Welcome readers old and new!

Intense time of creative reinvention — new publishing plan + drum roll please = Lot o’ ways to get comfortable.

• Writing every day at the Comfort Cafe –answering questions and the not-quite-so-daily-dollop. (You can still join for $1 for the rest of the month and sample the goodies at the Cafe)
• Twittering daily ideas for self-love and self-kindness — I’m @jenlouden on Twitter
• Blogging Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
• This newsletter once a month with the occasional extra dollop or announcement

2009 Retreats

I utterly and completely forgot to tell you about 2009 retreats–big doh!

IMPORTANT: Single rooms are almost gone for the busy Easter weekend at Kripalu. Dorms are always available but the good rooms are almost gone.

The Luscious Creative Comfort Retreat
Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12, 2009
Join a community of like-minded women to experience true rest and healthy comfort. You’ll dance, collage, play, reenergize body and soul, listen to what your desires and complaints are telling you, and reconnect to the spark of your feminine wisdom.

Or

The Comforting Creative Pull Your Life Together by Caring for Yourself Retreat
Sunday, April 12th through Thursday, April 17th, 2009
We’ll play with comfort journaling (collage, mindful questions, and movement), visualization, discussion, laughter, yoga, and play to unwind frustration, ease exhaustion, and tame overwhelm.

Both at the amazing Kripalu Retreat Center
Stockbridge, MA

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SAVE 100$ when you sign up March 31st

What’s Next: A Comforting, Energizing, Restful Retreat for Women Whose Lives are Changing
Tuesday, June 23rd through Sunday, June 28th
Morgan’s Rock Eco-Lodge
Nicaragua

I’ve spent the last four years mapping the territory of change, and I’ve discovered that often we can’t launch into what’s next because something is missing. We need rest, peace, trust, faith, energy, ways to navigate the fog of the unknown, discerning methods, and above all, time and help deeply listening. We also need help getting out of the snarls of less than happy making stories and beliefs that can hold us back.

This is one of the premier eco-resort lodges in the world. We’ve shorten the retreat by one day to make it more affordable. This is a once in a life time retreat!

http://www.bigworldsmallplanet.com/retreats/retreat_jennifer_louden.php

The Not-Quite-So-Daily-Dollop

The topic this month at the Comfort Cafe is Self-Trust and it has been heart-widening as we’ve dove into what it means to trust ourselves. Many of us have said, “Never thought much about it before” and “Easier to do in some areas of my life than others” and “Wow, self-trust sure gives me more energy and ease” (that last one is mine!) Anyhoo, here is one of the Self-Trust Dollops for you!

One of the things I’ve noticed about self-trust is that cultivating it is making it easier for me to work at a pace that is sustainable, comfortable, and more productive.

I trust myself that I can get done what needs to get done
That leads me to trust myself to declare for the day what I can actually do.

That lead me to get clear (again!) on the habit of putting on my list for the day only what I can do that day… not what I think I should be able to do or what I would do if I was Jen the Super Hero Comfort Queen who never had to rest or eat or go to the bathroom.

Rachel had a related insight last week from the Life Organizer question “What basic need do I want to pay attention to this week? She decided to do a little experiment and instead of *ignoring* the fact she gets very tired in the afternoon, she decided to trust herself to listen to her body and take a 20 minute cat nap.

Rachel said:

“What I usually do when I’m tired in the afternoon is…

* push myself to work, but end up working slower and not so well
* procrastinate instead of working, and find myself on Facebook playing scrabble

The reason I don’t take a nap usually is all about self-trust.

Do I trust myself to say that if I lie down for 20 minutes, I’ll get up again, and not sleep all day? (This was a serious problem when I had insomnia a few years ago, but now, I sleep at night. It shouldn’t be a problem anymore.)

Do I trust myself that I really am tired? That this just isn’t a way to “get out of working”? (A voice of my past and being told my feelings are not real.)

Do I trust that if I take time for a break, that I will still get whatever work I need to get done, done? I won’t become this lazy person.

The fact of the matter is, I’ve been paying attention to this need for a few weeks now. And pushing myself to work does NOT lead to productive work. It leads to me working slowly, procrastinating, and feel like &$%.”

Rachel’s trusting herself to rest, I’m trusting myself to set reasonable work goals, Renee is trusting herself to be fit again, Jenn that she will get on with her fantastic plans once she and all the kidlets stop being sick… what are you trusting yourself to do more of or differently?

Today’s Intention: Notice any small shifts that self-trust is bringing to your life and perhaps name them to someone you love!

Life Organizer Questions

What could I lean back on and trust today? Trust in others, trust in Spirit/Nature/Love, or trust in myself?

Since I have always “handled” what life has brought to my doorstep, what would I like to trust I can “handle” this week?

Comfort Goodies

This book has changed me just by reading it: The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself

Weight loss advice almost always gives me the heebie-jeebies but not when it comes from the wise and loving Rena Greenberg. Check out her new weight loss info at http://www.sit4success.com. I know, the site is hideous but see if you can get past that and to the good information.

I’ve been a big fan of Marney’s since she was in the 1st writer’s coaching group I ever lead… for avid collagers and art journalers.
http://www.artellaland.com/affiliates/jrox.php?id=1222

More Goodies at the blog http://www.comfortqueen.com/wednesdays-wiry-fankle-1
where I’m inaugurated a Wednesday Wiry Fankle thing

Did you see the Happy Dance Video? It’s too long but it’s hilarious.
http://www.comfortqueen.com/doing-the-happy-dance-launch-of-the-comfort-cafe-and-life-spa

Comfort Wishes

I wish you a day in which you lower your standards.
Forget your taxes, your fears, your not enoughs or haven’t yets.
Throw a Mardi Gras party for your enormous heart.
Plant a seed for a stranger with your grin.
And mostly, watch a day unfold you will always be proud of because you were utterly and extremely and blazingly you.

With love,

Jen