January 2009 Contents
I. Rousing from Hibernation
II. Energy Management: Translations from the Psych Research Lab, the Board Room, and the Shrink’s Couch
III. Friends in Print: When you feel like reading
IV. Creative Links
V. Special Coaching Offer: Jump Start January ‘09Newsletter and Info: Share this newsletter, subscribe, or unsubscribe
VI. Newsletter and Info: Share this newsletter, subscribe, or unsubscribe
 

I. Rousing from Hibernation
Last month I was hibernating with my introvert style showing. Now, in spite of being snow-bound for a good deal of the holiday season, I’ve moved into the space of clearing the decks for new starts. And of course, new starts are tilting me more to an extraverted style.

“How can this be?” I’m a psychologist who’s been studying these personality traits for years as stable, enduring approaches to life. It turns out that I am, overall, an introvert, but right now am going through a transition from hibernating to action just in time for the New Year.

The cultural buzz around the New Year can make it a good time for gathering up our energies to move forward. I’m unlikely to set out rafts of new goals or resolutions since I’m at a stage where my main job is to produce and move forward with what’s already planned.

One of my favorite organization gurus is David Allen with his book, Getting Things Done*. It is unlike the self-help approaches I usually prefer that start with helping you define your overall vision. He, instead works from the ground up, helping clear the details first. The thing about this approach is that it takes a good deal of time; I’m discovering this by finally using his methods to get and keep my e-mail Inbox to “empty.” Very satisfying and very time consuming. Less time and stress than letting things pile up but still a lot of work and I had to come out of some kind of denial to acknowledge and commit to how much time it does take.

How is this connected to my introverted side? Well, because I’m focused on producing work and keeping a system going that supports that, I’m less interested in exploring every tantalizing new experience the creative world offers. An introvert learns to set limits because of the discomfort when there’s no time to process life events in a solitary way. So, much as I’d like the excitement of fresh new goals and re-vitalized resolutions, this year, I’ll stick to doing more of the same in a slow, steady way.
Allen, David. Getting Things Done. 2001.
(Return to Top)   

II. Energy Management: Translations from the Psych Research Lab, the Board Room and the Shrink’s Couch
Hudson, Frederick. The Adult Years: Mastering the Art of Self-Renewal. 1999.
Another way of thinking about our styles of being introverted or extraverted is to shift to the idea of cycles describing the transitions we go through in moving from one chapter of our lives to the next. Hudson proposes four segments of a circle that we move through in a clockwise fashion.

1.      Phase 1 (upper left, from 9 to 12 on the clock) is Go for It, where energy is high and projects are launched.

2.      Phase 2 is called The Doldrums (upper right, 12 to 3 on a clock) where negative reactions set in, one feels trapped, and comes to the point of pushing on or letting go.

3.      Phase 3 (lower right, from 3 to 6 p. m.) is Cocooning, the place for reflection, introspection, and searching for a new sense of purpose or identity.

4.      Finally, in phase 4, Getting Ready energy builds for research, testing ideas and experimenting with new directions.

Using myself as the example, I’ve been moving from Cocooning (which I called hibernating) into Getting Ready. (Why else would I be clearing the desk for action including getting my e-mail to empty?) And in the natural flow of things, as January settles in, I’m clear what goals I’m going for; this is back to phase 1 Go for It.

My energy for launching new endeavors also shows up in the coaching telegroup due to start shortly, which also takes me more out into the extraverted world. There are a few more openings in this group so if you’re ready to Go for It, click Jump Start January for details.
(Return to Top)   

III. Friends in Print: When you feel like reading
Helgoe, Laurie. Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength. 2008.
Helgoe has a light touch in exploring how basic introverted wiring can be of benefit. Her chapter on creativity is broad and rich enough to inspire the inner life of any artist. Then she really shines in validating the role of the watcher by introducing us to the freedom of the flaneur - the passionate spectator.

Never having heard of a flaneur, I was delighted with her description of this way of being alone in a crowd, using one’s artist eyes to notice the changes and shifts, especially in a public space. She makes it sound like wearing Harry Potter’s Cloak of Invisibility. I’ve enjoyed this myself especially in airports when I park myself near a busy foottraffic path and eyeball all the gaits, postures, colors, and carryon items that go by.

Whether you’re an introvert or not, I’m guessing every visual artist has this skill of tuning in to being a watcher of the visual patterns offered. Perhaps photographers are the strongest in this, but the next time you’re stuck waiting somewhere, make a conscious effort to tune in to this aspect of watching and, whether you know French or not, you, too, can be a flaneur.
(Return to Top)   

IV. Creative Links
www.gettingthingsdone.com
In addition to the many tools David Allen offers to improve productivity, his underlying mission is to help create organizing systems so one can be more open to creativity as it comes. His advice for the holiday season was “Do Nothing”!

Welcome the New Year with a chance to experience Creativity Coaching that’s focused on your personal goals, made available at group rates. Some spots are still open for our January 7^th start date; e-mail (connect@dianereardon.com) or phone (360-675-7196 PT, US) to register. 

Here’s the format:
We (6 folks and myself) meet by phone teleconference every other week for eight weeks (9 a.m. PT, US Wednesdays). You set your own agenda for the alternate week and get individualized e-mail feedback on your progress. Each teleconference call will build on creative combinations of the previous weeks’ work by the whole group.
(Return to Top)   

The cost to each participant is $140, payable in two monthly payments. E-mail me at connect@dianereardon.com or phone (360-675-7196) to register. More details on the web site at Jump Start January.
(Return to Top)   

VI. Newsletter Info - Share this newsletter, subscribe, or unsubscribe. To change your e-mail address, subscribe, or unsubscribe please e-mail connect@dianereardon.com. If you use a spam filter, please add this e-mail address to your list of approved senders. This material is included on the breakTHROUGH Creativity Coaching (website www.dianereardon.com) All material is copyrighted ©, 31 December 2008, Diane Reardon. All rights reserved. Visit the website for back issues and details on scheduling a complimentary one-hour coaching session.
(Return to Top)