I thought this month I would share the story of my journey.
A while ago I received one of the highest awards available in New Zealand for my textile art. I don't share this to brag (although I am proud - this particular piece took two years and over a thousand hours to complete) but to share my story because twenty years ago this would have been completely inconceivable. I was 'art shy', not really working in any artistic medium and with not an ounce of belief in any ability. And it was true - I could not draw. This was not just my perception, ask anyone! Stick figures to the max, and even they had to be labelled or they might have been confused with a tree.
One ordinary day my life was to change dramatically and instantly. I heard Louise Hay speak about the mind/body connection and how our past thoughts and emotional patterns can create 'blockages' in our current state. I was intrigued. I had already begun a personal development program of managing stress and getting balance into my life but I knew there was a big 'something' missing and I had no idea what. Like many of us I believed I would be 'happy' "when". You know how it is -"I'll be truly happy when I...; when they...; when he.... - Feel free to fill in your own blanks. Louise spoke about how it was necessary to identify the thought patterns and underlying beliefs that were holding us back, blocking our journey; and only then would we be free to create the full being that we can be. And there is no prescription or rule that we have to be a certain way. It's not as regimented as simply receiving a 'manual' or guide to our life. What we ultimately receive when we learn to uncover and remove the blocks is a greater connection to our inner power, to our instinct, (Louise calls it our 'inner ding') that when we follow will lead us to our best life.
My life changed instantly that day. As I listened to her speak I identified a major emotional trigger that had been causing pain and limitation for thirty-five years. I cried for hours, released the pain, and resolved to do what I needed to continue the healing process. I began working with the 'Heal Your Life®' philosophies, read books, attended workshops and could slowly feel the peace and freedom sneaking into my life as I developed new understandings and new thought patterns. A year later I attended a painting workshop - "just for fun" - and a year after that I had created my first quilt. My first art quilt came a couple of months later (it's pretty tragic by the way!) but within three years I had a couple of pieces accepted into a national exhibition. In 2007 I won my first national and international awards and I am now working on a series of portraiture, yes, actually real people, several pieces of which have also received national and international awards.
Alongside this artistic journey, as well as training as a counsellor I have trained and become licensed to lead the life-changing 'Heal Your Life, Achieve Your Dreams®' workshops myself. Again, a few years ago I never would have believed this would be possible. Life is not without hurdles and ups and downs but I love all of what I do and I hope I can play a part in you achieving your own dreams in the future - even if you have no idea at the moment of what they might be!
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to know more, or click through on the link below to the Heal Your Life workshop info. The next workshop is 'Manifest Your Best Life - Heal Your Life, Achieve Your Dreams®' in June. Places are strictly limited so please contact Camilla to register your interest now.
Personal Programmes are also available to help bring YOU closer to your dreams.
A while ago I received one of the highest awards available in New Zealand for my textile art. I don't share this to brag (although I am proud - this particular piece took two years and over a thousand hours to complete) but to share my story because twenty years ago this would have been completely inconceivable. I was 'art shy', not really working in any artistic medium and with not an ounce of belief in any ability. And it was true - I could not draw. This was not just my perception, ask anyone! Stick figures to the max, and even they had to be labelled or they might have been confused with a tree.
One ordinary day my life was to change dramatically and instantly. I heard Louise Hay speak about the mind/body connection and how our past thoughts and emotional patterns can create 'blockages' in our current state. I was intrigued. I had already begun a personal development program of managing stress and getting balance into my life but I knew there was a big 'something' missing and I had no idea what. Like many of us I believed I would be 'happy' "when". You know how it is -"I'll be truly happy when I...; when they...; when he.... - Feel free to fill in your own blanks. Louise spoke about how it was necessary to identify the thought patterns and underlying beliefs that were holding us back, blocking our journey; and only then would we be free to create the full being that we can be. And there is no prescription or rule that we have to be a certain way. It's not as regimented as simply receiving a 'manual' or guide to our life. What we ultimately receive when we learn to uncover and remove the blocks is a greater connection to our inner power, to our instinct, (Louise calls it our 'inner ding') that when we follow will lead us to our best life.
My life changed instantly that day. As I listened to her speak I identified a major emotional trigger that had been causing pain and limitation for thirty-five years. I cried for hours, released the pain, and resolved to do what I needed to continue the healing process. I began working with the 'Heal Your Life®' philosophies, read books, attended workshops and could slowly feel the peace and freedom sneaking into my life as I developed new understandings and new thought patterns. A year later I attended a painting workshop - "just for fun" - and a year after that I had created my first quilt. My first art quilt came a couple of months later (it's pretty tragic by the way!) but within three years I had a couple of pieces accepted into a national exhibition. In 2007 I won my first national and international awards and I am now working on a series of portraiture, yes, actually real people, several pieces of which have also received national and international awards.
Alongside this artistic journey, as well as training as a counsellor I have trained and become licensed to lead the life-changing 'Heal Your Life, Achieve Your Dreams®' workshops myself. Again, a few years ago I never would have believed this would be possible. Life is not without hurdles and ups and downs but I love all of what I do and I hope I can play a part in you achieving your own dreams in the future - even if you have no idea at the moment of what they might be!
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to know more, or click through on the link below to the Heal Your Life workshop info. The next workshop is 'Manifest Your Best Life - Heal Your Life, Achieve Your Dreams®' in June. Places are strictly limited so please contact Camilla to register your interest now.
Personal Programmes are also available to help bring YOU closer to your dreams.