Finding warmth and sharing it
As the earth turns and we enter a new year, my thoughts are of course with the challenges we are facing, collectively and individually. And on this frosty day, where much is dark and troubling, I find myself feeling a deep warmth within.
I read somewhere that if you have a cold shower on a cold day, it actually warms you up. I tried it – pretty painful – but it worked! Today, in quiet moments, I have been mulling on this and wondering what other actions might create unlikely effects.
I’ve been tussling with ideas about how to bring about positive change, create connections and share skills, resources and hopes. I turned to my Inside Story illustrations, as I often do when I want a new perspective, and found these two jumping out at me.
To me it looks like they are playing with muddy puddles; stomping and flinging themselves about. Their antics brought me warmth and lightness and reminded me of the utter joy of being at ease within my work which is so at odds with the pressures and worries of needing to earn a living.
I love to run 1-1 Inside Story sessions and co-create story with individuals, I am energised when I share the Inside Story technique and resources with people in my courses, so this is what I will fill my January and February days with. My own version of jumping joyfully in puddles.
If you read this and would like to experience the release, joy, discovery, connection of a 1-1 session, please let me know and don’t let the cost put you off. I want to share the work and connect in this way with people, so have decided that until the end of February I will invite people who are eager to have a session to pay what feels manageable to them. Just email me. fiona@an-inside-story.co.uk
Likewise, I am offering a big reduction on the online course for coaches, counsellors and facilitators. Look at the link on Eventbrite to see the offer. Only 8 places, so don’t miss out!
I asked participants on the November course what they would say about the course if they wanted to recommend it. Here are their responses…
This is a course with both professional and personal impact. We learned the method by practicing the method on ourselves and with each other. Fiona is a consummate professional and incredibly skilled at bringing the group together and offering structure and ideas to generate moving, relevant and developmental stories. Grab a chance to be a participant!
I cannot recommend this course highly enough, it was remarkable. The care and creativity that Fiona has put into her methodology and the way she shares it with others is just a wonderful thing to witness and be a part of. Fascinating methods, beautiful tools, great teaching and a wonderful community to be a part of for three weeks.
This course provides a wonderful connective space to explore and experience the ways in which our imagination can free us from our stuck and fearful narratives that no longer serve us well.
This course has helped me step-out-of some of my familiar ways of working as a therapist and step-in-to a rather different imaginary landscape, giving me permission through gentle play to imagine other narratives with clients, with all our eight senses very much in the mix.
I think I had forgotten, or maybe never been fully aware of, how good people are at getting comfort and wisdom from stories and metaphor and accessing their own deep wisdom.
I have become so much more confident in my ability to tell stories through writing, and allow myself the freedom to experiment and play without pressure, which I’m deeply grateful for. . - I have learnt some invaluable techniques for taking challenging thoughts outside the body and into a creative space to work through them
Gave me ideas that were easily accessible to use with my clients. I am able to dare to use metaphor more confidently with clients to expand their imaginations in finding expression to their experiences and emotions, especially when they are ‘stuck'.
I would love to hear from you and know what matters to you at the moment. Let’s keep turning towards one another.
Images ©chrisglynn2021