Getting Out of a Mental Block

Today... as I sat and attempted to start writing this blog post I got stuck, yet again. I walked away from the computer for a moment annoyed with myself... saying, "You have been "STUCK" for two weeks now, you have not written since Father's day! WHAT is stopping you, what is causing this mental block?"

I knew that until I answered my own question and ultimately solved this puzzle with a solution I would remain in this frustrating arena of unproductive nothingness. I decided to really dig into what has been going on with me lately segment by segment in order to put my finger on the thoughts that seem to be holding me hostage.

Mental block is typically caused by things and/or emotions lurking in our subconscious mind, which is that wonderfully complex area of our brain to which we have little control over, yet if we figure out how to tap into it, will unlock all of life's possibilities and allow us to understand why we tick as we do. I have spent countless hours reading about this phenomenal part of our brain, becoming more in tune with my own than most people ever will with theirs. It is because of this romantic dance with my brainwaves that I find myself in moments like this doing what I can to tap into myself in order to get over these proverbial obstacles.


I wrote things down...

The first thing I did was get out a sheet of paper and wrote down my "to do" list. I had to empty all the things I have to accomplish that were swirling around in my head after a long holiday weekend. Given the fact that my personality type is one that gets easily overwhelmed after a mental escape or "holiday" from the daily grind, this was a necessary step to take. Having my kids home for summer vacation has left me terribly out of sync with my day to day work. This has created a feeling of being very "behind" even though it's likely not as bad as I am feeling it is. I have really enjoyed spending more time with my kids, but that does not erase that feeling of anxiousness I get not working as much and that feeling can easily overcome the joy I gain from quality time if I am not mindful in my thoughts. Balance can be very hard for the single career mom... more difficult I would have to say than any other person I can think of. Finding balance for me is Mount Everest most of the time.

The second thing I did was write down all of the things that are on my mind... personal, emotional, and business related things that are slowing me up simply because they are taking up space in my head; man... that was a LOOOONG list of things!! I found myself staring at what I wrote down thinking "whoa" no wonder I am running in circles without direction, I am surprised my head has not spontaneously ruptured to be honest. I am often amazed at all the things this head has in it at once and when I do this exercise, I can often shift and regain focus, because realistically that is why I am stuck in the first place.

Finding Clarity in my thoughts

Now that I knew what was taking up room in my head, I needed to shelf some of these things and only deal what I could control and do something about. One by one I created a written temporary solution for each topic on my brain that would allow me to move on while giving myself permission to get back to them at a later date when I could actually have a more permanent solution. This entire exercise worked and once it was done, I sat down and decided to simply share the process I had just gone through in this blog post figuring it may be helpful to someone out there reading.

"What the thinker (conscious mind) thinks, the prover (unconscious mind) proves."
So often, we stay focused on the things that we have no solution for, allowing it to consume us keeping us from dealing with and changing the things we CAN. I encourage you to find a temporary solution for all the things taking up space in your mind that leave you stuck in situations or trapped within your own thoughts. Sometimes that means simply setting it aside until a later date when you can have more clarity or certainty of how to deal with it. Allow yourself to focus on the things you want.... visualize these things like a motion picture in your head. Allow your senses to get involved... sight, touch, smell, sound; immerse yourself in a quiet space to create that movie in your mind. Record yourself talking about what the day will be like when you are where you want to be, how will you celebrate? What kind of day will it be outside; will flowers be blooming,  rain pouring down or soft white snow blanketing the ground?

 "Envision life as you want it in explicit detail and think about that life every day, for it does not matter where you are but where you intend to be that truly matters." Shelley Giard ©2015

Until next time... 

xoxo

Shells

WWW.THESGIARDGROUP.COM

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It's a Long-Shot but Someone Will Surely Do It

Once upon a time, just about a year ago… I was a makeup artist hoping to stay inspired in something that I loved; to reach out and meet other people who shared the love of makeup and perhaps even meet a few people who shared my love of making others feel good about themselves; to share what makes them who they are, what they want to become and how they plan to get there. Sometimes, it can be a lonely world, because many people in the “normal” daily grind just don’t get this kind of passion… this kind of love.

Artists… they are quirky, precise, anal, obsessive, compulsive, scattered, spirited, fun and often broken… yet passionately focused not only on what they love AT THAT MOMENT, but have an undying love for beauty,  the art of expression, of emotions and acceptance of others in every aspect of life. 22 years after starting my career, I am still in love… it’s the longest love affair I have ever had… and I KNEW there had to be people who shared the same love. Diamonds in the rough, needles in the haystack that we may be… I needed to find them; it became a quest.

November 13, 2012… The Makeup Show Orlando; something that I had heard of but never had the ability to attend… it was always out of state and I was a single mom with no family around working my buns off for years to make ends meet; not an excuse… just a fact. I finally had the money and time to attend; it was coming to Orlando for the first time… only an hour and a half away. I rearranged schedules last minute and even entered their photo contest and became a finalist. My hope was to soak up some knowledge or simply add to my already inspired outlook on what I did for a living, because despite how up and down the career could be… I loved every moment as long as I was creating, learning, putting smiles on people’s faces and sharing my knowledge, strength and wisdom with others around me who cared to listen.

I sat in on a class called “Ten-Words” taught by a man I had never heard of… probably because I had never really used MAC or worked at a makeup counter; but this class sounded like it was right up my alley. As I sat in this classroom with other artists; some who were veterans such as me, and some that were much newer to the industry eager to hear that this career was a good choice. I watched and listened as this man, Michael DeVellis told his story. In just a few moments I knew that this moment was totally on purpose; a pivotal moment in my life; I felt it down to my toes.

As he went down his list of words he got to LONG-SHOT and a tear literally came to my eye… no wait, maybe it was just dirt… nope, it was a tear. My memoir had just released in October and THAT was a long-shot for me, to put myself, my life out there in the raw bare bones to help others… so this word rung in my ears VERY loudly. At the end of the class I stood in line to meet him, I figured I would introduce myself but had no idea as I walked up and handed him a card what I would say. I told him I was an inspirational speaker/author/makeup artist of 22 years and proceeded to say… I love what you are doing, so here’s MY long-shot… I would LOVE to be a part of this… of this thing you are doing in a bigger way. He shook my hand, took my card and listened to what I had to say. 

Since then, I was chosen to attend "Evolution", another event by this “group” that was held in my home state of Massachusetts, the same week I had a book signing in my hometown . It was awesome, and I was so happy to be there and connect in ways I cannot even explain with 19 other artists that shared my love and passion of being a makeup artist. I recently attended his TEN-WORDS event once again… just as a reminder that there ARE people like me… who share that love… who love to inspire and support others in this ever changing career. 

The reason I am sharing this story with my readers, some who may be fellow makeup artists, and many of you who I know that are not, is this...

What is YOUR long-shot? What is it that you would love to do, be a part of, what dream would you  love to come true? We all have something that we wish for, hope for, would LOVE to make happen if obstacles or life did not get in the way. Many great people had a long-shot that they went for... a chance they took when nobody believed they could do it; writing my book and becoming a published author was certainly one of mine. Long-Shots CAN become a reality, but only if you take that chance, take the steps and JUST GO FOR IT! Obstacles are not excuses, they are merely objects...circumstances that we must to overcome in order to achieve our dreams!

Have a great weekend, be safe... 

DREAM BIG and LIVE BIGGER!

XOXO

~Shells~