agents, Community Blogs, Mortgage,  Housing Economics, Industry Commentary, Marketing & How-to, Company, Journalist, and Housing Bubble bloggers.

11.Ok…and I have to add myself and therefore broke the limit of TEN (if you know me I’m usually pushing the limits and breaking the rules somewhat anyway).  I’m not tooting my own horn, yet, but I have been sharing coaching thoughts with, like, 12 people who read my coaching blog (actually I think I have a whopping 26 readers). My own thoughts are there, and even more important, my passion for introducing you to all these other thinkers out there.  If you visit http://www.crowscouch.com, well, I’m just happy to be LAST on your list!

There are SO many I have left off this list….THIS time.  Don’t worry, I can’t keep my big smiling mouth shut and you may very well make the list next time!