Stretching and Embracing at the NL Folk Festival

“Imagination” from the Transformation Collection

You know that feeling when a great opportunity knocks but your inner voices says “No! You can’t do that!  It’s too scary! That’s too big of a stretch!”?

Well that happened to me last week.

The fear only lasted a few seconds, but it was a great reminder that comfort zones don’t always stay stretched.  They contract too!

I’m so glad I was aware enough to shush those inner voices.

I don’t want to stay small! So I’m jumping for the chance to stretch those comfort zones all over again!

Here’s what happened.

I got an email from cultural coordinator of our provincial francophone federation. In his usual mysterious way, he only wrote “Call me. I have an idea”.

The last time he did that, I ended up traveling across the island of Newfoundland and into Labrador teaching intuitive painting workshops. Fantastic!

This time, he asked if I would do 2 days of live painting in the Espace Franco (French tent) at the NL Folk Festival.

Yikes! Crowds!

Sure, I used to organize city-wide festivals when I was still in my teens.  My first university training was in recreation and tourism.

I’ve also been a teacher and public speaker for decades …

But the first voice I heard in my head was still “Yikes! That’s too big for me.”  

Believe it or not, that’s often the first voice I hear.  You wouldn’t guess it looking at my resume, but I’m not a naturally go-with-the-flow kind of gal.

It’s all about feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

Then I remembered…. I’ve done this before.  Back in 1990, I did a day of live painting at the Canadian Museum of History.

So this isn’t new. 

At what was then the Canadian Museum of Civilization (1990)

I’m a highly sensitive person. Some would call me an empath.

I tend to avoid crowds.  I pick up so much from everyone around – energy, feelings, thoughts …. all sorts of vibes.

When I can’t avoid crowds, I usually contract my aura to protect myself. I bring my energy field so close, just to feel safer.

But wait! Come to think of it, that’s the opposite of what I do when I’m teaching.

In class, I expand my aura as wide as the space to create a safe, loving, light-filled experience for my students.  I become one with the environment.

And what about what I’m learning from my Enter the Mandala Project?

We’re all part of the same divine consciousness. We’re interconnected! Sure, we’re vibrating at different frequencies, but we’re all made of pure energy.

So why fear it?

My inner voices are saying something different now.

“Embrace the energy Dominique!  Expand your aura and love the crowd! Feel it and be one with it!”

Now doesn’t that sound better?

By the end of that phone call, I was on board.

Now, I’m really excited about it!

My job?  To wander the festival to gather energetic impressions and inspiration and to come back and paint it (yes, he knew how to speak my language!).

What comfort zones are you stretching this summer?

I’d love to hear. Comment below.