The
Breathing in Beauty, Creativity, & Gratitude mentorship is ready for sign-ups!
This program offered through the G+ Mentorship Program for Photographers is about giving yourself permission to create space in your life for YOU. It is about practicing habits that may help you move through life a bit more smoothly - a bit more joyfully - and certainly with an emphasis on seeing more of the beauty in the world! I will be taking on a
LIMITED number of people for a six week on-line mentorship program which will include lessons, stories, assignments, and sharing. Participants will have the opportunity to practice new habits & talk about their experiences in a private G+ community which I intend to nurture as a positive, supportive, encouraging, & FUN environment!
In my life I have often found myself in the role of teacher &/or student, mentor &/or mentee. I firmly believe that teachers are students and students are teachers - and that when we are open to learning from one another, everyone's experience is richer. As a teacher, there is nothing better than when someone you're working with lights up with excitement when they do something they never thought they could have done before - and as a student, there is nothing better than that moment when, because of a teacher's inspiration & belief, you do something you never thought you could have done!
My background is in education, and I taught French & Spanish for over 16 years in large public high schools. I have led numerous community education classes, book studies, & women's groups, and since moving out of depression in 2009, I have attended and led several personal development classes and have been trained as a holistic body/breath work practitioner. My belief in the power of mentorships is deepened by the fact that I have had the opportunity to work with a local art mentor for the past six years & have worked with several mentors within the Arcanum & the broader photography community for over two years. I am currently a Master in the Arcanum, I do freelance photography projects, & offer one on one mentoring as well as sessions on contemplative photography.
I would never have arrived to where I am today without the guidance, teachings, & wisdom of the mentors & teachers who have inspired ME along the way! Now it's my turn to attempt to pay it forward!
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a mentorship specifically about photography where you will learn about composition, post-processing or anything else remotely technical.
Repeat, this is NOT a technical mentorship. Instead, photography will be used as a companion of sorts as you practice habits in the realms of gratitude, finding beauty, seeking space, becoming aware of your breath, taking "good" risks, & using visualization. This mentorship will not focus on the "how" of photography but will emphasize the "why" - that is, the discussion will be a journey of self-discovery centered around the meaning you may uncover during the process of practicing the habits & the process of taking pictures. Your camera (and ANY camera will do!) will simply be a tool that you use to express yourself, and your images will be a narration of the habits you will be asked to practice each week.
Sign ups begin October 5th, and selections will end October 11th for the mentorship beginning October 16th & ending November 26th.
These are the selection criteria I will be considering:
*You must be taking and posting your own photographs regularly here on G+ or other social media –– ideally with an absolute minimum of three days between public posts; more increases your chances of being selected. (The class itself will be private to the group selected except for the option of a public display album of your best work at the end.)
*You must be willing to commit to being interactive here at G+, as you will be expected to participate in this program by engaging in conversation & supporting your fellow participants.
*You have the time available to participate in this workshop - which will also include components that, for best results, are expected to be practiced on a daily basis (for a minimum of five minutes each day).
*You must be willing to "take yourself on," be willing to try new things, and share something about your experiences with others.
To be considered for selection, please comment to the ORIGINAL post only on my profile page:
https://plus.google.com/109026969283554432972/posts/RP8q7bF52Ly by answering the following questions in your comment below. (PLEASE NOTE: if you apply on any reshares, your application will NOT be seen!)
1) Journaling: Do you have a current practice of journaling? If so, how often do you do it? If not, what is your initial response to the thought of doing five minutes of writing a day?
2) Meditation: Do you have a current daily practice of meditation? If so, for how long have you been practicing? If not, have you ever tried meditation? If so, what was your response to it? If not, what is your initial response to the thought of trying meditation?
3) Would you identify yourself as an artist? Why or why not?
4) What is your response to the idea of taking/making time for yourself?
5) What is a risk that you took in your life that you're really glad you took?
6) What will be your role in making sure you get the most from this mentorship?
7) What amount of time do you have available for participation?
EXAMPLE ANSWERS
1) I used to journal daily, then I did it off and on for years, but recently I have begun doing it as a daily practice again.
2) I have done daily meditation in the past but have gotten away from the regular practice. I still do it at least once a week.
3) Now I would. In the past, no. I really used to struggle with saying, "I'm an artist."
4) After burning out physically & emotionally at a past job, I try to make a greater effort to make time for myself. Sometimes I do a better job of it than others.
5) I'm glad I finally resigned from a job that, though it was stable & decent money, was making me mentally, emotionally, and physically sick.
6) I know that I will get out of this mentorship what I put into it, so I will do what I can to be engaged in the community.
7) I can definitely find fifteen minutes each day to devote to this - some days more
I look forward to working with many of you on this adventure!!
(Robin Griggs Wood , Alex Lapidus , Ron Clifford )
