A new species is arising on the planet. It is arising now, and you are it! The next step in human evolution is not inevitable, but for the first time in the history of our planet, it can be a conscious choice.
Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth
WHAT GETS YOU OUT OF BED EVERY MORNING?
On the surface that could appear to be a trivial question but do you know the real answer that lies deep within you? Research says that discovering and living your life purpose significantly extends your years, giving you a deeply personal reason to get out of bed every day for the rest of your life. National Geographic researcher Dan Buettner assembled a team of researchers to seek out global “hotspots of human health and vitality,” which he calls Blue Zones, to figure out what people in these areas do that helps them live so long. It seems that having a clear idea of life purpose (what the people of Okinawa call Ikigai) is a major contributory factor. Check out Dan’s TED Talk here.
As things change around us we need to know how to adapt and turn potential disasters into fantastic opportunities. The good news is that each one of us already has the answers, we just need the right creative tools to unlock them. But despite the fact that even business leaders and politicians are recognising that the only real capital for the future is the ability to think creatively, most people think creativity only belongs to the artistically talented. CS teaches otherwise by presenting you with the keys to your unique creative perception, that is – new ways of seeing how your skills, talents and present life circumstances equip you for change and make getting out of bed each day an exciting and boundless opportunity.
PRIVATE SESSIONS
Feeling lost or uncertain about what to do next is an issue common to many people today. Although nobody knows better than we do what is right for us, we have been conditioned to seek outside ourselves for answers, for someone else to tell us what to do. CS offers the flexibility of private sessions for individuals, couples and small groups to address this issue. Read More
GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS
Although Circular Sounds is a process that focuses on expanding the potential of individuals, we recognise that every one of us lives within complex networks of other people. Ultimately our success relies on how well we interact with the different groups that make up our world. As each of us realises our potential we have greater capacity to influence the people around us and to discover our own unique contribution to the teams we work, rest and play in. Here are some of the places and situations where CS can be applied to expand the potential of groups.
BUSINESS
The value and potential of your workforce cannot be quantified in $ terms. In order to evolve and grow in an outwardly competitive world, businesses must foster an inner culture of cooperative creativity. Competition within the workforce often stifles innovation and promotes compartmentalized thinking that negates rather than nurtures. The most forward thinking companies are those that invest in their people and encourage them to express themselves creatively. A creative employee is one who will be at ease in any situation, will have a flexible approach to problem solving and will fit effortlessly into different environments. Read More
SCHOOLS
There is a major shift happening today in the way we live our lives and run our society. As the world becomes faster, smaller and more connected, skills and abilities that were prized in a previous generation – those based on academic intelligence – are fast being replaced by the ability to think creatively. Employers are looking for people who embody this new way of being and yet many of our schools are still training young people for the world of yesterday. Aside from employment opportunities, the emphasis on Academic training in schools can squash the natural talents of many young people, shutting down the very abilities that are so valuable for a successful and happy life. In many of our schools, challenging social and economic conditions often exacerbate this problem and the lack of creative stimulus can mean that students act out or give up. Teachers and staff can also find themselves trapped in the narrow confines of what is expected by higher authorities and find that their own creativity is being shut down. In many ways schools are reflecting the issues of our wider society – in the face of larger populations and greater complexity we can all find ourselves wondering where we fit in. Read More
TRAUMA
Although of benefit to all people no matter their life circumstance, CS is very effective when used as a Therapeutic tool. For many of the most disadvantaged people in our society the simple act of communicating with others is a difficult and traumatic experience. Building on the use of Six Creative Elements, Circular Sounds uses many of the same techniques to develop healthy social skills in those suffering the impact of trauma, physical displacement or poverty. It leads participants through a cumulative experience aimed at lessening the negative effects of their life circumstance, as well as increasing their ability to conceive of, and to create, positive alternatives. Discovering a deeper understanding of the way they are triggered by the behaviours of others, participants learn skills to enable them to diffuse situations arising from perceived threat and misunderstanding. Playing and creating in a group demonstrates that interaction with others can be a pleasurable experience rather than a traumatic one and that it can lead to increased happiness through co-operation. This in turn leads to a new way of viewing situations and empowers participants to make healthier choices in the way they live their lives. Read More
ARTISTS
“Get out and get a real job” is a constant refrain in the life of any creative artist. The inner strength required to believe in yourself and the worth of what you do can dampen inspiration and your ability to embody your dreams. So what is it that keeps the creative fires burning? What is it that inspires you to pursue your vision with passion?
What is it as an artist that is as important to you as the air you breathe?
Much of the artist’s journey is about revealing a unique voice. But how do you find out what that is when the world and the artistic profession itself wants to put you in a box of its own choosing? In our complex world art and artists have become commodities, and in order to sell us to an overstimulated audience we are reduced to the lowest common denominator and forced to fit into boxes that make us easily recognizable to the mass market. The need to conform to some sort of expected image kills the creative spark by making it incredibly hard to achieve financial and professional success without fitting in. Yet this spark can only be sourced through individual imaginations and comes through the whole vista of life itself, the mistakes, the successes, the traumas, the joys. True creativity comes with the allowance to be authentic and real. Read More
