Ripple Effects

 

April 29, 2024 Regenerate Your World  Build the future you want to live in. I know these times aren't the easiest for all of us, but I am an optimist - I see the glass as refillable instead of half-full or half-empty. To brighten up your days, I publish the Regenerate Your World newsletter coming to your inbox on a bi-weekly basis. Let's Get Empowered!

Ripple Effects Greetings! Today I am happy to introduce you to one of my friends, Rachel Gilbertson! Rachel and I have had many conversations about well-being, personal and professional growth, the joys and challenges of life, and much more. I invited Rachel to be a guest writer for this edition of the newsletter so she can share a very exciting project she has been working on. Please enjoy! Words from Rachel Hello, dear readers! I’m grateful to be invited as a guest contributor for this month’s newsletter! My name is Rachel Gilbertson and I’m a long-time friend of Julie’s, a fellow wellbeing professional, owner of Art of Presence, and newly published author of “Aligned Enchantment: 100-Day Self-Reflection Journal.”  I’m delighted to share a little story with you about the ripple effects of how Julie literally Empowered Possible. But first, I must take you back to the beginning when Julie and I first met more than 16 years ago. We both worked in higher education, but at different local universities, supporting the wellbeing of faculty and staff on our respective campuses.  We would meet monthly for walk & talks to discuss current well-being initiatives, share resources, and brainstorm new ideas. Our professional lives took unique, but similar paths as we transitioned to different organizations and as we developed our own small businesses. Although we had changed roles, we stayed committed to connecting monthly. Now, to the ripple effects Last February, after one of our regular chats, Julie sent me an email connecting me with a local author and indie publisher, Heather Wilde. Heather was planning her book launch releasing “Tumbled” out into the world. I contacted Heather, and attended her book launch celebration, and we hit it off right from the start. Heather and I agreed to meet up again in a few weeks. When we did, she shared that she was planning to sign up for Sarah Seidelmann’s 100-day Creative Soul Retrieval group as it had been transformative the previous times she’d participated. The premise is simple yet impactful - do something creative for 15 minutes per day for 100 days, post it in the private Facebook group and see what happens. I was curious and decided to sign up. My project was to embark on an adventure of being open to enchantment and following inspiration by creating a mini watercolor painting each day for 100 days. I wanted to learn more about watercolor painting; I love words and their meanings, and I find the practice of reflection to be powerful. Therefore, I braided these elements together and called it “Aligned Enchantment.” Each day, an image would catch my eye, or a word would resonate, and it would become the day’s theme, which I then paired with reflective questions. Some days, my project flowed quickly and easily; other days, inspiration was more elusive, and it felt like a stretch to pull it all together. Sometimes, the word would come first. Other times, the image became crystal clear, or a question would surface for me to ponder. Even though I initially planned to complete my project in the morning, these clues would emerge over the course of the day. As much as I wanted to confine this project into a set time and space, inspiration wanted more freedom, and enchantment refused to be rushed. Along the way, I worried I had taken on more than I could handle as I struggled to fit it in and fell behind posting daily. About every ten days, I noticed the urge to switch gears and change the theme by dropping the word, black box outline, or reflection component. However, each time I sat with these thoughts long enough, a whisper of a word or inkling of an image would encourage me to stick with it. Curiosity invited me to wonder what the collective result would be as I continued to add to this over the summer. So I carried on.  Now the ripple effect comes full circle. Once I reached 100 days, I felt proud of the journey I took and glad I stuck with it. I also had a lingering sense that it wasn’t quite done. On the 100th day I wrote: “I’m not sure what it is yet, but it feels like there’s a few more steps to fully complete this project.” However, I actually didn’t do anything with it for two months until early November when I met with Julie and another friend, Lora. We had a mini retreat day full of connection and creative thinking about our next steps personally and professionally. We had planned some independent work time and I sat with my mini watercolors, reflected on the lessons and wondered how I might gather them all in one place. As I did this, I knew I needed to connect with Heather again to brainstorm ideas for pulling these together. When the two of us met later that month, it became clear that this was meant to be a journal. We got to work and “Aligned Enchantment: 100-day Self-Reflection Journal” was recently published. Now, here we are less than a year from starting the 100 day project, 8 months from day 100, and 4 months after starting the publishing process and it seems this was the plan all along. I’m extremely grateful to Julie for sending that initial email that started this ripple effect of connection and possibilities. I’m also thankful for that quiet voice inside that urged me to slow down, sit with the pieces, and gather them up into a complete collection. Ripples into Waves As for launching “Aligned Enchantment” out into the world, I’m proceeding one step at a time and am trusting the unfolding. This has been a key lesson throughout this project. Aligned Enchantment is an opportunity to journal for 100-days and beyond about the things that matter most to you. The things that light you up and make you feel alive. It provides a space to imagine, wonder, and reflect.  It helps you set intentions for how you want to be today and what you want your impact to be in the future. My greatest hope for this journal is that it allows your inner wisdom to emerge. I hope you notice any inklings of insights arise, you feel any glimpses of soul shimmers, and that you follow the subtle hints of curiosity. I have found that intuition, enchantment, and inspiration hang out in these seemingly insignificant places. The extraordinary is hidden in the ordinary, not just in the grand gestures or the big, bold moves.  I share this story to say: please don’t underestimate the power of one small action as it can set off a ripple effect and empower what is possible. Butterflies continued to emerge as a theme throughout this project.  They are a symbol for  transformation, hope, and empowerment. Reflection Questions: ✨ What helps you feel empowered? ✨ What enables your sense of internal strength, vigor, and might? ✨ Remind yourself that you are magic just as you are  and you are  capable of more than you can imagine. What do you notice? Want to learn more? Learn More about Art of Presence: http://artofpresence.org Begin your own Journey to Aligned Enchantment https://www.amazon.com/Aligned-Enchantment.../dp/B0CZH8SD3N You’re invited to the Aligned Enchantment Book Launch Event on May 4th https://www.facebook.com/share/HR93TBngQjBFWs24/?mibextid=9l3rBW Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. Excerpt from Aligned Enchantment  by Rachel Gilbertson

In the Media Want to listen to Rachel explain more about the inspiration for her project? Check out her interview with Sarah Bamford Seidelmann  https://fb.watch/rDGIZD0_AY/

Connect with me on social media! Copyright ©EMPOWER Possible Duluth, Minnesota. EMPOWER Possible is dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to organize and act together to regenerate our world through Self, Social, and Systems transformation.  info@empowerpossible.com \ Website \ Mission

Unlock Your Potential: Embrace Disruption

 

April 13, 2024 Regenerate Your World  Build the future you want to live in. I know these times aren't the easiest for all of us, but I am an optimist - I see the glass as refillable instead of half-full or half-empty. To brighten up your days, I publish the Regenerate Your World newsletter coming to your inbox on a bi-weekly basis. Let's Get Empowered! Unlock Your Potential: Embrace Disruption Greetings, empowered reader! I am thrilled to share about my experience as a guest on the Un-Caped Heroes podcast.  This edition of the newsletter is  inspired by my recent appearance on the Un-Caped Heroes podcast, we'll delve into the transformative power of disruption and creativity. Reflective Question: Before we dive into our exploration, let's take a moment to reflect:  When was the last time you encountered a moment of disruption in your life? How did it shape your path of personal and professional growth? Icebreaker Activity: Let's kick off our journey with a reflective icebreaker inspired by my experience on the podcast:  Consider a time when you encountered an unexpected challenge or opportunity, catching you off guard.  How did you respond?  Share your insights via email or social media @empowerpossible as we explore the power of adaptability and resilience. Podcast Summary: "DISRUPT" with Julie Zaruba Fountaine In my recent podcast interview with Un-Caped Heroes, we explored the concept of disruption and its profound impact on our lives. Here's a deeper dive into the key insights we discussed: Understanding Disruption: We redefined disruption beyond its conventional associations, emphasizing its role in challenging norms, sparking innovation, and fostering personal growth. Disruption, we discovered, is not merely about shaking up industries but also about shaking up our own perceptions and possibilities. Embracing Change: Disruption often triggers resistance and uncertainty, yet we explored the importance of embracing change as a catalyst for growth and transformation. Drawing from personal anecdotes and experiences, we discussed how embracing change can lead to unexpected opportunities and breakthroughs. The Role of Creativity: Creativity emerged as a central theme in our discussion, highlighting its power to fuel innovation and drive disruptive change. We explored practical strategies for nurturing creativity in our lives, from engaging in creative hobbies to fostering environments that encourage experimentation and risk-taking. Learning from Failure: Failure, we acknowledged, is an inevitable part of the disruptive journey. However, we reframed failure as a valuable opportunity for learning and growth. By embracing failure as a natural part of the process, we can cultivate resilience and bounce back stronger than before. Looking Ahead: As we navigate an ever-evolving world, we encouraged listeners to maintain a curious mindset, embrace uncertainty, and seek out opportunities for growth and self-discovery. By staying open to new possibilities and embracing disruption, we can unlock our full potential and shape a brighter future. Take a Listen! Feeling inspired to embark on your own journey of disruption and self-development?  Tune in to our podcast episode on Un-Caped Heroes for an enriching conversation that will ignite your curiosity and fuel your potential. Listen to the full episode here: DISRUPT with Julie Zaruba FountaineJoin the Conversation! I hope this edition of the Regenerate Your World Newsletter has sparked your curiosity and empowered you to embrace disruption as a catalyst for personal growth.  Share your insights, reflections, and stories of transformation with us as we continue on this empowering journey together. Until next time, embrace disruption and regenerate your world! Warm regards, Julie Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. Disruption by John Prophet Are we ready for what’s to come? Will we know how to behave? Never before in human history has there been such disruption.  It was once a much simpler place.  No more.  The future is arriving faster than ever before. Gia now has a neural net the brain is coming alive. Things are changing at such a clip not like anything seen before.  Things will never be the same. Computers that once filled rooms are now held in the palm of our hands.  Not too many years from now they’ll be cursing through our veins. Nanotechnology, biotechnology, computer technology exploding at such a pace, soon enough, the internet will be connected to our face. We’ll all be part of the global brain, have instant access to all the knowledge mankind has thus far obtained.  Soon, artificial intelligence will join us where we live, things will never be the same.  Machines will build machines smarter all the time.  Where we go after all this may drive us insane. Some say we’ll build virtual worlds every bit as real, and designed them to meet our every need, absolutely ideal.  No one knows for sure which way all this will go. I suggest you batten down the hatches though, it’s going to be quite the show. In the Media Where can you find EMPOWER Possible? Besides posting on my own social media, I also collaborate with other entrepreneurs. This week, I'm highlighting to the Un-Caped Heroes podcast.  I chatted with Stacy and Cassey about the word, "disrupt". Listen HERE.  Interested in catching up on our previous podcast episodes? Explore our library of past recordings, where we delve into a diverse range of topics related to happiness and well-being: Link to podcast library Connect with me on social media! Copyright © Empower Possible EMPOWER Possible is dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to organize and act together to regenerate our world through Self, Social, and Systems transformation.  info@empowerpossible.com \ Website \ Mission

Wisdom and insights from Mexico City

 

March 19, 2024 Regenerate Your World  Build the future you want to live in. I know these times aren't the easiest for all of us, but I am an optimist - I see the glass as refillable instead of half-full or half-empty. To brighten up your days, I publish the Regenerate Your World newsletter coming to your inbox on a bi-weekly basis. Let's Get Empowered!

Wisdom and insights from Mexico City Photo: The abbreviation "CDMX" (Ciudad de México)  Dear Empowered Reader, This week I am excited to share a few insights from my recent journey to the vibrant and bustling Mexico City.  From navigating the maze-like markets to finding moments of serenity amidst the chaos, Mexico City reminded me of so many well-being fundamentals.  Before you read on, what lessons have you learned from your travels? I would love to know, please share, email me at info@empowerpossible.com. Well-being Insights Embrace the Chaos:  Amidst the hustle and bustle of Mexico City, I learned a valuable lesson in embracing chaos. At first, I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the city. There were noises, smells, and sights that were unfamiliar to me and I was taken aback by it all.  Then we entered the markets. The massive markets within the city were a whirlwind of activity, with vendors bustling and shoppers weaving through the maze of stalls. After a few minutes of trying to center myself, I realized I needed to stop fighting the chaos. Amidst this chaos, there was a beauty in the energy and vitality of the city. Choosing to see chaos as a force of life helped me to feel less anxious about the intense energy I was feeling. Savor the Moment:  In a city where everything seems to move at lightning speed, (including the traffic-we were told traffic laws are suggestions not rules so get out of the way of oncoming cars!)  it's essential to pause and savor the moment. Amidst the rush, take a moment to appreciate the good that surrounds you—the laughter of loved ones, the beauty of a sunset, the aroma of street food wafting through the air. Every time I had one of these moments I intentionally took a deep breath in and out to say a silent phrase of gratitude.  Find Solitude:  Even in a city of 22 million, finding solitude is possible. We took time out of our trip to find a few local city parks. Mexico City is home to one of the largest and oldest city parks the "Bosque de Chapultepec" (Chapultepec Forest).  I was traveling with my husband, as a couple used to visiting National Parks within the United States during our vacations, making time to visit this city park seemed important. We were glad we did visit the park as it was full of beauty, and a lot less noise.  As we strolled the pathways throughout the park the pace of the city was left behind.  Whether it's escaping to a quiet park or seeking refuge in a tranquil café, carving out time for yourself is essential for well-being. Take a moment to be with your thoughts, reflect, and recharge your spirit. Appreciate the Beauty:  Beauty can be found in the most unexpected places, even in public bathrooms adorned with vibrant artwork. Everywhere I turned in Mexico City I could find beauty. Walking down the street the storefronts were painted with beautiful murals and the flowering trees lined the city streets all added to the experience of beauty in places you might not think you would find it.  In Mexico City, I was reminded to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, from the grandeur of historical landmarks to the smallest details of everyday life. Balance is Key:  Just as the spices in a salsa necessitate careful balance to achieve the perfect flavor profile, so too does our life demand equilibrium for holistic well-being. During a cooking class in Mexico, I found myself captivated by the culinary lesson on salsa-making. As the instructor expertly demonstrated the art of balancing the spiciness of peppers with the sweetness of tomatoes and the acidity of lime, I couldn't help but draw parallels to the broader concept of balance in life. It dawned on me that just as each ingredient in a salsa contributes to its overall taste, every facet of our lives—work, play, relationships, self-care—must be harmoniously integrated to cultivate a sense of wholeness and fulfillment. This realization served as a reminder that achieving balance is not merely about juggling responsibilities but rather about intentionally crafting a life that nourishes the body, mind, and soul. Just as a well-balanced salsa is the perfect topping to tacos, so too does a harmonious life enrich the spirit, fostering resilience, joy, and a deep sense of contentment. Reflection Questions: How can I embrace chaos in my own life and find beauty in the midst of it? What moments of joy and gratitude can I savor each day, even amidst a busy schedule? Where can I find moments of solitude and reflection in my environment, no matter how bustling it may be? As we journey through life, may we embrace the chaos, savor the moments of joy, find solitude amidst the noise, appreciate the beauty around us, and strive for balance in all things.  Here's to cultivating a life of well-being, one moment at a time. Take care, dear reader, Julie Photo: The Mexican flag in the zócalo (city center) of Mexico City. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. Apelación al solitario (Appeal to the Solitary One) by Rosario Castellanos Es necesario, a veces, encontrar compañía. Amigo, no es posible ni nacer ni morir sino con otro.  Es bueno que la amistad le quite  al trabajo esa cara de castigo y a la alegría ese aire ilícito de robo. ¿Cómo podrías estar solo a la hora completa,  en que las cosas y tú hablan y hablan, hasta el amanecer?   It’s necessary, at times, to find company. My friend, it’s not possible to be born or to die without another.  It’s good that friendship removes from work the appearance of punishment and from happiness the illicit air of theft. How could you be alone at that complete hour, in which you talk and talk with things until the dawn?

In the Media Where can you find EMPOWER Possible? Besides posting on my own social media I also collaborate with other entrepreneurs. If you are interested in catching up on our previous podcast episodes. I invite you to explore our library of past recordings, where we delve into a diverse range of topics related to happiness and well-being. https://empowerpossible.com/podcasts/  Photo: My husband and I enjoying dinner at Azul in Mexico City.

Connect with me on social media! Copyright © EMPOWER Possible  Duluth, United States EMPOWER Possible is dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to organize and act together to regenerate our world through Self, Social, and Systems transformation.  info@empowerpossible.com \ Website \ Mission