tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5493580073126722282024-03-18T19:44:44.281-07:00Jennifer Manson AuthorJennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-76181379745325605352013-12-29T11:42:00.001-08:002013-12-29T11:45:36.765-08:00Speaking in the prophetic tense<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Various personal development courses I’ve
been on and books I’ve read draw the distinction between two quite separate uses of language:
descriptive and creative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/bep/img/angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="irc_mut" height="200" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/bep/img/angel.jpg" style="margin-top: 76px;" width="153" /></a><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Descriptive language describes the world as
we see it: “There’s a car. It’s red.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Creative language describes the world as we
would like it to be, and in the act of declaring it, brings it into being. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Not so many people are fully conscious of the
second type of language; still fewer are adept at using it. Sometimes people
express scorn or are even offended, referring to creative language as lying,
when in fact it simply describes something that doesn’t yet exist. It's only a matter of timing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It occurred to me that we could simplify
understanding if we recognised a new language structure – I’ll call it the prophetic
tense – to define when we are using language to create. It’s not the same as
the future tense, exactly, although at times it has aspects in common.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Think about it, though, the varying degree
of power in statements such as: “I’ll do it this afternoon” – how much faith we
put in this depends on our view of the speaker, their tone of voice, the
importance of the thing, and to a large extent, our experience of our own
integrity. In some instances we take it as absolute fact, relying on it and planning around it. In others, the response is more: "Yeah, right."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I, personally, take my word very seriously,
partly because I was born that way, and partly because I know its power relies
on my deep unconscious belief in it. If I habitually said things and then
didn’t stand by them, then when I used the prophetic tense, I wouldn’t, in a
weird way, believe myself. And my sense is that it’s the intensity with which I
believe myself when I say I’ll do something, or describe something I see in the future, that makes it so likely to become
true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<h4>
<span lang="EN-GB">I'm not saying I'm perfect </span></h4>
<span lang="EN-GB">I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’m acutely
aware of the times I’ve failed. Sometimes this has been in one-off instances -
some of them big ones, of enormous importance to me, indelibly imprinted on my memory. Some of these I am still working to salvage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Other times it has happened when I have
been stretching myself, perhaps extending my business, taking on larger, more
challenging projects, or perhaps moving countries, when logistic detail proliferates. In times of stretch, sometimes things slip through the
cracks. I have missed appointments, and forgotten things. I don’t like it, but
I’ve learned to be a bit kinder to myself about it: apologise, put plans in
place to make it less likely to happen again and get over it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Other times are more complex – or perhaps,
actually less complex – the times when I’ve avoided raw truth for reasons I don’t
myself quite understand. My sense is that sometimes this is because of a gap of
perception and understanding: the other person is not ready for what I have to
say; but at other times, it is simply integrity failure – lying, in black and
white terms. Hmmm. Like I said, I’m not perfect…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming back to the central point, being
true to my word is very important to me, because that is what gives my voice
power; that is what tells friends, family, colleagues and clients that they can
trust me; and that is what brings my prophetic speaking to life.</span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">How does the prophetic tense work?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">So how does it work? Well,
in my experience, one of two ways. I may be speaking in traditional future
tense: “the books will be published on the 27<sup>th”</sup>; “I’ll be over to
see you the week after next”. Or I may be speaking in the present tense,
describing something that is real and vivid before my eyes as I speak, a lived
vision, or something I draw up in my imagination as the words form. My experience is that, given time, these things almost always come to pass.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Recognising the use of the prophetic tense is a subtle art, to start
with, although it becomes unmistakeable after you’ve been looking for it and
spotting it for a while. The voice changes, gets slower, stronger. There’s a
profound sense of absolute truth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Sometimes I use it intentionally, switch
into it, deliberately create the future; and sometimes it overtakes me, in a
conversation, speaking to someone about things that are important to one or the
other of us, or both. It comes from deep inside me, from that place I know as Truth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">And sometimes, I hear it in someone else. It sends shivers up my
spine, raises goosebumps. I stop short, take notice, remember. And in a cool
moment, a minute or so later, I play back to them what they’ve said. Very often
they themselves haven’t realised the significance of the moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It’s a miracle when that happens. Big
things get acknowledged and planned, not in the to-do list, something-more-to-fill-my-day-with way, but from a deep place of inspiration. It’s magical,
miraculous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Here, I think, lies the deepest power of the
human race.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The following is an excerpt from my novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Law-Attraction-Jennifer-Manson/dp/0473180979/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388345504&sr=1-2" target="_blank"><i>Law of Attraction</i></a>, which describes a moment where the prophetic tense is used. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghn7k5hpNKv3IqfKw12x7gIQIchLWRAvELndsa6dksgmd9uukRDnCs-_2J4nofzuv9QRflLQGrVPGCwIZv2bZ-tf_gWub8gnroCuAggAob7Gc3qwykgR0HciJSWo9yZBnXkmW9uVoR_co/s1600/LOA+Front+Cover_HR+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghn7k5hpNKv3IqfKw12x7gIQIchLWRAvELndsa6dksgmd9uukRDnCs-_2J4nofzuv9QRflLQGrVPGCwIZv2bZ-tf_gWub8gnroCuAggAob7Gc3qwykgR0HciJSWo9yZBnXkmW9uVoR_co/s200/LOA+Front+Cover_HR+smaller.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">I came back home overflowing with energy. I was booked
to go back to Auckland in a fortnight, but in the meantime, I made an offer on
the house<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the corner and sat down to
brainstorm. </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">Three weeks later I stood in the
living room of my new venture, keys still in my hand. Doors were open wide out
to the veranda and I could see trees, lawn, and the occasional car going past.
I looked around, imagining how it would be, visualising the furniture, the
colours, cool neutrals over this awful brown. I love this moment, when
everything is possible, where I begin to create the future with my imagination.
</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">Maria came running in. “Mum, Mum, I
found a swing!”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">I held out my hands. “Come here, Babe,
let me tell you what I see.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-NZ">- excerpt from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Law-Attraction-Jennifer-Manson/dp/0473180979/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388345504&sr=1-2" target="_blank"><i>Law of Attraction</i></a> by Jennifer Manson</span><i><span lang="EN-NZ"> </span></i></div>
Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-70828005042922448722013-12-16T06:20:00.001-08:002013-12-16T06:20:43.314-08:00The Everyday Miracle of Sunrise <br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There’s
a magical moment when you’ve started driving before dawn, after the moon, if
there is one, has set, when the first light touches the east. It’s not enough
to light your way just yet, it’s just there, a promise of things to come.</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m
always a sucker for a good metaphor, so this morning, as I drove towards Calais
to the Eurotunnel, for my next trip to England, I reflected on those moments in
life when we know something has changed, but nothing is really different in the
world yet. The most obvious example is the start of falling in love; and a
shift in business can happen in the same way. In this excerpt from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slow-Time-Jennifer-Manson/dp/0473181983/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387203507&sr=8-1&keywords=jennifer+manson+slow+time" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Slow Time</i></a>, we see both things happening
at the same time:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-AEcWO2Q2jxzj7LaOwsYQA7kXpn-CX1kX9GpERs8MT2nZ6Tn8oGf1nU9mb__OengErlAERoyMEBsglXnQ4Z343uhPHZHvc5lUQBUAdj8-JQTISBpd3umswZCs8bii8MQDjryetpKt1c/s1600/ST+Front+Cover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-AEcWO2Q2jxzj7LaOwsYQA7kXpn-CX1kX9GpERs8MT2nZ6Tn8oGf1nU9mb__OengErlAERoyMEBsglXnQ4Z343uhPHZHvc5lUQBUAdj8-JQTISBpd3umswZCs8bii8MQDjryetpKt1c/s200/ST+Front+Cover.jpeg" width="141" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“This is my brother,”
Viv said. I felt my eyelashes flutter downwards in a way they never had before,
shying from the yellow-green eyes, the faint smile.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Caroline’s been talking
about you non-stop.” He shook the hand I offered. It was a moment after he let
it go that it began its slow fall back to my side. My mouth swerved upwards
into a half smile and back again, not quite making it. I couldn’t think of an
answer. “I’m interested in what you’re doing. I’ve just finished a development
along Lake Wakatipu, an eco-hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me about your project.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dan
was a good audience, and I found my thoughts coming into focus as they poured
into his ear. He asked astute questions, and in thinking through the answers,
my plans developed, I became more and more animated. This could become
addictive.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At
the start I had avoided his eyes, turning my gaze from spot to spot on the
spotless ceiling so I could create the visions in my head. Further into the
conversation I found my eyes on his face, on his lips as he spoke, finding
something there that reflected me back to myself, but altered, improved.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
about your development. How did it start?” And now I could really watch him,
see his passion. It was like watching the sky on Guy Fawkes night.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
are other moments, too, other beginnings. If you look back through life, you will probably find
lots of them: the moment you read the advertisement for a job that you later
got and loved; filling out the application form for university; buying a ticket
to travel. Nothing has changed, and everything has.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For
me, it was the moment of deciding to publish my first book; the moment of being
invited to do a television interview, nervous days before I was sitting outside the studio, waiting; putting an offer on the house, and on the
three apartments we have owned over time; the moment of saying yes, in theory
we could move to France.
Nothing changes, and everything does.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My
guess is, life offers us many of these moments - it’s up to us to accept them,
or not. I'll be keeping a closer eye out from now on...</span></div>
Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-65524846229069687442013-12-10T06:16:00.001-08:002013-12-10T06:22:59.378-08:00Lived Visions<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">
Does anyone else get these lived visions? This is the first one I remember, when, in real life, I was considering buying this hotel and renovating it as a hotel for writers. I was standing outside it and I felt the present moment fall away, replaced by another moment, another future, architecture forming around me to take me away from that day, month and year, to another, an undetermined lifetime away.</div>
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxOtUYSnACdJaFgVHLgAKcNw9BJk6QQ6KupXNmlQcKQFnoUK_hfiPVfWdTxokGxmwLxsM6jp3JcuTCWTgMVYF-OooRRU78kp8ybMyJNus3mzQeWaH8Anv9q959lRtN1zwU7K-q5NN6xY/s1600/978-0-473-17794-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxOtUYSnACdJaFgVHLgAKcNw9BJk6QQ6KupXNmlQcKQFnoUK_hfiPVfWdTxokGxmwLxsM6jp3JcuTCWTgMVYF-OooRRU78kp8ybMyJNus3mzQeWaH8Anv9q959lRtN1zwU7K-q5NN6xY/s200/978-0-473-17794-2.jpg" width="141" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ"><i>"There was an edgy feeling to the streets here, cafés and
nightclubs and night-time noise. The wide cobbled front of the hotel seemed vulnerable. I wouldn’t be completely comfortable behind these windows in
the early hours of the morning. I put my foot on the low steps and ascended. </i></span></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">"I turned, for a moment feeling the proximity of the
street, but then the traffic sounds receded, becoming a reverberating echo,
like I remembered from the glassed in courtyards of the Louvre. What if this
were an atrium, visually open to the street but enclosed? The verandas would
stay pristine, original, but instead of looking into the street they would look
in to a double height glass room. It would be fabulous! I could see it: a café
at one end, reception in the middle, comfortable chairs beyond. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><i>
</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">"My mind circled back to my drawing. What had I written?
I took the book out of my bag. The Old Occidental Writers’ Hotel. Wow! That was
it. And then I could see it, shelves and shelves and shelves of books, the
perfect mood and décor. The skin on my arms prickled and goose bumps raised, my
pulse beat low in my belly." </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ"> </span></i><span lang="EN-NZ">- excerpt from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Old-Occidental-Writers-Hotel/dp/0473177943" target="_blank"><i>The Old Occidental Writers' Hotel</i></a>, pp 39-40</span><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></i></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That experience was so compelling I wrote it into a book, based a story around it, grew it from that moment. This one didn't happen in my linear-time reality. I wrote the book, lived the thought experiment in words on paper, and found that creative outlet sufficient - and then an earthquake took the hotel, anyway, so that future, even if realised, would have been short-lived.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm a little more used to them now, those moments of current reality receding, showing me something - I'm never clear what - a direction, an idea, a possibility. I come out of them dazed, somehow refreshed, always in a thoughtful frame of mind. They show me something important, I think, something that I haven't quite acknowledged yet with my conscious mind. In the past they've caused confusion, because they'd get mixed up with reality, and I'd fight to have the two fall into line. Now I'm beginning to wonder what they are, how I should use them, and possibly, what else it might be useful to know.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They are fed like intuition, from somewhere deep. I sense they are guides, a vivid shorthand of what I should look for, what I should aim for, in my search for destiny, my destined future. So what now? What is the next step? How do I follow into something that seems a quantum leap away?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I ask these questions, I feel the answer brewing... "Just close your eyes, and take that leap, of faith..."</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Jennifer%20Manson&search-alias=books-uk&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank">Jennifer Manson</a> is the author of six inspiring novels and one non-fiction title </i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Stories-effortlessly-created-life/dp/0473254824/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386684870&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Easy - Stories from an effortlessly created life</a>, <i>available from Amazon and all major book and e-book websites.</i></div>
Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-51849307560930436652013-11-25T00:07:00.000-08:002013-11-25T00:20:19.934-08:00Dream Time<br />
I'm just finishing up reading Brendon Burchard's <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Charge-Activating-Human-Drives/dp/1849837015/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385364086&sr=8-1&keywords=brendon+burchard+charge" target="_blank"><i>The Charge</i></a>, with all its reminders of the joy and necessity of living our truth. This is a daily inquiry for me, informing every moment, every action, almost every thought. The ideal of expressing our deep truth in every second of our lives, bringing joy and life to the world and encouraging others by our example and our words to do the same, is in the front of my mind every hour of every day.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Moment-Change-Jennifer-Manson/dp/0473174839/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385364309&sr=8-1&keywords=the+moment+of+change+manson" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Moment-Change-Jennifer-Manson/dp/0473174839/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385364309&sr=8-1&keywords=the+moment+of+change+manson" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcQyp7RY1nl1NqJv1fOc8FLIqB-6KJOtsUPjuZNjvNQjP_saZElxP2-n3Cyk_QE6XuOnblXuMlaZ98q9MuAWKYEc2rN3QTVcNhNZBWkdsVey5Zj_-OmPJgc8dd69wN02b975P7LHOeD0/s200/Front+Cover.jpg" width="141" /></a>The last section of my novel <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Moment-Change-Jennifer-Manson/dp/0473174839/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385364309&sr=8-1&keywords=the+moment+of+change+manson" target="_blank"><i>The Moment of Change</i></a> (extract below) addresses this idea directly as the protagonist, Ocean, twenty-eight-year-old ex-rebel-schoolgirl, sets up a Dream Time club at a local high school, bringing out not only the passions and dreams of the students, but of the principal as well. <br />
<br />
So apart from the obvious: listening to our hearts, tuning into intuition, doing the brave things when they rise up from us, what does following our dreams consist of? For me, in the absence of dramatic inner direction, my rule is to do what is in front of me and keep going till it's done.<br />
<br />
Today I have an article to write and some pieces for the Paris Women of Success collaborative book <i>My Paris Story: Living, loving and leaping without a net in the City of Lights</i> to edit. This morning I finished writing my own chapter for that book. I have a client's book to continue editing, an inspiring look at connected parenting by <a href="http://www.thewhyparent.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Linda Mallory</a>; I have a call with my mastermind group this afternoon, an email to write to a friend of a friend, encouraging him to write the book that is in him and then, summoning all my courage, my video Writer's Blog post to do. Once all that gets done, or at least progressed, or if intuition prompts me in the meantime, there are many, many other possibilities and opportunities to be created or followed up.<br />
<br />
Living my dreams, for me, for the most part, is just a matter of doing the next obvious thing.<br />
<br />
Back to Ocean and the school principal. Here's an extract of their conversation. You'll notice the trumpet theme coming through again:<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">“So what are you thinking? How would it work?”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">“The idea is very simple. Do something you love, for a
little time each day. It could be five minutes, half an hour, anything. The
point is to respect and act on that part of you that is who you really are.
Sure there’s practical stuff to do. But for a few minutes, each day, you
connect with yourself, what you want, what you love to do. Do you have any
hobbies, Mr Howarth?”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">“Please call me Henry. No, not really, no. I read, in
the holidays, but during term there’s not time for, well, anything, really.”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">“And before, in the past?”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">“Well, I used to play the trumpet. I was in a jazz band,
when I was at university. I enjoyed that.”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">I smiled at his smile, as he remembered. “Do you still
have it, the trumpet?”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ">“Yes, I do, somewhere.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<br /></div>
Jennifer's books, including <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Moment-Change-Jennifer-Manson/dp/0473174839/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385364309&sr=8-1&keywords=the+moment+of+change+manson" target="_blank"><i>The Moment of Change</i></a>, are available from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Jennifer+Manson&search-alias=books&text=Jennifer+Manson&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Jennifer%20Manson&search-alias=books-uk&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a> and all major book and eBook sites.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 140%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.85pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-NZ"></span></i></div>
Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-36369198510029738032013-11-17T23:51:00.002-08:002013-11-17T23:51:45.181-08:00Air<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I learned to play the trumpet, which I took up just a few years ago, it was a totally different experience than any other instrument I had played before. I started piano lessons, eagerly, and after years of nagging my parents, at eight years old. I had eleven years of regular lessons with a teacher who became a close friend. I did exams, payed attention to all the aspects of technique, learned the theory, played in concerts, in the school orchestra, in church.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Trompette" class="okraj" height="192" src="http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/40000/velka/trumpet.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Learning the trumpet was much more like falling in love. I was irresistibly drawn to the instrument, which we had hired because my daughter wanted lessons. I played it while she was at school, just experimenting with the sounds, not officially "learning". When she stopped a term later, taking up the drums, I took over her lessons and could continue my fascination openly. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Still it was different. I played, not to learn music, but to hear the notes. I felt, rather than heard, the resonance of the air, flowing through smooth or rugged, clear and pure or distorted, and I shifted my body, my breathing, so that more and more consistently I felt that glorious lamina flow, perfect slow drawn-out notes, bending and shaping like smoke in a bottle, twisting and dancing, spiralling in full natural beauty.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Instead of practising the pieces my <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/resonanceensemblenz/biogs" target="_blank">brilliant, long-suffering teacher</a> gave me, I put on my favourite music and played along with slow harmonies, chiming with the spirit of other intuitive musicians: <a href="http://www.sarahmclachlan.com/" target="_blank">Sarah McLachlan</a>, mostly, with a bit of Bach and Cole Porter thrown in. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Instead of doing the exercises my teacher, Mark, wanted, my lessons were sequences of duets, his music leading mine, interspersed with wild stories, told by me, distractions to allow my body to rest from the pressure in my lungs, the numbness of my lips. The experience was so intense I couldn't sustain it for long.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
During this period, I wrote a novel about a trumpet player, with the title <i>Air.</i> In it, I explored the experience of living this way, feeling through life instead of following the notes on the paper, the rules.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here's a quote from that novel:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><i><span lang="EN-NZ">"Her voice came as if from far away. I took the
instrument from its case, looked around for the mouth piece and found it
sitting in one of two special slots for it. I took it out and fitted it into the
fine end. It slotted in cleanly, firmly. I twisted slowly it until it stuck,
and then I raised the trumpet to my lips.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>"<span lang="EN-NZ">From somewhere I had an understanding that it wasn’t
easy to get a noise out of one of these, so I blew hard. It made a honking
squeak and then was silent. I tried again, lighter. Nothing. I turned away from
Paula, walking into another room. I needed to be alone to do this, it was
serious. My life had taken on a new direction; in fact, my life had never
really had a direction before. This was it. Outside words and explanation. I
had found myself."</span></i><i><span lang="EN-NZ"></span></i> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Air</i> is currently being edited for publication. Jennifer's other books are available from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Jennifer+Manson&search-alias=books&text=Jennifer+Manson&sort=relevancerank">Amazon.com</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Jennifer%20Manson&search-alias=books-uk&sort=relevancerank">Amazon.co.uk</a>.</div>
Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-3956203779577581162013-11-07T01:51:00.000-08:002013-11-07T01:51:19.758-08:00Fireworks and passionMy friend Kathryn loves fireworks. Well, we all love fireworks, but this is a special passion, a vivid display of personal fireworks on her face when she even talks about it. Watching her run out onto the lawn with a box of matches in her hand is something else again.<br />
<br />
I love that passion, and I want to be around it, be near it, experience it vicariously, be as close to it as possible. I feel a little sadness this year, because Kathryn lives in New Zealand and I am in France. I have a rare sense of missing something precious.<br />
<br />
At the same time, that sense of regret shows me something beautiful: that being passionate, expressing ourselves fully, indulging our delights brings a contagious joy. I find myself smiling just at the memory of those fireworks evenings, that shining face, of previous years.<br />
<br />
This morning brought me a parallel joy, a new contact through my work as <a href="http://www.theflowwriter.com/" target="_blank">The Flow Writer</a>: Michelle Pozon, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Closet-Guru-Paris/248742461940303?directed_target_id=0" target="_blank">The Closet Guru</a> in Paris. Michelle worked as a successful fashion designer in New York for twenty years and now finds joy bringing out the beauty in her clients, mostly working with what they already have in their closets. She said "I just see outfits everywhere. I see clothes. The greatest joy for me is bringing out the beauty that already exists in every woman."<br />
<br />
Spending time in conversation with people who are living their passion, their joy, is such a gift, such a delight.<br />
<br />
So now, it must be our turn to do the same, pass on the gift of our passion to those around us. To me, that sounds like divine permission to go for it, and live my passion, too. How about you?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5Rak9P3eDRTEY7mvVVmRb_2UGJ4srRUz_NVbqHT30JtMW0rUFPf8aBCohCd9CaV2KfeBRy1-Xu8QyFQH2tWlYZY21Gw_hFJMVULV4z6h281SKkl0Z-Np7Iu5aX2zk9ZsZwHqagtsEe8/s1600/Fireworks_Australia_Day_11_-_2_(Public_Domain).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5Rak9P3eDRTEY7mvVVmRb_2UGJ4srRUz_NVbqHT30JtMW0rUFPf8aBCohCd9CaV2KfeBRy1-Xu8QyFQH2tWlYZY21Gw_hFJMVULV4z6h281SKkl0Z-Np7Iu5aX2zk9ZsZwHqagtsEe8/s320/Fireworks_Australia_Day_11_-_2_(Public_Domain).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-48729483074169950732013-11-06T06:50:00.000-08:002013-11-06T06:50:47.943-08:00The next step on the path...I find myself talking more and more lately about the fact that, while I know in each moment what to do, I know less and less where those actions are taking me. It's clear that there is a direction, a plan, but from here, the destination is unclear.<br />
<br />
That's not to say it's not an exciting ride. The people I meet inspire and excite me. I spend a lot of time talking, laughing, connecting. I hear deep truth from the people I meet along the way. I see so much to admire; so much to learn from. I create, projects unfold, effortlessly - so effortlessly, in fact, that it would be easy to downplay their significance if I didn't remind myself to look back once in a while.<br />
<br />
More and more, I meet people who are having the same experience of life: there's that part of us that knows our deep truth, whatever we call it - intuition, gut, inner wisdom, God... As I go along in life, I judge that terminology less and less. Whatever we call it, my sense it's the same thing. When we sink down inside ourselves and listen, there is a voice, a prompting, that leaves no room for doubt or hesitation. The faster we act, the faster we respond, the greater the rewards seem to be.<br />
<br />
Looking forward, I could say I don't understand it. But looking back, it seems there may be a pattern. The easiest of steps brought me to my greatest achievements; and often where the road was hard, it faded out. The goal was realised, but in retrospect seemed far less important than those that felt inspired.<br />
<br />
From where I am now, my strongest desire is to speak, to connect, with people I love - whether that's a lover, friends over dinner, or an audience of thousands.<br />
<br />
The "permanent" things seem the least important - houses and cars and jewellery. Conversation is ethereal, gone as soon as uttered. And yet something important remains, stamped on the DNA of all present, ready to be passed down through the ages, in the collective consciousness of all to come.<br />
<br />
I have a sense of being on the growing edge of something, following a path clear, and yet step-by-step undefined. It's easy to follow, however, one step at a time.<br />
<br />
<i>Jennifer Manson is the author of </i>Easy - Stories from an effortlessly created life,<i> available from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Stories-effortlessly-created-life/dp/0473254824/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1383749095&sr=8-2&keywords=easy+jennifer+manson" target="_blank">Amazon.</a></i>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-37802059881467892192011-03-02T09:07:00.000-08:002011-03-02T09:28:22.306-08:00Christchurch in March 2011It has been a very, very strange time here in Christchurch over the last week and a half. First, my thoughts and deep sympathy to those who have lost loved ones - family and friends - and to those who have lost homes, possessions, and sense of security. We were recovering from the September earthquake; nothing could have prepared us for this.<br /><br />My thoughts, too, for those for whom Christchurch has at some time been a home - I know you feel the pull of gravity back here, and this has been huge loss for you, also.<br /><br />We have no sense of what is coming next for our city. What will it look like, what will it feel like, in a month, six months, a year? For me, it marks a definite change of focus, from my locally based business to the books which take me to the wider world. These will have to be my livelihood, my means of financial contribution now. That is as it should be, but the path ahead is not yet clear. One step, and then the next, and then the next, without knowing what the following will be; and that's how it is for all of us, here, in this city, at this moment.<br /><br />My thoughts are with you all,<br /><br />Jennifer Manson<br /><a href="http://www.jennifermanson.co.nz/">www.jennifermanson.co.nz</a>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-38155479095916261452010-07-17T17:40:00.000-07:002010-07-17T17:50:25.259-07:00Dream Creation<div align="left">I am in a new phase of life, an exhilarating, terrifying phase: that of taking my dreams and personally making them real.<br /><br />The project is the publication of a novel, <em>The Moment of Change</em>.<br /><br />I’ve known from the age of six that I wanted to write and I’ve been doing so, on and off, since then, with pauses of varying lengths, usually related to feedback it’s taken me 38 years to learn how to handle.<br /><br />So here we are. The launch is scheduled for early October, at Podamo’s beautiful headquarters in Christchurch’s Bedford Row, <a href="http://www.podamo.com/">www.podamo.com</a>.<br /><br />Chapter One follows. If you’d like a longer preview, or to pre-order your copy, email me at <a href="mailto:jennifer@jennifermanson.co.nz">jennifer@jennifermanson.co.nz</a>.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Thanks to everyone who has supported me: friends who have read and encouraged, proof-read and passed the novels on to other friends; and to those who will sponsor the publication - your generosity is enormously appreciated. Thank you.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /> <span style="font-size:180%;">The Moment of Change<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Chapter One</span></div><div align="left"><br />I was once in a car accident. I slipped on oil, or ice, on a corner half way up a mountain pass. My car spun off the road onto gravel, settling into a backward slide which in the calm of the moment I expected to bring me to a halt. I thought I was nearly stopped when the car began tipping backwards. In that moment I felt no fear, just a deep curiosity about what was going to happen next.<br /><br />There is nothing much to say about Happily Ever After; it is what comes before that is interesting. Sometimes life throws you an element of the random. Embrace it. The only mistake you can make at this point is to try to keep life on its previous course.</div><div align="left"><br />And sometimes, when life doesn’t do it, you have to throw in that element of the random yourself.<br /> </div>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-14276475695470249932009-07-25T15:23:00.000-07:002009-07-25T15:29:37.591-07:00Love Your Home five minute exerciseIs there a room in your home that is not the way you want it to be? What if you could do a five minute exercise to change the way you feel about it? <br /><br />It may be just one room, or perhaps in the midst of a busy life, a vague general feeling about the house as a whole.<br /><br />Take five minutes in a quiet place and close your eyes. How would you like to describe it once it is everything you want it to be? What words would you choose? What would it feel like? Who would be there? What would you be doing in it?<br /><br />Create a visual image of what it looks like once the changes have been made and get a sense of how you feel. If no image comes to mind, that's fine, just get a sense of the feeling. Stay with that for a minute or two, enjoy it.<br /><br />And that's it! Exercise complete!<br /><br />Once you have done this exercise you may be inspired to make some immediate changes, or you may not feel the need to make any changes now, you may just notice in a day or two or three that you are moving things around, bringing things in, taking things out, using the room in the new way. Whether the changes are immediate or take a little while, in your heart they have already been made.<br /><br />Congratulations!<br /><br /><br />I am excited to announce Home Style's new Love Your Home coaching service, a series of four telephone coaching sessions to help you create the home you want. See <a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=49wxr6cab.0.0.6kmvzjcab.0&ts=S0383&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homestyle.co.nz%2FHome-Coaching.html&id=preview" target="_blank">www.homestyle.co.nz/Home-Coaching.html</a> for more information.<br /><br />I am offering a half price introductory offer to you for following my blog, NZ$450 including GST for the series. Call me if you would like more information on what the coaching series will give you.<br /><br />Telephone 03 3519369 (+64 33 51 93 69 from outside New Zealand)<br />Email <a href="mailto:jennifer@homestyle.co.nz">jennifer@homestyle.co.nz</a><br />Web <a href="http://www.homestyle.co.nz/">www.homestyle.co.nz</a>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-76361441664804887612009-02-27T17:41:00.001-08:002009-02-27T17:51:26.340-08:00The Secret to Happiness<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Generating passion</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">With thanks to Stefan Klein, PhD, author of "The Science of Happiness"</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Passion for the goals we are seeking is the key to both happiness and success</strong></span><br /><br />Taking action is easy when we are excited about where we are heading. Our usual barriers to action: fear of failure, fear of success, and whatever other baggage we are carrying around, seem not to operate in the presence of passion.<br /><br />Stefan Klein (with apologies for the very loose paraphrase) explains that this is because when we are in a state of desire the brain releases dopamine into the body and this spurs us into action - very cheerful action, action you would have to hold us back from taking.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">When the passion fades . . .</span><br /><br />This all seems great, but then the next morning we go to continue our plan and it looks scary again. Or we don't notice the passion fading and six months later we are beating ourselves up because somehow that goal slipped away.<br /><br />Passion, desire and excitement only last as long as the dopamine takes to disappear from our bloodstream. If we want to experience them on an ongoing basis, we need to regenerate them again and again.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Regenerating passion is easy</span><br /><br />The good news about this is that it's really easy. The trick is to remember this is what you need to do . . .<br /><br /><br />To read more, go to <a href="http://www.jennifermanson.co.nz/Generating-Passion-speaker-writer-podcaster.html">http://www.jennifermanson.co.nz/Generating-Passion-speaker-writer-podcaster.html</a>.<br /><br /><br />For feedback email <a href="mailto:jennifer@jennifermanson.co.nz">jennifer@jennifermanson.co.nz</a>.<br /><br /><br />Have a great day!<br /><br /><br />Jennifer Manson.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.homestyle.co.nz/">www.homestyle.co.nz</a> <a href="http://www.businessstyle.co.nz/">www.businessstyle.co.nz</a> <a href="http://www.jennifermanson.co.nz/">www.jennifermanson.co.nz</a> </span><br /></span>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-66602636263996288362008-12-13T15:38:00.000-08:002008-12-13T15:59:46.918-08:00Anger, Anxiety and Reaching Your Goals<span style="color:#ff0000;">If you would like to read more of Jennifer's writing see </span><a href="http://www.jennifermanson.co.nz/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">www.jennifermanson.co.nz</span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;">.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br />We have been taught to deny anger and repress anxiety, but is this the best way?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Anger: evolving from blindness to awareness to conscious utilisation</span><br /><br />In the course of the last year, but more consciously in the last month, I have been observing anger - in myself and in others. The first thing I noticed is how much we resist anger. We are scared of it, we have been taught that we shouldn’t be angry and we deny it. We are so unhappy in the presence of anger that we close our eyes, in the process making ourselves blind to everything else as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663366;">The beauty of anger</span><br /><br />I like anger. It is powerful. Repressed and explosive it can be dangerous but in its pure form anger is an exhilarating and exciting emotion, more directed than happiness and more propelling than grief. The most useful thing is that it identifies obstacles to what we want.<br /><br />It is important to keep our senses and mind functioning through anger, to stay conscious rather than switching off, so we can learn from it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Training ourselves to harness anger</span><br /><br />This takes practice. My process was first to practice staying conscious in the presence of other people’s anger; to call it what it is, translating those insidiously misleading words “frustration” and “annoyance.”<br /><br />I would give them space to express their anger, to process rather than resisting it. People were grateful: it’s a rare thing to be at peace in the presence of anger, and they appreciated the acceptance and understanding.<br /><br />Next I started to acknowledge anger in myself. Deliberately let loose and still not fully under control it would sometime rise powerfully. In those situations I removed myself from the company of those who would be scared by it. I have some wonderful friends who allowed me to express my anger and helped me explore the nature of it. Or I took myself off alone, into the countryside, to my room, felt my heart beat steady and hard.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Consciously observing</span><br /><br />Once I was practiced at staying fully conscious and observant, I began to see detail, and then it came to me: we get angry when something gets in the way of what we want. A little more observation and enquiry in the specific situation and it is easy to identify what is happening, easy to identify a course of action. With the energy from the anger we can easily blast or brush aside the obstacle and propel ourselves on the path to our goals.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#663366;">Anxiety: modifying forethought, setting deliberate goals</span><br /><br />Next, anxiety and worry. In “Stealing Fire From the Gods” James Bonnet cites the story of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods and gave it to human beings. Prometheus means “forethought” and it is this gift that enables us to set goals and make plans. Bonnet points out that an unpleasant side-effect of forethought is worry. (Prometheus’s story represents this in his punishment, an eagle gnawing on his liver day after day, Groundhog Day a nasty twist.)<br /><br />Worry, however, is also useful. It tells us when we are foreseeing something which displeases us. Once again, staying conscious is the key: asking ourselves what we are imagining that causes the worry.<br /><br />Foreseeing our goals engages our subconscious to take us towards them. If we replace the image that is troubling us with one which pleases us, anxiety reduces and again we are propelled on our path towards our goals.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;">Step-by-step Summary</span><br /><br />· Work at becoming comfortable with anger, in yourself and others<br />· Practise staying conscious in the presence of anger<br />· Observe your own anger to identify what you are angry about and what it is stopping you getting<br />· Use the power of the anger to brush or blast aside the obstacle and move towards your goal<br /><br />· Become aware of anxiety<br />· Observe what you are worried will happen<br />· Replace this future image with one that is in line with your goals<br />· Take action towards that positive future image<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">If you would like to read more of Jennifer's writing see </span><a href="http://www.jennifermanson.co.nz/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">www.jennifermanson.co.nz</span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;">.</span>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-29850382856430485592008-11-12T15:37:00.000-08:002008-11-12T16:37:19.036-08:00At Home book by David Killick (contribution by Jennifer Manson)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeVmLLxnVrKjnbct8pOCWBkAoU_319zAJaa0ptm-a9wKt96iKChVhT66TCSyPGMo3haXy8d1STTgAYzzAMOcE-o9CxSP4Xay_e3o49sPvLRAx4tcLWuDaVBf9lOQ-bhCwWGGrokWWGFw/s1600-h/At+Home+book+cover+small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267920886984656930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeVmLLxnVrKjnbct8pOCWBkAoU_319zAJaa0ptm-a9wKt96iKChVhT66TCSyPGMo3haXy8d1STTgAYzzAMOcE-o9CxSP4Xay_e3o49sPvLRAx4tcLWuDaVBf9lOQ-bhCwWGGrokWWGFw/s320/At+Home+book+cover+small.jpg" border="0" /></a>This week I am proud to have been one of the contributing writers to "The Press At Home - a guide to creating your perfect home" by David Killick.<br /><br />The book was released earlier in the week and is perfect Christmas content: beautiful pictures and down to earth advice - ideal for the bach coffee table and relaxed summer holiday reading!<br /><br />David is a wonderful writer with a great heart, a jewel in the Christchurch community.<br /><br />Home Style has copies of the book available at $29.95 plus $3 postage and handling. Order by clicking here <input type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" name="cmd"><br /><input type="hidden" value="1113158" name="hosted_button_id"><br /><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=1113158"><input type="image" alt="" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG_global.gif" border="0" name="submit"></a><br /><img height="1" alt="" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" border="0" /><br /><br />or email me at <a href="mailto:jennifer@homestyle.co.nz">jennifer@homestyle.co.nz</a>.<br /><br />Enjoy your weekend,<br /><br />Jennifer.Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-30425044457732705132008-11-03T19:37:00.000-08:002008-11-03T20:17:54.027-08:00France and New YorkThis week is back to normal at Home Style after two months of variety for me - although business has been ably managed by Terri, Ged and Vicki in my absence.<br /><br />First was a magical holiday in France, a 20th wedding anniversary trip providing space to think on a larger scale. Chateaux and scenery with Eddie Izzard on TomTom allowing me to put the map down and enjoy the ride.<br /><br />Next came the rapid run-up to the Canterbury Home Show - Ged and I were on the stand from Friday morning to Sunday night talking to hundreds of people and selling the newly released audio CD "How to Prepare a House For Sale." The audio takes you through your home step by step to add $1,000s to the price of your home - show special price of $45 (including Postage and Handling) still applies. You can buy now by credit card through PayPal<br /><br /><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=896987">https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=896987</a><br /><br />or email me at <a href="mailto:info@homestyle.co.nz">info@homestyle.co.nz</a> to arrange payment.<br /><br />Two days after the Home Show I left for New York to attend Robert McKee's Story course, predominantly for screen writers but the elements and principles of story apply equally to novels. The course was fabulous and New York spectacular, golden leaves and sunshine.<br /><br />And now back to the office. Time to create the vision for the next 12 months and beyond!Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-40889296351045519452008-08-09T13:38:00.000-07:002008-08-09T14:14:15.847-07:00Travel, Novel and moreSince the last post, long ago, my experience of life has been like being in a washing machine - I will come out new and sparkling but there's a lot of turning upside down and inside out in the process.<br /><br />In July I attended Roger Hamilton's Wealth Dynamics Experience - a great way to work out how to best leverage your strengths, provide maximum value and make use of wonderful complementary networks to achieve your goals.<br /><br />The next week I took my 12 year old daughter, Alex, to the Australian outback, a wonderful 8 day experience involving camels and trans-continental trains which had me well outside my comfort zone the whole time.<br /><br />My time since being back has been focused on marketing old and new parts of my business. My newly branded websites are launched: <a href="http://www.homestyle.co.nz/">http://www.homestyle.co.nz/</a> and <a href="http://www.businessstyle.co.nz/">http://www.businessstyle.co.nz/</a> now coordinating with my personal site <a href="http://www.jennifermanson.co.nz/">http://www.jennifermanson.co.nz/</a>. Thanks to Phillippa and the team at Mega Advertising <a href="http://www.megaadvertising.co.nz/">http://www.megaadvertising.co.nz/</a>.<br /><br />I have signed an online distribution contract for my audio program "How to Prepare a House For Sale" - if you are thinking of selling this is great for giving you the buyer's perspective and easy steps to property presentation that sells - you can find it on the Home Style site.<br /><br />I've made many contacts with Real Estate agents and companies about my Home Staging and Property Presentation services, and launched a Real Estate Agent training program, teaching agents to do what I do as an additional service to their clients. Many agents already do this well, but more information and a chance to focus on it is always beneficial.<br /><br />The other big news is the novel. The working title is "Law of Attraction" and it follows the life of a woman who breaks out of her expected role and creates a successful business of her own. As a reader I am always looking for positive fiction, so that is what I aim to provide as a writer. I also look for role models in the real world.<br /><br />"Law of Attraction" aims at uplifting and inspiring and providing a role model for women creating their own designed life. Email me at <a href="mailto:jennifer@jennifermanson.co.nz">jennifer@jennifermanson.co.nz</a> if you would like a preview of the opening chapters.<br /><br />After initial feedback from the publisher and novel coach I have just finished a completely rewritten second draft. It goes out for feedback and market testing this week. I am terrified. From a creative perspective it is easy to read any feedback as criticism and take it to heart. I have great support, however, and this is getting near the last step before publication. If I screw up my eyes tight and use my imagination, I can see this phase as an opportunity for growth.<br /><br />Time to be really, really brave.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Jennifer.Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-67607931445823918402008-06-25T10:06:00.000-07:002008-06-25T10:21:34.466-07:00Everyone needs a space of their ownOne of the first things I ask a client when doing a Home and Lifestyle consultation is"Does everyone who lives here have a place they can go if they want to be alone?"<br /><br />When people choose to be together, they usually get on pretty well; if they are together when they would prefer not to be we sometimes get disharmony.<br /><br />Sometimes we find someone goes out to the pub, or to tinker in the garage, because there is nowhere in the house they can be alone.<br /><br />The first thing is to recognise that it is fine for people to want time alone. Half an hour can make a big difference to someone who wants time to chill, get their thoughts and emotions together.<br /><br />So where do we find the space?<br /><br />For children it will often be their bedroom. If they share a room with a sibling, create a system to split the time - perhaps a timetable or a sign on the door with a timer. A chair in the corner of the bedroom may work well for you as well. Take some time to tidy and make the space look welcoming. Put some magazines or books nearby. And create a view from your chair - hang a mirror so it reflects something attractive or a picture to look at.<br /><br />If all else fails, the car may be the answer. On a two week holiday I have been known to leave the family in the hotel room and drive around the corner to read for an hour.<br /><br />The key to acceptance of this behaviour is to come back sunny and bright so everyone sees the upside.<br /><br />Have a great day!<br /><br />Jennifer.<br /><br />Home and Lifestyle consultations can be arranged worldwide or by telephone using digital photographs. Contact Jennifer at <a href="http://www.homestyle.co.nz/">www.homestyle.co.nz</a>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-6036410972599360932008-06-12T14:37:00.000-07:002008-06-12T14:51:20.035-07:00Inspired and Inspiring - Dr Irena Yashin-ShawWow! I attending an inspired and inspiring event at the Christchurch Chapter of National Speakers Association New Zealand this Tuesday: Dr Irena Yashin-Shaw <a href="http://www.speakingedge.com.au/">www.speakingedge.com.au</a> gave us a simple, usable approach to connecting and synergising all the ideas, information and experience we have across the diverse areas of our lives.<br /><br />Irena is a voice, speech and communication specialist and spoke with specific reference to developing our speaking repetoire, but the principles could be applied to creativity in any area we want to take a leap forward.<br /><br />For anyone who wishes to persuade with the voice, take a look at Irena's website <a href="http://www.speakingedge.com.au/">www.speakingedge.com.au</a> - thank you for your generosity, Irena!<br /><br />Have a great day!<br /><br />Jennifer.Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-82541371113555439332008-06-10T15:26:00.000-07:002008-06-10T15:26:01.383-07:00Positive Energy in Creating Your HomeIn line with the Law of Attraction, I use the following process for transforming a room in my home, whether from chaos to gorgeous, or just creating a new mood.<br /><ol><li>Get a clear vision of how I want it too look</li><li>Step into that vision in my mind and feel great in it</li><li>(This may mean letting go of resentment if someone else contributed to the mess)</li><li>Once I feel great, I just let it happen - let my subconscious take over. I find myself moving things around in a state of flow, and before I know it, it's done.</li></ol><p>If I don't get into that feeling-great state, I don't tidy up!</p><p>Try it!</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Jennifer.</p><p>For Jennifer's audio products including "How to Prepare a House For Sale" and Home Style services see <a href="http://www.homestyle.co.nz/">http://www.homestyle.co.nz/</a> </p>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-4361115233646158552008-06-07T15:08:00.000-07:002008-06-07T15:21:02.956-07:00How to Make a Room Seem BiggerHi,<br /><br />Here's a simple tip for enjoying your home more.<br /><br />Our sense of space is not dictated so much by the actual size of the room, but by how far we can see. This means we can make a room seem larger by extending the views.<br /><br />There are a few simple ways we can do this:<br /><ul><li>Open curtains and blinds so you can see out better</li><li>Cut back foliage outside windows</li><li>Place a visual focal point at the end of the view outside to draw the eye out</li><li>Open doors to other rooms and place visual focal points at the end of those view</li><li>Hang pictures with perspective, such as landscapes or interiors of buildings</li><li>Use mirrors to bring long views back to the doorway to the room, or anywhere you sit</li></ul><p>The other important thing is to have a clear walking path through the room - even a large room feels cramped if you can't move around it easily.</p><p>Imagine standing looking at a blank wall. Now replace the wall in your mind with a view out over a harbour or mountains. Feel the space expand?</p><p>Have a great day!</p><p>Jennifer.</p><p>For Jennifer's audio products and Home Style services see <a href="http://www.homestyle.co.nz/">http://www.homestyle.co.nz/</a> </p><p></p><p></p>Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549358007312672228.post-82143009483289377142008-06-03T17:54:00.000-07:002008-06-03T18:10:31.951-07:00How to Prepare a House For SaleBig news! I am taking a new direction with my business and life. (Work IS life, right?)<br /><br />Previously primarily a Home Staging and Furniture Rental business - lots of fun, but very much a local market - I am now moving to being a global "weightless" business (if you don't count me.) That means selling the furniture and accessories - ideally to someone who would love to have a similar successful little Christchurch-based business, contact me if you live in Christchurch and you're interested - and focusing on my passions, which are consultations, professional speaking, newspaper and magazine articles and audio products.<br /><br />My new MP3 audio "How to Prepare a House For Sale" is available from the Home Style website <a href="http://www.homestyle.co.nz/">www.homestyle.co.nz</a>. There's a free sample track "Instant Improvements" to try, or for those needing to prepare for sale quickly.<br /><br />It took a long time to build up the courage to produce the audio - every time the recording studio sent a new version it would sit for a month before I could bring myself to listen to it.<br /><br />But I'm past that now, in fact, I am now producing audio Interviews with Experts myself. More on that later.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Jennifer.Jennifer Mansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520405197037630637noreply@blogger.com0