Something like emergence🌷

On accidental hibernation, creative unblocking & renewal

“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life.”

- Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic

Hi friend,

First off, thank you.

For opening this note. For being here, still.

Secondly, I can honestly say that I’ve never been more excited to sit down and write this newsletter. To be back in the flow and space and dialogue of The Conversation, with you.

When I hit pause on this newsletter at the end of January, it was with the specific goal to make time to complete a writing project.

That project was shipped in early February.

Despite this, I found myself digging further into this break, burrowing further away from everything that comes with writing and marketing a newsletter.

I told myself I was focusing on client work. (True).
Life stuff. (There’s been a lot).
I wanted to move the dial on a project on women’s visibility. (The irony is not unnoticed).

Without the engine and purpose of this newsletter, I found it hard to stay connected. I could feel myself tangled in busy work and a deeply uncomfortable feeling of playing small. I hadn’t expected the pause to encompass so many other elements of how I show up in the world.

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Accidental hibernation

Who said you connect the dots backwards? Oh Steve Jobs. Let’s not think about tech bros right now because The World. But he said it.

In a WhatsApp exchange last week, chatting spring intentions, my friend Carly messaged, “Sounds like you are entering into spring with clarity and new energy.”

I realised I’d taken an accidental hibernation. While I was still very much delivering on the day-to-day of PR, I’d inadvertently wintered the creative, more visible side of my own business.

I’d taken myself out of my own equation.

For someone who has struggled to step into the spotlight of her work, this was not a win. Compounded by squashing down the essential creative part that fuels so many aspects of what I do. What Dylan Thomas called “the force that through the green fuse drives the flower.” (Thank you, Julia Cameron ).

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Lessons in newsletter pauses

This newsletter has always been the anchor to my marketing, to community, connection, as well as being in constant relationship with my own creativity. That may sound a little earnest. I think I’m ok with that.

So much about writing – and marketing too – happens before you get to the page.

It’s the glimmer of a new idea or topic that starts flickering in the right hemisphere of your brain.

That somehow magically attaches language to it, and on good days, full blown sentences to jot into your Notes app on your way to a meeting or while out for a walk.

That you pay close attention to; notice in a deeper way.

Maybe even journal around during your Morning Pages. You carry in your body.

So that when you come to sit down, to bring it into the world, it’s pretty much fully formed.

Knowing I was returning to The Conversation, I noticed new shoots of ideas emerging across the week. Little conversations in my head over the weekend. Ideas blossomed. Like a creative unblocking. Leaning towards some kind of expansion.

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Something like emergence

I’m being chased around the internet by an advert for oracle cards – one that leads with a card titled “emergence”. I’m a marketer’s dream. I pay attention to what algorithms throw at me. Even if tarot scares the s**t out of me.

I was kind of entranced by the notion of emergence.

Some kind of renewal.

Awakening maybe.

New beginnings.

I’m ready for it all.

Of course, I looked up the etymology of ‘emergence’. It’s from the Latin, meaning, become known, come to light.

Moving into spring, this break has allowed the essentialism of this newsletter to become known to me. I’m not sure I would opt for a newsletter hibernation again. Perhaps look instead about how I manage my time instead? 😉

From here, it’s about coming into the light again. Something like emergence.

Welcome back.

Tell me, what are you welcoming back into your work and your business as we step into spring?

As always, I’m grateful for every ❤️, comment and reply.

And I’m SO ready to hear from you.

With love,
Antonia xo

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