October  2008 Vol 1, Issue 4

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 LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT
 the Creative Coaching Group newsletter

Greetings!

blue bulb
 
Welcome to Fall...new beginnings, new focus, fresh starts.  Sorry, no bikini shots in this ezine... although I do appreciate all of you who emailed to compliment me on last ezine's photo - if you missed it, click here .
As you begin to tackle all of the projects you started with your fresh fall enthusiasm, do you find that some of them start to take on lives of their own?   When I was in Georgia recently continuing my work doing "inner coaching" with high level a cappella choruses as they prepare for their international competition in November, I was introduced to a lovely, yet lethal "vine" called Kudzu. That innocent killer green vine with the fragrant blooms provided the inspiration for my feature article below.  Enjoy!                                   blue bulb 
  
 
 
 Jan Carley ACC
 Certified Executive Coach                                                     
                              and CEO of Creative Coaching Group 604 873-1763    
                              e: jan@creativecoachinggroup.com
FEATURE ARTICLE :  WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE'S KUDZU
kudzu taking over a forest
Kudzu - the innocent vine introduced to Southeastern USA to help stop soil erosion.
 
But the southern soil and weather conditions were just too perfect and the kudzu began to grow and grow - sometimes as much as one foot in one day!   Kudzu (the vine that ate the south) has now been declared a "pest weed" as it has taken over the landscape and its destructive effects have begun to choke the trees. 
 
As I traveled through Georgia and Alabama recently, I couldn't help but marvel at the miles and miles of endless vines. Kudzu can cover trees so completely that they look like some sort of scary monster in the dim light of dusk.  It struck me that sometimes in our lives things take on a life of their own - just like kudzu - and that getting rid of them can seem overwhelming. 
 
Where in your life do you have some kudzu growing?   A seemingly innocent project perhaps that has grown out of control?   A life so filled with "busy work" that it feels, much like the trees that the kudzu grows on, that you are almost out of oxygen? Has the kudzu in your life taken over?

5 ways to deal with your life's kudzu 

1. Celebrate:  Celebrate the things you love about your life's kudzu. What does it give you?  Why did you plant it in the first place?  
 
2. Prune Your Kudzu:  If eliminating it seems overwhelming, try a little pruning.  Work from the root and cut your life's kudzu into bite sized pieces so that you can eliminate it one stem at a time. 
 
3. Get Creative: Does your life's kudzu have another purpose?  One that perhaps you didn't think of when you started "planting"? Is it possible that the "new" purpose might make it unnecessary to eradicate the weed?  (btw the kudzu vine is now being used for food, medicine and crafts)
 
4. Spray some round-up:  If you forget what your life looked like without kudzu then it may be time to take some drastic action. What if you just said "enough"? If your kudzu were gone, what would there be new "space" for in your life?  
 
5. Acceptance:  You may need to accept that a certain amount of kudzu will always be part of your life.  Take a deep breath and enjoy the blossoms when they bloom.  
 

And if none of the above work - you might want to consider doing what the Southerners to do at night to keep the kudzu out - just close your windows!!!

           "In Georgia, the legend sayskudzu covering car and truck
            That you must close your windows
            At night to keep it out of the house.
            The glass is tinged with green, even so..."
           
            -from the poem, "Kudzu"  by James Dickey
 
LIGHTBULB OF THE MONTH 
 blue bulb                      
"What is a weed? A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
 
                       - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Amercian philosopher and essayist  1803-1882
SOUL SERIES AT THE SPA - a workshop series for women
wine and chocolate   
WORKSHOP # 1    Wed. Oct 22   7 - 9:30 pm
VISIONING THE SUCCESSFUL YOU
Do you ever feel a disconnect between what you are doing and who you are inside?   Are you wondering what your real contribution to this world could be?   Do you find yourself drifting through your days and then whoosh...suddenly another month has flown by? If so, this workshop is for you!  
 
Creating your foundational purpose or "vision" is the key first step to creating a joyful and connected life. You will leave this practical, hands-on workshop having developed your own personal vision statement and with an action plan for integrating your vision into your short and long term goals. Even better, you will get inspired, motivated and rejuvenated to start right away to live your life "on purpose".
 
Registration Fee: $47
(includes wine and chocolate reception and workshop)
 
VISIONING THE SUCCESSFUL YOU is the first in the SOUL SERIES AT THE SPA - a series of workshops presented by Creative Coaching Group and Le Petit Spa (voted one of Vancouver's best day spas for 3 years in a row).  Workshops will be facilitated by Internationally credentialed executive coach Jan Carley and include wine, chocolate and connecting with a bunch of fabulous women in the beautiful atmosphere of Le Petit Spa. 
QUICK LINKS