Issue # 26 April 2005

Dear Impish one,
You are the reason for this newsletter. I'm dedicated to
supporting the "imp" in you - especially this month your
inner magical whisperings for living your greater purpose.

You're receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to it,
you're a member of "The Imp Community" online, or a friend
passed it on. Sign up or unsubscribe at the end.

A special welcome to new subscribers! Earlier editions are
archived: http://www.theimpjournal.com/archives/

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1. Feature Article: Are You Wearing a Rock For a Hat?
2. Coaching Q&A: Still don't know what I wanna be when I grow up!
3. News, Comments, Success Stories, Winners
4. Inspirational Message to Ponder

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1. Feature Article: Are You Wearing a Rock For a Hat?

Do you love gardening? I do. For my wee garden I just bought
seeds for parsnips, pole beans and beets. Where I live, the soil
is rocky, which brings to mind Barbara Sher's quote at the
beginning of "The Imp Journal":

"If a seed is given good soil and plenty of water and sun, it
doesn't have to try to unfold. It doesn't need self-confidence
or self-discipline or perseverance. It just unfolds. As a matter
of fact, it can't help unfolding.

If a seed has to grow with a rock on top of it, or in deep
shade, or without enough water, it won't unfold into a healthy
full-sized plant. It will try - hard - because the drive to
become what you are meant to be is incredibly powerful. But at
best it will become a sort of ghost of what it could be: pale,
undersized, drooping."

Are you drooping? Struggling with self-confidence, self-
discipline or perseverance? Are you wearing a rock for a hat?
Wanna take it off? Let's explore how to do that.

It's so easy to see a seed's environment and much harder to
recognize how your environments impact on you. Yes, plural.
A Coachville R&D team identified 7 environments that make up you.
I'll focus on three:

1) Physical - includes home, work space, car, etc.
2) Relationships - family, friends, neighbours, co-workers.
3) Memetic - ideas, concepts and information around you.

To have your own "good soil and plenty of water and sun" is now
completely your own responsibility! (As a child it wasn't.)

Do you live amid clutter? See those items as rocks that are a
physical burden you're carrying. As well as keeping you stuck in
energy of the past, physical clutter can reflect a cluttered
mind. Letting go of items you no longer need, and finding a place
for the things you keep, frees energy! Let new opportunities flow
to you. There are lots of books about conquering clutter.

When you take off your rock hat does someone else promptly place
it back on your head? "Oh, you'll never do that!" I'm betting you
sure heard, "Who do you think you are?" That could be an invita-
tion to explore magnificent possibilities but it is delivered in
a tone of voice that clearly means the opposite. Seek those who
encourage you and find ways to avoid, or deflect the effect of,
those who discourage you. As you become more aware of "dream-
stealers" in your people environment, you may make different
choices.

As for the ideas, concepts and information around you. Do you
live in the fear, doom and gloom of the news on TV? What images
fill your mind? Watching less TV and reading inspirational books
is one way of IMProving your memetic environment. Monitor your
"self-talk" - what ideas and concepts are stopping you from
living a truly satisfying life?

One way of making this do-able is to have a weekly focus. That is
just what "The Imp Journal" is designed to do.

Would you like to "weed" the "Garden of Possibilities", request
a copy of "The Super Simple Change a Week Technique". Just email
me: This Super Simple Change idea is the
brainchild of Tellman Knudson, an NLP Practitioner and Hypno-
therapist.

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2. Coaching Q&A: Still don't know what I wanna be when I grow up!

Sandy's Q: "At 56, I still don't know what I want to be when I
grow up. I like my present job but it isn't nurturing my soul.
Any suggestions?"

Answer: Congratulations, Sandy, on hearing your soul whispering
to you to make changes in your life. Sounds like you are ready.

I recently had an email from a younger individual who identified
a passion, commenting, "It's something that when I have the time
and inspiration I will pursue. As for a more soul-satisfying
career, I'm mainly concerned about paying the bills and my job
does more than that. It's just monotonous."

My first question to you is, "Do you know what does nurture your
soul?" Whether the answer is "Yes" or "No", make some time to
meditate on it. Let clarity emerge. Journalling is another way
to explore the "whisperings". Choose a soul-nurturing activity
NOW that you can enjoy, whether related to future employment or
not.

I recently bought "Barbara Sher's Idea Book: How to Discover What
You Really Want (Even if You Have No Clue)."

Barbara says people so often think that what they want is
impossible so they never seriously consider it. They make
assumptions based on conventional wisdom that stops their dream
"before they even leave the starting gate." Barbara challenges
all those assumptions! Plus she provides stories of people who
found a way to make their dream life happen.

Another favorite book of mine that I think you'll find useful,
is "Creating Money: Keys to Abundance" by Sanaya Roman and Duane
Packer. They have a wonderful chapter on "following your inner
guidance".

In my "Starting Life Over" program, I suggest a website to help
people avoid the pitfall of quitting a job prematurely and then
being financially strapped. Check out
http://www.findworkyouloveandthrive.com 
And if you are "remodeling" your life do consider using my 7-week
eCoaching Program at http://www.StartingLifeOver.com 

As a Personal Life Coach, I love helping clients like Sandy. If
you are hearing "whisperings" about a more soul-satisfying life,
request a complimentary 40-minute coaching session. Also, my
coaching special lasts through June: three 40-minute coaching
sessions plus unlimited emails for only $30 per month. In return,
I need your permission to tape calls while I'm working toward
certification with the International Association of Coaches.
Email

When your question is answered in this column, you'll receive
a set of whimsical imp notecards. Go ahead! Send your question
to

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3.News, Comments, Success Stories, Winners

The new version of http://www.theimpjournal.com is online!
My original intent was always to have the themes in "The Imp
Journal" to be laser-like. Concise, clear, focussed. And for the
website's "Imp Community" to offer resources that expand on the
book's weekly topics and provide additional support for your
growth. That has now happened! More resources for members and a
brand new "forum" awaiting use.

Everyone who buys the book now automatically becomes a member of
"The Imp Community" online and has access to all the resources.
Bonuses also include this newsletter, 5 downloadable whimsical
Imp doodle-posters and "Ten Tips to Put You on Top of The World".

For Imp Community members, I will continue to create and find
resources and additional benefits such as special offers. Current
community members who do not have the book will no longer be able
to access the password protected member pages.

I have a special offer for you (former community member or not):
Buy the book before midnight April 20th and I'll refund your
shipping and handling charges. Easy! AOL copy and paste into your
browser. Others click on
http://www.theimpjournal.com/order-journal.htm

Do you love meeting new people? I do. I recently met 2 people who
have what I call "The Imp Spirit".

Susan Shantz recently opened Shantz Haus Hostel here in Courtenay.
I visited Susan and had 'the grand tour' of the place. Talking
with Susan I learned that she left a stressful city job and
created this new venture. What delights me is that she found the
perfect building in the perfect location! That's impish!
Imagine Magnificent Possibilities and when you set your
intention to fulfill a dream the Universe cooperates. Check out
http://www.shantzhostel.com 

Consider staying at Shantz Haus if you decide to visit this part
of beautiful Vancouver Island. And I'd love to meet you! For more
about this area check out www.tourism-comox-valley.bc.ca

Renate Weiler, from Toronto, recently spoke at the local Home
Based Business Association meeting. Renate survived several life-
threatening situations because she was able to focus her mind.
She could have drowned but instead, "Looking at the safe shore,
I picked the biggest tree I could see and focused my complete
attention on it, ignoring all else." She ignored the rain,
lightening and current pushing her off course telling herself,
"Just one more stroke..."

That's Inner Mind Power! (The Imp says, "You have it, too!")

I love exchanging books with other authors. Renate's book is
"Get a Grip: a journey towards inner strength". Her website is
http://www.renateweiler.com

The latest t-shirt winner is 20-something Aimee Asselin who lives
in Victoria, BC, Canada. She is a trivia buff about music and
movies, and writes poetry. Aimee comments, "Just wanted to say
your Imp cards are great, really made me smile to see."

Join in the fun and help The Imp travel the world. Request game
cards at http://www.theimpjournal.com/where-in-world.htm 

To win an Imagine Magnificent Possibilities t-shirt:
1) Enter your location on the Imp's Guest Map by finding or
requesting game cards.
2) As a new subscriber you are eligible the month you sign up.

Game cards recently were sent to Margaret in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
to Jessica in South Bend, Indiana and to Valory in Durham, NC.
The Imp's goal is to show up on the Guest Map in every state in
the US and every province in Canada. (Of course that does not
exclude other places.) Will YOU help the Imp? You could be the
next t-shirt winner.

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4.Inspirational Message to Ponder

The Imp encourages you to write the quote on a card, read it
regularly, and then journal about your thoughts, insights,
feelings and, especially, actions.

Your soul rarely says, "You must do this; you should do that."
Your soul says, "Isn't this delightful? Doesn't it bring you
great joy? Wouldn't you love to do more of it?" from "Creating
Money: Keys to Abundance" by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer.

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Please share this "IMPressions" newsletter with your friends.
Just hit the forward button on your e-mail program...

Look for your next newsletter in mid-May.

Warmly, "The Imp and I", Beverley ;-)

Beverley Howden, M.Ed.
"The Imp Lady"
Author, Speaker,
Personal Empowerment Facilitator,

1-250-897-0992

 

The Imp is the delight of my life starting over in 1993.
My other website is www.StartingLifeOver.com

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