Special Edition Paper Architect newsletter June 2020

“Power at its best is love

implementing the demands of justice. 

Justice at its best is love

correcting everything that stands against love.”

~Martin Luther King, Jr.~

 

 

Over the past few months, I have had the attention span of a gnat.  As an avid reader I could not read a book let alone an article.  I’d see the words but could not absorb their meaning.

 

The thing that kept me sane was doing creative projects and allowing my intuition to guide me (right brain).  Ideas would come in rapid succession, flooding my brain as I’d try to write them down before they escaped back into the ethers. 

 

Although I had trouble focusing on thoughts, I’ve gathered quite a lot of valuable material to use when the analytical side of my brain (left side) calms down.  As soon as I send my newsletter to you, the next edition begins to form and I’ve been working on it since March.  Unfortunately I have not been able to complete my April, May or June editions because my thoughts are many and jumbled and I’m re-examining the direction I want to take that will benefit you, in the best way possible.  In particular was my theme article in March entitled Self Care.  I feel it to be very important but I am overwhelmed with all I want to share and have written and rewritten thoughts without completing any.

 

Instead, this morning I woke up with the following that is just as important – even more so with all the recent events.

 

Paper Architect was built on the foundation and mission to Celebrate Your Individuality.

 

You carry with you, your own unique genetic imprint which often unconsciously guides you as well as your experiences in this lifetime, what you are taught, how you feel and think and what you believe.  All of these factors combined make you, YOU!

No one else in the world is like you.  No one.

 

And you are a part of this great big world/universe.  So you are unique yet part of something bigger.  Like a puzzle.  The piece that represents you is shaped like no other piece yet parts of it do connect with other pieces needed to complete the puzzle.  Every piece affects those around it and ultimately all the pieces, together revealing the whole picture, a beautiful image made up of each of us all interconnected.

 

Social structures organize us by categories to create order and rules so we all can, to some degree get along.  Like schools have grade levels and standardized curriculums for how and what an individual learns.  Government creates laws in theory to support and protect their citizens as we vote for leaders to represent these citizens.

This brings us to statistics that the government uses to establish laws.  We are put into a box based on age, gender, heritage, education, economic status, religious preference, where we live, single, married, divorce, widow…  These statistics make us a number, counted in their decision making, our individuality is lost.

 

We as individuals have a tendency when meeting someone new, form a first impression, a judgment regarding their physical features, how they dress, move, how they approach you, personality traits.  Either there is something you connect with, find off-putting or cannot relate to them at all making no impression.  It’s part of being human.  How we choose to accept them as the individual they are is up to you.

 

Individuals form groups based on interests, beliefs.  There are thousands of different types of groups.  The idea is to get together with like-minded individuals to share views.  Sounds good and it’s our way of connecting with each other.

 

But then there are those who choose to have the attitude of “us and them,” separating individuals into labels, statistics, ignoring the unique human beings that we are.

 

When I write this, I am doing that very thing in the previous paragraph, separating myself from others who cannot see the beauty within each of us.  I have an opinion of that type of individual and chose not to be associated with their views.  But yet, we are all in this together and as more of us chose to appreciate and allow our differences, the less conflict there will be with ‘us and them’ mentality.

 

This lockdown has been caused by a virus currently without a cure that affects our breathing, just as we as humans are sucking the resources out of the earth, it too is having trouble breathing.  Throughout time, this planet has survived extreme conditions and adjusted accordingly while those living on the planet do not.  It’s time we re-examine how we can work together by supporting each other.  We (humans) take from the earth but must also give back.  Have gratitude and respect for what we are given – air, water, food, energy, etc.  As a world community of individuals we need to support and respect each other as well.  To humanize this need, we are witnesses to George Floyd who was dehumanized, desperate for air, not being allowed to breathe.  This is a time that reflects the core of life – air to breathe as a human being and Mother Earth.  We are all in this together.

 

This Time Out we have been given is scary for those who are sick, have died or have lost someone to this virus.  But in this world of duality, we also have an extremely rare opportunity to STOP and allow ourselves to access who we are, what we’re doing, how and why we choose to live going forward.  We are given precious time to improve ourselves, how we relate to others and the world.  In effect, we can make a difference as individuals and as a part of humanity – you have that power!

 

I see the masks as a symbol of unity – to support and protect ourselves and each other to keep us safe.  It makes a statement:  I care about you and me.

It also symbolizes our Stay At Home time as a time of transformation.  At home, we learn new ways to live, work, and relate to one another within the home.  We have time for self-reflection and we are changed as a result of this pandemic, like it or not.  It takes less energy to embrace it then to reject it.

 

When we leave our homes we are asked to wear masks as a protection but I believe it’s much more than just a protection.  I liken these masks as part of our transformation.  The transformation starts from within but will be reflected outwardly when we emerge from our Stay At Home status and take off our masks.  Then we will see each other with new eyes and it will be a time of celebration.

 

It’s like when there is an unveiling of a work of art, a new product, or the plain Jane becoming a princess.  We don’t always see the thought, research, trial and error that occurs during its creation.  All these come together in a transition of a step by step process behind the scenes (under the mask).  We just see the finished product (external) not all that went into in (internal).  The caterpillar covers itself in a cocoon as it transforms, emerging into a butterfly.  That’s what the mask symbolizes for me.

When I’m out in public and see others with their mask on, it warms my heart and visually signifies that we are truly all in this together, whether we’re grocery shopping or a part of a protest. 

 

This is an extraordinary moment in time for us to decide to move forward with love in our heart together or be controlled by fear and separate ourselves.  It’s not possible to be afraid and feel love at the same time.  Love conquers fear every time.

 

Celebrate who you are.  When you love who you are, it extends to each of us.

 

 

Always celebrate your individuality!

 

November 24 is Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day

   “Everyone has a unique talent or skill at which they truly excel.
   Today is the day to embrace those quirky abilities and show them off to everyone else.” Check out the awesome picture above. Have you ever seen anything like it before?
   Kind of like the many hands that make one face, we are all part of a large, puzzle called the Universe, with millions of pieces, each one shaped different from the next. Your piece is special, with it‟s own colors, design, personality, style. Without your piece, the puzzle cannot be whole or complete.
   Often, we look at others and think, wow, they are so talented. I wish I could do that, be like that, look like that, thought of that. Don't sell yourself short. It‟s not always easy to recognize our own special abilities because they come so naturally, it‟s a part of us we rarely notice. Others notice and they are saying, I wish I could be like you.
   Give yourself a break and think about what you love, what gives you pleasure, and what do you get so caught up in you lose all sense of time and place. Whatever that is nourishes your unique talents.    So when someone compliments you, they see your specialness. 
   On Friday, November 24th, the day after Thanksgiving, take a moment or the whole day to continue being thankful for your one-of-a-kind, unique talents only you possess. You deserve it.

 

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

‘You become what you think about.

Our minds are powerful things.

Train yourself to think only about what you want,

not about what you don’t want.’

Earl Nightingale

How difficult is it for you to accept yourself, just as you are?  Meaning no judgments, this is who I am and I’m okay with it. 

Most of us know we aren’t perfect and are aware of what we see as the things that are wrong with us.  What we see as wrong or right with us make up our belief system.  What we sometimes forget is that this isn’t a permanent place to be.  What we believe about ourselves become our experiences.  We can change our belief system by changing what we believe.  When we change what we believe, it changes the outcome. 

Accepting who you are, just as you are, will allow you to explore the limiting beliefs that you have about yourself so you can adjust them.  What a freeing idea.  It’s not about what others think, it’s about what you think about you that counts, that will best direct your life.  Your belief system evolves from what you observe, hear and learn as a child.  It dictates how you choose to approach life. If you believe you can’t do it then you can’t, it’s that basic.  But if you believe you can do something and you remove any limiting beliefs, it seems as though all of life supports you and incredible things start to happen.  If you are positive in this moment, in the constant “nows”/moments of your life, by eliminating those limiting beliefs and just focusing and what you want, you can be sure they will manifest. 

This is a simple statement but it is true if you get the meaning behind it.  First is how to get rid of those limiting beliefs.  As you imagine whatever it is you desire, that little editing voice will no doubt pop up and start telling you it you can’t.  It’s that part of you that is in survival mode and is afraid of stepping out of its comfort zone so it tries to protect you from having to grow and take chances in order to attain the very things you want.  Fear, doubt, anger brews.  There is a way to fix that.  Face them instead of running away or ignoring them and then rearrange their words into positive statements, take the images of failure that are conjured up with these feelings and send them a warm glow of love and watch them melt away.  When we doubt our abilities, we cancel out the effect of creating what we want.  We stifle the flow of energy that is allowing us to create.  Fear blocks, love flows.  Choose which you want to guide your life.  Don’t let anyone step on your dream, they are coming from their own fears and limitations so don’t get caught up in their belief system.  You have enough to do just taking care of with your own!

Even if we choose love over fear, the fear still tends to creep in from time to time.  This is a process that we must always be working on in order to strengthen our ability to manifest what we desire.  It’s important to have faith, a belief in yourself that you can make the changes in your life that you choose to make.  You can only change what you are willing to accept responsibility for.  So when you take responsibility for the life you have, and choose to make the changes for the life you want, it comes down to believing you can, in believing in yourself.  Start with creating an image of what you believe your life should be.  Hold onto the image no matter what.  Visit it often, especially when doubt creeps in.  History books are full of people, often ordinary people like you and me, who believed in themselves no matter what others said or did, and had the courage to hold that image of what they believed until it came true.  They changed history just as you can change your history and write your own success story.

By believing in yourself through thoughts, feelings, imagination, and action, you will feel that power that has always been in you.  You are the master of your life and you can direct the outcome.  Believe it, believe in yourself and amazing things will happen for you. 

Believe in yourself – you are what you think.

 from July - August 2013 Paper Architect Community Newsletter

Welcome and hello. So glad you found us.

Hello and Welcome to Celebrate Individuality!

     
So glad you found us.
      

This is where to Celebrate Your Individuality.

To embrace your essence, the eternal part of you that will never die, 

even when your physical body no longer exists, YOU still will.

As a child, we are who we are without judgment 

or any understanding of rules, limitations, doubts or fear.

As we get older we re taught how we should think, how to act, what to do

and this forms our basic belief system.

     

This belief system dictates our life and 

we are responsible for our decisions and how our lives unfold.

     

Often we forget what it was that we loved to do as a child,

what came naturally for us and being comfortable with our sense of Self in an unconscious way.

     

My all time favorite poem describes this:

"To be nobody but yourself  

in a wOrld which IS doing its best, night and day,

to make you evErybody else
MEANS TO FIGHT THE HARDEST BATTLE
WHICH ANY HUMAN BEING CAN FIGHT;
AND NEVER STOP FIGHTING.."    e.e.cummings

    

The first time I read this poem was on a bulletin board

in my high school English classroom.

In that moment, the strong connection I felt to that statement

made me realize I was missing that part of me -- to be myself.

I was influenced by my parents, teachers, religious leaders

and of course, my friends.

Trying to please, do the right thing, be a good person

but I also felt a yearning to be able to express myself freely.

    

   In school we wore uniforms

so I created a collection of ribbons 

in all kinds of colors and patterns to wear in my hair

and carried a US Mail box style lunch box

as my purse to express my individuality.

      

       

    

As a child, I was an artist,

a dancer,

a photographer, 

                                                          

a writer,

a teacher,  

entrepreneur, businesswoman, 

and philosopher to name a few.

         It all came easily, effortlessly 

and there was no wondering if I could do it 

or if I was good at it, I just did what came naturally to me.

But the older I got, the more I found myself putting those things on the back burner in order to be a responsible adult.  It felt like a part of me was dead and I was never very happy doing what I thought I was suppose to do.

It was necessary for me to have a creative outlet, some time set aside to do what I love.  My belief system dictated that it was just a hobby and I could never make a living doing what I love.

Then books like DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW came out.  Seminars and workshops popped up around this idea.  

So stuck in my beliefs of doing what I was expected instead of doing what I love was a long time struggle that I worked on everyday, just like e.e. cummings poem stated.  Then I discovered something . . .

Your belief system, your thoughts, are powerful beyond measure.

Whatever you think or believe is your truth.

So if you think you can't, you can't.

As I began to explore the power of thought, I realized how I had been limiting myself.  I was the one keeping me from having the life I wanted.

Journaling played a big role in this discover process.  This lead to creating handcrafted journals instead of the cheap notebooks I had been using.  I loved making them so much, I began to make them for gifts.  I was doing what I loved and was good at it.  That evolved into a desire to share my love of journals and offer them for sale.  I had fallen in love with paper and all the things I could do with it ... transforming pieces into specific shapes, designs, color schemes as little works of art.  Then I decided to set up an official business, with a mission statement, business plan and the perfect business name.  The name had to reflect how I felt about working with paper so I reviewed words in dictionaries, thesauruses, word menus, searching for just the right name. Then there it was and I knew it was perfect.

  PAPER ARCHITECT     www.paperarchitect.com

Immediately I checked on the name and was I able to register it.  It was exciting.

     

When asked the question, if you could do anything you wanted, what would you do?

My answer was:

I'd wake up each morning with new ideas and spend the day creating from them.

Then whatever I created, I would share with others, 

so that they would be inspired to help themselves improve or enhance their own life.

           

What a crazy idea. How can anyone make a living doing that.  

What a dreamer.  You need a reality check.  Be practical.  

Since this was my business and I was doing it as a side line from my day job -- the practical way to make a living, I was not letting those limiting thoughts and beliefs to meddle in this new venture.  

PAPER ARCHITECT would create custom paper art, designed specifically for the customer so they could celebrate THEIR individuality.

In essence, this was going to be that dream I had my whole life.  And since I was doing it in my free time I didn't care about anything but doing what came naturally.  As I continued, I began to think maybe I'll even make enough to support myself doing this.  That would be ideal.  Just as I had always envisioned.  Just maybe this is a real possibility if I could just let go of those old beliefs and create a new belief system in myself and that all things are possible. 

       

Since that time, I have expanded to developing, researching, writing and facilitating workshops that complement the paper art products and of course also have the goal to celebrate our individuality and it just keeps growing.

Now my mission statement:  Celebrate Your Individuality is clearly defined and is the heart and soul of my business but more than that, it's the heart and soul of me.

When I talk to people who are searching for answers, looking to add joy in their day, wanting to connect with their true essence, find what is really important in their life, I can relate and want to be of assistance.  To possibly help guide them toward discovering and embracing the unique human being that we are which in turn will revise our belief system and to believe in ourselves.

In these posts, in my products, workshops, consulting sessions and by practicing what I preach, I hope you can gain some spark of insight into the amazing person that you are and find the courage to believe in yourself
     

Join me and Celebrate Your Individuality!