Shelley Klammer

Blossoming in Times of Adversity

I have noticed a very curious thing about myself. Whenever I watch too much bad news, I start to get a sore throat. When I choose instead to dance, to write in my journal, to sketch, to read uplifting books, my sore throat goes away.

The Challenges of Being Stuck at Home

What a strange and unsettling time in our human history. As an online therapist, I have the opportunity to talk to people around the world and I know this is a very challenging time financially, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually for many, especially those in strict in-home lockdown.

When we do not have the opportunity to get out of our homes, old unhealed emotional pain can come up, primal survival fears can be activated, and prior avoidance strategies in intimate relationships can ignite all kinds of in-home challenges.

And, while many are still joking that they are eating too much comfort food, drinking wine every night, and binge-watching Netflix, this transformative time in human history is actually offering us the time and space to deepen, strengthen and heal.

More Healthy Structure

I feel that the most urgent directive at this time is to find innovative ways to uplift our "vibration" higher than fear - not only to stay physically healthier but also to cope in such trying times with greater resilience. Fear is so discombobulating. Many people have been expressing to me this week that they are having trouble focusing.

In order to cope with the fear and chaos that is sweeping the planet, I think there is a great need for in-home structures, practices and routines that increase focus on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. This could be new exercise routines,  in-depth spiritual and creative practices, and engaging in self-study or learning a new skill.

Levels of Consciousness

Dr. David Hawkins, author of "Power vs Force" found a way to measure human consciousness. He discovered that there is a critical point between weakness and strength - level 200 on his scale.

Every emotion that calibrates below level 200 makes the body go weak. Every emotion above 200, makes the body strong.  While some people resonate above 200 much of the time, currently, most of the world is resonating below 200.

I invite you to consider the Scale of Consciousness here and contemplate what uplifting practices and activities could support you to live more frequently above level 200.

 

Best Expressive Arts Books

Do you love to read about the expressive arts? I sure do. I welcome you to view the list HERE.

My all-time favourite book on the list is Life Paint and Passion by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley.

"Life, Paint And Passion is a deeply involving approach to using the creative process as a tool for self-discovery. With vibrant and contagious enthusiasm, the authors liberate the reader's urge to create freely and spontaneously, as a painter or an artist in another medium, purely for the process of exploration, not for results."

I read this book over 20 years ago, and I went to a painting retreat with one of its authors. After I painted in this way, I was utterly betrothed to spontaneous creativity.

I felt immediate relief from the honesty of the process. I have healed so much fear and pain through spontaneous creativity. 

Expressive Writing Exercise

I recently shared this post on my Depth Therapy Blog. I hope you enjoy it. This is a writing exercise that I use often.

 

You might be going through your life feeling numb, distracted or out of touch with how you feel inside. This is very common. If you have a hard time identifying how you feel, here is a great daily check-in exercise that you can track in your journal each day from David I. Rome, the author of "Your Body Knows the Answer."

 

If you easily abandon yourself when you are with other people, you will find this exercise very helpful. You can do this exercise in your mind several times during the day. This emotional check-in exercise invites your deeper self-knowing by repeating a question three times. 

 

Noticing "Something"

1. Begin by simply asking yourself, "How am I?" Say whatever comes mind. "I am fine...tired...sad...happy...excited and write it down in your journal.

 

2. Now ask yourself, "But how am I really? This time ignore any words that arise quickly. Instead, hold in mind the question, "How am I really? Allow there to be a gap, and sense into your body with an attitude of friendly attending.

 

3. Do not answer from your head - that would be what you already know. Look for a response to the question in your body. Find that unclear sense of "something." You might sense a strong sensation in a part of your body. You might see images, colours or symbols. You might hear music or words.

 

4. Don't rush. Go slow. Stay present. Be a friendly witness to what comes - even when nothing comes.

 

5. At first, feelings tend to be quite shy. They are not used to being seen and need time to feel safe enough to show themselves.

 

6. When you notice something, simply welcome it and be with it, and do not look for anything else to happen right away. Write down what you are experiencing.

 

7. After a while, ask for a third time, "How am I really?" and notice if the feeling alters, becomes clearer or disappears. Write down your felt-sense impression in your journal.

 

7. At any point in this process, you may experience a fresh insight, or something unexpected. These qualities come with a sense of Oh! or Aha! or Now I see! Make a note of your deeper insights in your journal.

 

Create a Surreal Collage

I love visual inspiration. Part of my "visual food" is going on Instagram and Pinterest when I can find the time, and revelling in images that uplift, intrigue and inspire me. I love thinking and dreaming about art!

These collages are by Marcelo Monreal. He is a Brazilian collage artist who collages flowers and foliage with faces.

Expressive Art Process - Surreal Collage

The word "surreal" describes something that's a bizarre mix of elements, often jarring and seemingly nonsensical.

For this expressive art process:

~ Choose a face from a magazine and cut it into two or three pieces.

~ Separate the face on your backing paper. Do not glue down the face fragments yet.

~ Choose images of foliage and flowers (0r anything else) and arrange in the gaps between the face fragments.

~ Glue down the foliage and flowers

~ Glue down the face fragments on top.

I invite you to follow me on Pinterest HERE.