On Monday I had the opportunity to do a creativity workshop for the participants of this amazing program: The Self-Care Project.
I immediately said YES when Olive (amazing coach and one of the facilitators) asked me, because as you can probably imagine, that project is so up my alley. I’ve been craving to do more in person workshops so this was a great opportunity to do just that and to talk about self-portraiture as self-care to a group of awesome folks. There have been a few in person teaching opportunities coming my way locally, which has felt really incredible….because this work I’ve been doing for years has been SO online based. For it to cross over to locally AND in-person, not just from me making it happen, but from opportunities coming up is really making me happy.
So back to the workshop…
The day of the event came and along with it MEGA nerves. Now, I’m an introvert but an introvert who loves teaching (maybe its the introverted Leo thing) and feels drawn to do it in person.
It reminded me of when I first started teaching e-courses and how vulnerable it was to put it out into the world. I’m remembering those days and how while it isn’t easy-peasy these days to launch a new class, there isn’t that mega fear there was when I first started.
Here’s the thing I need to remember about that fear. That it is a sign that we are venturing outside our comfort zone, and that is a good thing!
Just like when I’m asking participants in Be Your Own Beloved to come face to face with their inner critic and to tell it:
“I’ve got this. Thanks for trying to alert me to something new and that I’m going outside my comfort zone, but I believe I can handle this, so inner critic…buzz off”
Within the many hours of the day 0f the workshop where I had to say this to my inner critic again and again I realized how much this is a place where there is room to grow, to really show up for myself and I plan to get brave and do it more.
The workshop felt awesome and I loved seeing how once I started, the nerves disappeared and made way for a lovely evening.
I’ve been dreaming of doing some more local Be Your Own Beloved workshops and this class was the spark I needed (yes even with the nerves) to get going on planning it. I’m even dreaming of bringing it to some other Canadian cities and then at some point bring it to the US too.
If you think your city would be one for me to add to the list as I dream up bringing these in person workshops on the road someday, spill the beans!