Using feedback to our advantage is one of Jack Canfield's most important lessons. In his trainings he demonstrates the power of feedback using several exercises and demonstrations to emphasize it's value.

I totally get it, but I know I've been resistant about asking for and receiving feedback ... up until now.

As you may know, I wrote a book. It's a fiction novel called Match Meets the Metaphysical: A Transformational Journey to Light and Love. It is now with the editor going through the final editing stage and will soon be sent to the publisher. I anticipate a late fall release. Stay tuned for more details

Jack, author of the Chicken Soup of the Soul series, is a many times best selling author and considered an expert in the field. One of his biggest suggestions was that I send my manuscript out to 6-8 reviewers to get feedback.

He is my teacher and mentor and I have made a commitment to do what he suggests I do. So I put my manuscript on a flashdrive, went to Staples and had them print and bind eight copies. I went to the post office and got postage paid envelopes and retrun envelopes. I came home, made up a reviewer feedback form that a member of my Mastermind group shared with me. I addressed the envelopes to the people who agreed to be reviewers and packaged them up and placed them on the table by the door where I put outgoing mail, my car keys and everything else that is heading with me when I leave my house.

The envelopes sat there for over two weeks! It was literally as if I didn't even see them sitting there next to my keys. Finally I grabbed them on my way out one day, got distracted and while I was driving into town, I realized that I had left them behind.

Hmmmm ... clearly there was something up with that ... some resistance that was holding me back. I did what I've learned to do when that happens. I talked about it. I went to my Mastermind group, several members are published authors, and asked them for help. We laughed as they shared their stories of fear, resistance, of going public with their stories. And finally, they did what they always do. They asked how they could help me get over my fear and resistance of receiving feedback, which was hiding my fear of failure and my fear of success.

The day after the call, as promised, I mailed out  the manuscripts and feedback forms. I've gotten lots of feedback ... the great, the not so great and some amazing suggestions for improvement and changes. From the feedback I now have a wonderful new introduction, an appendix I hadn't even thought of and a more clear idea of who my target audience is and who my target audience is not. From the feedback, I also got insight into the cover design and an idea for a couple of classes that I will be developing from the content of my book and the lessons I've learned and skills I've developed through my experience.

 I took the not so positive feedback and used it in a constructive way. Instead of taking it personally, I asked for more feedback to help me decide what action to take and what changes to make. It helped me tune into and trust my gut, which always leads me in a positive direction.

Now I am a feedback junkie ... and much more aware of how my fear of success show up!

It's been awhile since I've posted to my blog. I got overwhelmed with the business of wrapping up the school year, running the clinic, another week of Train the Trainer with Jack Canfield in Newport Beach, another training trip to Los Angeles, book editing and publishing deadlines ... the list goes on and on.

Before I knew it it was July and I realized that I had never stopped to take some time off. So when I was faced with the choice of more writing or some time to rest and rejuvenate, I choose to take some to be in that inbetween place ... that place of transition where intentional quiet and contemplation balanced with healthy outdoor activity seems to serve me well. I am lucky to live in a beautiful place, a vacation desitination for many, so it's easy to find beautiful places to relax, recreate and rejuvenate.

Here's a photo log of where I've been ... from my desk trying to negotiate space with my furry friends Leah and Sylvester, to Newport Beach with Jack, to the clinic, hanging out with the loons on Crystal Lake, watching the sunset over the Bay, to hiking along the ridge line overlooking the Great Gulf Wilderness from the summit of Mount Washington or simply hanging out in the garden with Annie and Luna.

It's been a nice summer so far, but it took me some time to remember to practice what I preach I implement Jack's time management system of focus days and planning days and fun days with nothing work related for a full 24 hours. I love this system, when I remember to use it. I love the sense of accomplishment, the personal freedom and the enhanced productivity it offers.

This human experience is a never ending transformational journey that is never quite complete ... always learning, always growing, always remembering, always adjusting, always reprioritizing.

My plan is to get back into the habit of posting on a regular basis and keeping you up to date on my latest projects, perspectives and pursuits.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and remembering to take time out to have fun, rest, rejuvenate and reconnect to your passion, purpose and the essence of who you are!