...For Creative People: I joined a cuddle puddle
Edition 51: It's January and we're trying new things
Hi folks,
When we look at working out of our comfort zones, we probably don’t all sign up to join ‘cuddle puddles’ on a Sunday afternoon in a dance studio. But I was curious and I like to learn by doing, when I can.
I’m working in-person and with groups a lot more this year, so I’m consciously signing up to more experiences myself. Getting out of our heads into our bodies is important to me, as you will know if we’ve ever worked together. I begin most 1-2-1 sessions and workshops with a body scan. And my recent retreat I ran included dance. But back to the ‘cuddle puddle’ afternoon I signed up to, which was very wholesome and soothing. I’m going to write about it in more detail some time soon. Not just about the cuddling itself but the importance of making space to explore different ideas and connections. Rather than doing what we’ve always done and getting what we’ve always got.
Now I’m not suggesting everyone joins a cuddle puddle, we all have different needs in life and it might be your worst nightmare to lie on a pile of pillows with a bunch of strangers. For me I think it’s similar in some ways to what I used to get out of going to sweaty metal and indie gigs in the 90s and 00s. I still love live music but I’ve melted into the group standing at the back, sipping a tea.
Consensual cuddling is my new moshing.
What else has been going on? Well, I ran a two-day retreat last week featuring poetry, movement, a sound bath and comedy. I’d hired a small theatre, booked lovely food for us and spent two days with some smashing people. As anticipated it went too quickly. So I’m already planning four more. Three in or around Brighton and one in Wales, for writers. They’re all going to be very special. If you want in, let me know.
Big love as always,
Helen
helen@coachingbyhelen.com
Coaching By Helen
- Coaching For Creative People -
Collaborate and drink tea
I’m delighted to be back at Bird & Blend this month, running and in-person guided journaling session. It’s on Weds 29th Jan at 18.15 and you’re very welcome. Check out their new wellness gifts HERE. And if you’re a new Bird & Blend customer you can get £5 off their products online HERE.
Book to join my session using the button below.
This month I’ve been:
Reading The Instant by Amy Liptrot (which follows on from The Outrun)
Watching Unorthodox, which I missed the first time around
Writing poems about bus routes
Thinking about joining ‘Write The Book’?
Our new 2025 cohort began this month and it’s the biggest yet, with 15 participants. The great news is that another fresh cohort will begin in September. There’s already a waitlist for this special year-long coaching programme that you can get on. Just email me or Kate to be included.
When you join Write The Book, then each month we’ll introduce you to a really inspiring expert, including: publishers, agents, successful authors, editors and more. You won’t regret it, but there are high chances of experiencing FoMO if you don’t join…
Someone who did join is our case study, Catherine… read more about her below…
Case study: Catherine Lumber
Plant-loving translator & writer
”My Dad’s love of the land instilled my passion for gardening and my Mum inspired my joy of learning languages. Growing up, she encouraged me to be curious”
What’s the story of your business?
I am a freelance translator and writer, obsessed with growing gorgeous plants. I translate from German and French into English. I am passionate about helping clients in the horticultural sector and related industries to communicate effectively, enabling them to target a broader audience with their written documentation. I keep abreast of new developments in my areas of specialisation and continuously expand my expertise by exploring new niches. I also create written content for an English-speaking audience about my container garden, chart my successes and failures, talk about what I might try differently, share my experiments with flower colour palettes, discuss how I attract beneficial wildlife to my back yard, and explain how I am making it into a haven for bees.
Why do you do what you do?
My Dad was a real grafter and he had lots of ventures on the go, for example making and painting garden gnomes, letterpress printing, growing flower seed for seed companies, making jam, and beekeeping … you get the idea. I have always wanted to follow him and be my own gaffer. I feel like I am creating something of my own and building a personal brand. I set goals that I am excited by. I can enjoy flexibility over my time which works well alongside my role as a caregiver. My Dad’s love of the land instilled my passion for gardening and my Mum inspired my joy of learning languages. Growing up, she encouraged me to be curious, to learn new things, and she taught me how to find things out. Mum got a home computer in the early-80’s. I enjoyed playing games on it that tested my German and French vocabulary, which captivated my interest in languages.
Has there been a big turning point for you in your career so far? Could you tell us a bit about that?
My breakthrough came when I discovered my recipe for kickstarting bouts of productivity. I let go of my rigid mindset and just began small with a few minutes on a stand-alone piece of writing. It no longer matters to me if it is imperfect or unfinished as I have learnt to sit with the discomfort that had been holding me back.
How has coaching helped you?
Helen’s coaching has helped me to cultivate a brighter mindset and to identify the barriers hindering my growth as a freelancer, along with finding ways to overcome these challenges. She pulls me up on my negative self-talk and helps boost my self belief. Coaching helps me commit to my goals and checking in with Helen each month to share my progress is making such a difference.
What really motivates you in your work?
My love of languages and horticulture brings me purpose and joy. It enables me to play with my own ideas, to do something different, and to hone the skills and behaviours I need to efficiently run my business, as well as nurture my creative mind and curiosity. It’s empowering and fun.
Anything else you’d like us to know?
I am always eager to expand my tribe. Please reach out if you share similar interests. I am always open to connecting with other writers and translators for collaborations that can bring benefits for both sides.
***
You can connect with Catherine HERE
If you’d like your own creative work included in a future newsletter, do let me know.
All I need is a few lines explaining your creative project and a couple of decent photos that you have permission to use for publicity purposes or own the copyright to.
Still reading? You might enjoy the podcast session I recently contributed to for Joanne Mallon’s ‘Five Minutes To Change Your Life’
Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. If you’re a free subscriber and would like to upgrade to paid, you’ll also receive access to my 50 Ways to Win New Business series.
www.coachingbyhelen.com
