Comfort is the foundation for creativity and creativity is the flower
that gives off the fragrance of service.

A number of people did not get the number to call for the tele-class with Michael Neill and me "Fall in Love with Your Writing". I apologize -- and here is the call to listen to -- it’s truly great.

Dear Beautiful Heart,

In Chattanooga last weekend, a woman in my workshop brilliantly summed up the most common rut many of us find ourselves stuck in: We stay busy 24/7 because being busy equals not being selfish -- we're doing our jobs, taking care of our kids, helping in the community. We're being good -- or so we tell ourselves.

In truth, being busy 24/7 is incredibly selfish and lazy. Why? Because it depletes us, increases the noise in our heads, exhausts our bodies, and very effectively blocks our ability to allow something greater to express itself through us. Simply put, it keeps us from living our purpose and serving. It takes effort to slow down and tune in to ourselves. It takes courage to face the void of the unknown, hang out there and listen to what's next. When we avoid doing that by turning on the radio the moment we get in the car or calling someone on the cell phone the second we find ourselves alone, that's lazy.

Ironic, isn't it? We think we'll shun selfish and laziness by being industrious and instead we become exactly what we wish to avoid. This can especially happen when you are doing what you love, or what is tied to your sense of purpose. It's so easy to fall into the habit of working all the time -- I'm doing what I love, what else would I want to do? Yet the result is the same: Depletion followed by an inability to get excited about your work. And that lack of excitement can completely freak you out because it's your purpose in life and it's all you've got because it's all you've been doing.

Another rut that leads downhill to burnout is wanting to do too many things at the same time and not choosing. I recently discovered I've fallen into that hole. Do I want to do more speaking? Or record more audios and design comfort products? Or work in corporations to influence depletive cultures from the top down? Or rewrite my novel? Or... It's time to stop everything for a little while, listen to my heart, and rest to discern what projects to go forward with.

I do know I'm going to redesign ComfortQueen.com and make the home page my blog. I'm also going to take a break from doing this long newsletter. Did you know we've been publishing for over seven years? As much as I love our current form, I've come to see it's too long and it's not necessarily serving you as best it could.

I adore connecting with those of you who post on my blog, email me, and join in our collective dance of self-acceptance and creative play--it is the very, very best part of my work and the best gift of the Internet. I adore how we are exploring how to live a sustainable life--from the inside out. I want to get your input on possible directions for my work so stay tuned. In the meantime, please please offer your comments and ideas here.

In trust and faith,

Jenny Bee

Have you or someone you know made a comfort connection?
Spring Air Comfort Connection Awards

NO MORE DEPLETION
Take a weekend to rest and to refill. My weekend retreat at the famous Kripalu learning center is tailor-made for the depleted woman who needs time to listen to her heart and replenish her body. The focus is on simply being, and on learning a few excellent tools to stop the cycle of over-doing and burnout. We'll journal, move, collage prayer cards, talk and listen deeply, and most of all, connect with something larger and more vital than our to-do lists. You can enjoy three yoga classes a day, one dance class, evening activities, and organic life-giving food. Optional massages and other healing services.

Please join me, I'd love to serve you.

YOUR COMFORT INVITATION
Let go of one should today. One. Just one. Especially powerful shoulds are ones you have no intention of doing anyway (like exercising, calling your aunt or not eating something you know you are going to eat.) Notice if you have more energy or peace as a result.

LAST DAY FOR WRITING NAKED DISCOUNT
June 1st is the very very very last day to save on the Writing Naked on the Beach intensive -- please contact June who is hosting the retreat for how to make it work for you. It's going to be a miracle of productivity and soul connection. This may be the only time Michael and I teach this retreat because of scheduling issues, so if you are at all interested, take the plunge!

I love this comment from the Comfort Queen Yahoo group. It so fully captures the feelings associated with accepting yourself and the process of doing so.

"Why is it so hard the first time you write or say -- 'I am perfect just the way I am?' Why do you want to argue with yourself? If you say it or write it many times, it gets easier and the arguments cease over time. Realizing 'I'm OK just as I am' is both freeing and scary. We have been conditioned to believe that we are not OK as we are. It is scary bucking society. I want to continue with this path and see where it leads. Society's way has not brought me a perfect body or happiness. My struggle is partly conditioning and fear of where listening to myself will lead. I guess I'll have to trust myself more. I am uncovering some hidden fears and pains. I know that desire is under these layers. I want to stay with this feeling, even though is is uncomfortable. For once, I'm not stopping because it is hard. Nor am I giving it a fast timeline (this is also hard).

When Freedom from Self-improvement catches on, what will sell magazines? Will the articles change from "Thinner Thighs in 10 Days" to "Make Room for your Quiet Inner Voice?" Would "Drop Ten Pounds in a Week" become "Eating for Joy?" From "This Season's must have Skirts" to "Clothes that fit YOUR Personal style and Lifestyle?" What are some of the thoughts you have had - funny and scary? What have you learned about yourself?"

To join go to the Comfort Community's Home Page.

NURTURING RESOURCES

Jeff Davies offers a thriving writer's community at CentertoPage.com I highly recommend his body-centered approach to writing and his workshops!

I had the pleasure of working with the multi-talented, big hearted Christine Kane this past weekend. Do you know her music? It's searingly honest and written for gals and guys like us. When you order a CD, tell her I sent you. ChristineKane.com -- she's amazingly cool!

Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art by Michael Demeng arrived in the mail today -- and it's a gem! Funny, yes, and even better, it really details his creative process, which alone is worth the price of the book. If you are any kind of assemblage artist or have ever wanted to be, get this.

From Tara
http://www.tarabenwell.com

"I have to admit I was a bit nervous about jumping on board this freedom train, and even found myself lying awake one night wondering why. To be honest, my first thought was that the self-help business was getting a bad rep due to the saturated market, and that one of the best in the business was rethinking her self (via the Life Planner) and plotting how not to go down with it. After all, one of the first books I read from the self-improvement section of our library was The Comfort Queen. While the book itself was transformational (and still is), helping me finish my novel, I confess that it played a role in attracting me to its neighbors. Why wouldn't it?

This is just simply human nature, as my three year old can demonstrate with hippos. Find something you love and begin collecting! I don't think it's such a bad thing that we all want to be better people. And to have more joy, as Oprah said in a recent episode. I think the problem lies in the fact that when we learn a valuable lesson, read that perfect quote, or have an aha moment, we don't take time to really think about it and use it to grow. Instead, we keep looking for the next aha. The next hippo. But, as I've also learned with hippos, the more you collect, the less you truly play. Like The Comfort Queen, and a handful of other books that have spoken to me in my life, Mr. Hippo and Miss Hippo are treasures. The others simply belong on the shelves. Jennifer, thoughts of you inspire me daily. You take my mind off the "poop" and I'm sure I'm not the only woman who thanks God for you daily in her Simple Abundance inspired gratitude journal. Though I'm a little late, I'm happily on this freedom train...even if I am improved because of it."

Read my comment too!

Jewelry and life organizing? Who would have thought...? But when artist Deborah Moskowitz gifted me with this bracelet at a recent book signing, I knew I had to share it with the whole community.

This handcrafted sterling silver bangle bracelet is more than just a gorgeous fashion accessory -- it's a reminder of how to live a connected, soul-centered life. Imprinted with the five steps of the life organizing process -- Connect - Feel - Inquire - Allow - Apply -- the limited-edition bracelet will prompt you to check in with your soul.

!link_bracelet