Issue # 28 June 2005

Dear Impish one,
You are the reason for this newsletter. I'm dedicated to
supporting the "imp" in you - especially this month your
Inquisitive, Meandering, Paripatetic Self.

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/

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

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1. Feature Article: Adventuring!
2. Coaching Q&A: "What if Something Goes Wrong?"
3. News, Comments, Success Stories, Winners
4. Inspirational Message to Ponder

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1. Feature Article: Adventuring!

The words of a song come to mind: "I love to go awandering along
the mountain track and as I go I love to sing my knapsack on my
back..." The Imp invites you to go adventuring (awandering)!
Try new things this summer, explore new places.

Julia Cameron in her book, "The Artist's Way" describes Artist's
Dates but as soon as I read that, about 10 years ago, I renamed
them Imp Dates.

Whatever you call them (Play Dates?), it's a time for nurturing
your inner playful child, your creativity, your spirit.

Come alive!

Julia says go alone. I changed that rule when I lived alone for
many years. I still prefer to include others. (Wray and I travel
free on the B.C. Ferries and plan outings to the Gulf Islands.
Last summer another couple and an unrelated 12 year old came with
us to Hornby Island for the day.)

If travel plans are not part of your summer, be a tourist in your
own town. Go to the Tourist Centre, choose a few brochures and do
something new. Perhaps become involved in a local theatrical
production. Borrow a kid if you don't have one and organize a
scavenger hunt. Learn something new. Kayaking lessons? Here in
the Comox Valley there is a renowned summer music school and
festival. http://www.island.net/~cymc.

Over the years some of my adventurings have included: taking a
Wilderness Survival Course http://www.strathcona.bc.ca 
Volunteering on an Herb Farm through the "Willing Workers on
Organic Farms" program (wwoofing). http://www.wwoof.org
Growing personally and spiritually through programs at Hollyhock
http://www.hollyhock.bc.ca  and The Haven http://www.haven.ca.

Would you like to get to know people of other countries when you
travel? Would you like to host world travellers in you own home?
Check out http://www.servas.org.

When my daughter graduated from high school, I gave her a copy
of "Work Your Way Around the World" by Susan Griffith.

Curious about "volunteer vacations"? Check out:
http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org
http://www.globeaware.org
http://www.i-to-i.com.

One theme in "The Imp Journal" is Investigate Many Pathways.
As The Imp says, "Your exploration may evolve into a whole new
direction for your life." Are you open to a new direction for
your life? Order your journal at
http://www.theimpjournal.com/order-journal.htm
"The Imp Journal" is more than just a book! It is a lifelong
guide, a wealth of resources and an online community.

The Imp would love to hear about your adventures and to share
them in a future newsletter. Write to
When your adventure is shared in this newsletter, you'll receive
a set of whimsical Imp notecards.

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2. Coaching Q&A: "What if Something Goes Wrong?"

My coaching client, Calli, was stressed out about a number of
things in her life. In exploring these stressors, I recognized
her habit of "what if"ing. She was fretting and fussing and
expecting something to go wrong with just about everything she
did. When I pointed this out, she recognized it as a long-
standing habit. Her mother had been like that.

"Do you want to change that?" I queried. "Yes", she affirmed,
"but how?" First she tried keeping a notebook in her pocket to
keep track of the times she recognized doing that. That didn't
work for her. She wondered about keeping a note in her pocket to
remind her. We explored that further.

Calli's puppy, Whimsy, is the delight of her life. When she comes
home from work and sees Whimsy wagging her tail, gets the kisses
and cuddles, Calli's mind is quickly taken off the day's worries.

Calli decided she'd keep a picture of Whimsy in her pocket.
Whenever she caught herself fussing and fretting about something,
Calli would pull out the picture of her dog and relive the
pleasure of being with Whimsy. She also decided to write on the
other side, "I choose to experience serenity."

Another aspect of this was to notice when she was feeling a Good
Feeling or feeling a Bad Feeling. Her "assignment" (and yours,
should you choose to accept it): As soon as you recognize a Bad
Feeling, shift focus to a Good Feeling as quickly as possible.

Why? Because this is part of something much bigger - The Law of
Attraction - the physics of frequency vibrations. We are always
attracting things into our life based on the emotional vibrations
we send out - usually by default rather than consciously. I had
heard of The Law of Attraction but I finally understood it when I
read "Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting" by Lynn Grabhorn.

Mark Twain once quipped, "Habit is habit and not to be flung out
of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a
time." It takes a minimum of 30 consecutive days to change a
habit. A commitment to three months is even better! Jack
Canfield in his book, "The Success Principles" gives practical
strategies for changing habits.

Jack Canfield is offering a 7-day "Breakthrough to Success"
training August 7th to 13th at Lake Las Vegas, Nevada. Check it
out at http://www.JackCanfield.com (This may be your choice for
adventuring!)

(I recently listened to a teleseminar where Jack Canfield shared
principles from his book and information about his August
program. What was exciting for me was that for many of the
things he discussed about his program, I was thinking, "I could
do that! I could do that!" And I will - a new program of my own
is in the planning stages.)

Client names are changed to protect identity and maintain
confidentiality.

What challenges are you facing on your journey to greater self-
empowerment? Go ahead!
Send your question to
You'll receive a prompt response.

When your question is used in this column, you'll receive
your choice of a 40-minute complimentary coaching session or a
set of whimsical Imp notecards.

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3.News, Comments, Success Stories, Winners

My friend Maureen admits it. She's a thief. "But honest," she
says, "I never did it on purpose. I used Bev’s Imp Newsletter
format for my own devices." Read Maureen's "Confessions from a
Thief" at http://www.theimpjournal.com/popups/maureen-story.htm.

This month's winner of an "Imagine Magnificent Possibilities"
t-shirt, Mickie Donley, declined and wrote, "I have so many
t-shirts, just gave a bunch to Sally Anne. So if you don't mind,
could you please donate my winning shirt to the Woman's Shelter,
or some other charity that could pass it on to someone in need.
Thanks." Thank you, Mickie, I shall do that.

You're eligible to win an "Imagination Magnificent Possibilities"
t-shirt if you

1. request Imp game cards and mark your location
   on the Imp's Guest map. It's fun!
   http://www.theimpjournal.com/where-in-world.htm
   or
2. you're a new subscriber
   or
3. you are a new member of "The
   Imp Community" online. You automatically become a member when you
   purchase the book online.

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4.Inspirational Message to Ponder

"You're alive. Do something. The directive in life, the moral
IMPerative was so uncomplicated. It could be expressed in single
words, not complete sentences. It sounded like this: Look.
Listen. Choose. Act." Barbara Hall

"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a
change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."
Miriam Beard

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have
ended up where I intended to be." Douglas Adams

"Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your
way." Dr. Seuss

Last but not least, as quoted at the end of "The Imp Journal":

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time." T.S. Eliot

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

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I mention a lot of great books in these newsletters. Should you
choose to purchase any through Amazon, I'd appreciate you using
my affiliate code. Thanks!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/startinglifeo-20

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"Psst!" says The Imp, "Look for your next newsletter in mid-July."

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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