Exercise and Creative Thinking

Have you ever been amazed by the quantity and quality of your creative thoughts after you've been for a walk, a swim, or played in the garden for a while?

I am no longer surprised by this phenomena, and frequently these days work with it.

Before I embark on a new project, before I sit in my office for the day, before I meet with my teachers (of which there are many and for whom I am truly grateful) I always spend a while in nature.

I'll kick my shoes off and wander around my small garden checking out my tomatoes, or the herb garden, I'll wander around the side of our house where nothing seems to grow (except weeds), and wonder how we can turn it into a putting green, perhaps even pull a few of those ever present weeds.

I'll take a walk around the streets and find myself wandering along the river, chatting with the birds, lizards, rocks and be grateful that they are all present for me to admire, to allow my mind to escape the daily noise and chatter of business, traffic, television, telephones and whatever other distractions there are.

Swimming is one of my favourites, either in the surf, working with mother nature, sometimes struggling with her to stay afloat, other times bobbing up and down with the swell. Even in the pool where swimming mindless lengths allow time to think and ponder, plan and strategise. I find if I am looking for answers the surf is the way to go, if I am looking to make a plan the pool works a treat.

Whatever I seem to do, once I've connected with nature and return to the task at hand, things flow, words come easily, phone calls are answered, conversations are productive, visions are more specific - what exactly does this project require, is it colour, smooth or square lines, softness, coolness, warmth.

Nature brings a balance to my life that when working in my home office, sometimes I forget. It seems to me that Nature = Flow.

Working as I do with all sorts of people, from different socio-economic backgrounds, different age groups, different dreams, hopes and desires, it is impossible to treat everyone the same. It is impossible to ask everyone the same questions.

When I work with nature, I learn what is appropriate for each client, what questions to ask and sometimes even what the answers may be.

When I'm really switched on to Visual Profiling I will know just by looking at people, what drives them, what inspires them, what they look for in a fulfilling career, and what colours, furniture, bedding and structure they would like to live with.

To learn all these things, I step out in nature like I am today, go for a walk at the seaside, then go to class. What a blessing, and how grateful and inspired am I that I live so close to all the places I love.

Till next time, keep moving, and keep smiling
Belinda :)

ps this pic is of the magnificient Magnolia in my Aunt's garden at Maleny, beautiful isn't she...