Laüra Hollick | connecting in powerful ways to build the new paradigm

connecting in powerful ways to build the new paradigm

October 29, 2009
Union of Opposites. Laüra Hollick with Ken MacDonnell. Photo by Stephanie Bell

Union of Opposites. Laüra Hollick with Ken MacDonnell. Photo by Stephanie Bell

With all the shifts and changes that are happening in the world it feels more important than ever to connect the inner creative world with the outer world. I believe this is the way to build a new paradigm where artists can thrive and creative spiritual people can live the lives they are born to live, and our environment can heal and prosper.

In order for the inner and outer worlds to connect we need to learn how to connect in new ways. We need to build new structures that support empowered connections.

Although I loved the sound of this, I personally struggled with this for some time.

I used to think that in order to connect with others I would have to put myself aside and just focus on what the other person wanted and when I became exhausted from that I would isolate myself so that I could feel nourished within and make sure nobody got near me.

The trouble with both of these scenarios is NO CONNECTION ever really happened!

As soon as I became aware that I was doing this, I set out to find some empowering ways to connect that not only support me but create joy for the other person as well.

Here are 5 things I’ve learned so far about connecting in powerful ways to build the new paradigm

1. Know yourself first

Take the time you need to understand who you are and what you like and what you don’t like. Take the time you need to understand your own desires and what inspires you.

2. Create healthy ways of sharing yourself

Once you have a sense of who you are on a deep level, practice sharing yourself authentically with others. The trick to this is not to demand that other people react or respond to you in any particular way. Put the focus on being authentic in your sharing. Practice with people that you feel safe with.

3. Risk being yourself

Once you’ve practiced being authentic with people you feel safe with, stretch yourself and find more places that you can express yourself. Find new people and new environments that you can be yourself in. Each time will feel like a risk, but you will strengthen your ability to connect in powerful ways and each connection will build a new network of possibility for you.

4. Set up healthy boundaries

As you decide to connect more and more you may discover that you need to have healthy boundaries in place to support you. You’ll know if you need healthy boundaries because you’ll experience situations that leave you feeling exhausted. When this happens, look at the situation and ask yourself, what do I need here to take care of myself? Do what you need to take care of yourself.

5. Be open to other people

Only when you feel solid in yourself are you ready to fully open to other people. If you open to soon, you may be swayed by things because you won’t know how to make your own decisions and form your own opinions. Once your own inner work is solid, reach out connect and be open to receive the beauty of other people.
The above photo is by photographer Stephanie Bell .She did an exquisite job of capturing a beautiful connection between myself and Ken MacDonnell.

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