The Heartful Creative

09/14/2022

Hi friends! I'm closing this page and moving the party over to Musemakers.

Developing a brand for my coaching business has been a journey and it continues to evolve. Thank you for being part of The Heartful Creative iteration!

Come over to https://www.facebook.com/karenchoi.co where you'll get tips, tools, and support for external processors. My intention is create a safe brave space for those of us who need to talk to think.

Collective care that expands compassion and inclusivity. xo

Hi! I'm Karen Choi. Coach for those who need to think out loud.

On this page, you'll get:
- Tips & tools for external processors
- Support for your authentic self-expression
- Permission to meet yourself where you are & acknowledge ALL of who you are

09/16/2020

Self-sufficient Virgo reminds us, we are complete.
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Back in Roman times, Virgo (aka "virgin) was a word used to describe a person who is self-sufficient. Someone who doesn't need anyone to be complete. [Source: astrobutterly.com] She you? Hands up! 🙋🏻‍♀️
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I created this card spread to access the self-sufficient energy of the Virgo New Moon on September 17, 2020. Let’s get practical and get focused by going inward. Let’s use the strengths and abundance already present in our lives to move us forward with ease.
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It's all you baby! You are your greatest resource.
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09/16/2020

Who's in charge here?
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Love, Karen
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09/15/2020

Hi. I love you.
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Life is throwing a lot at you right now. It's pulling you in all directions. Your days are filled with endless to do's, to care for's, to think about's, to know. And you want so badly to make the right choices.
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I see your determination. I see you doing your best, trying to make it work, holding it together. I see you putting on a smile, pushing through your exhaustion, your grief, your pain. I see you masking your worries even though they are consuming you on the inside. It all just feels so hard. You want a break. You need something to be sure.
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I want so badly to make it easier for you. To give you a break. To give you certainty. So I offer you what I am sure of.
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Your values and your strengths will ground you as the world spins. They will centre you in your own knowing. They will give you certainty in your resourcefulness, resilience, and wholeness.
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Here's an easy place to start. One resource many coaches, including myself, use is called VIA Character Strengths. It is a free, scientifically-validated, online survey that measures your unique character strengths, your "values in action".
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The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and you will receive a profile report showing your greatest strengths. After reviewing it, take some time to reflect and write. How do your character strengths show up in your life and the choices you make to achieve your goals?
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https://www.viacharacter.org/
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My top three character strengths are Love, Spirituality, and Gratitude. What are yours?
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Share in the comments below.
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With love,
Karen
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@ Toronto, Ontario

09/12/2020

I like models. Do you like models?
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I’ve had several existential crises in my 40 years. When I graduated from university. When I broke up with the boyfriend who broke my heart. When I was learning to breastfeed my newborn baby. When I went back to work after maternity leave. When I left my 9 to 5 job with no idea what was next.
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At each transition, something was lost and I tried desperately to fill the void with having more and doing more, so I could feel better. So I could be more. Sound familiar?
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You see, many of us have learned to approach life kinda backwards. Our ideas are so wrapped up in having and doing, when true success - fulfillment - starts with being.
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Shifting focus to BEING is a game changer. It can be applied to all aspects of life. Reset for a clear way forward. Enable you to find your path, YOUR WAY. This framework is also a great tool for getting clear on what you want, making aligned decisions, and manifesting it to life.
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This is Part 1 (of 2) resources I created for you, should you find yourself in a similar place of self-doubt, uncertainty, existential crisis.
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You'll notice I added SHARE for us soul-seekers who want to connect to something bigger than us. SHARING with others is the bridge to a truly fulfilling life, it brings us back to BEING.
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Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Share with someone you love. Send me a DM if you have any questions or want to talk about how to use the model to elevate your life.
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I'd love to connect with you.
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@ Toronto, Ontario

09/11/2020

New day. New you. New magic.
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I invite you to stop scrolling for a moment and do this with me...
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"Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment."
- Thich Nhat Hahn
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Wherever you are today, I send you love, peace, and wonder.
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Image by
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09/10/2020

We've been distracted by false power. It keeps us looking outward for loud shiny objects when the real gold is found within.
When life happens and you don't know what to do, what direction to take, or who to look to...
Free yourself from social constructs.
Raise your vibrations.
Own your power.
Allow it to lead you from within.
You will feel it.
Open heart.
Curious mind.
Capable body.
Expansive soul.
You got this.

09/09/2020

Oh, what an adventure!
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Last weekend, our family spent 4 days and 3 nights in Algonquin Park for our first ever canoe camping trip.
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If you asked me to do this 2 years ago, I would have responded with a hard NO. Why ditch my cozy bed and clean bathroom, pack only what I can carry, paddle across large bodies of water in search of a campsite, wash in a cold lake, eat super simple meals, coexist with biting bugs and hungry little rodents, risk injury, live at the mercy of nature?
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And then I found myself saying to Usic, "next time let's..." and I realized I was hooked.
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It was liberating to unplug, to strip down to bare essentials, and to p*e standing up (ask me how). It was empowering to know that rain or shine, wind or hail, we could make things happen for ourselves. I was humbled by the vast changing skies, dense forests, and the mist dancing on top of the water. I watched my kids skip around the island with their imaginations on fire. And I felt like a total beast after 60-minutes of non-stop, hard paddling across stormy water to get our family safely to land. When we stepped out of the canoe, a full-palmed, celebratory high-five reinforced the connection between me and my husband.
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2020 has not been a comfortable year. But I share these truths to help you paddle through the final quarter. Uncertainty is less scary and more exciting when:
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* Trust that what you have is enough because you are enough.
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* Know who you want to be and how you want to feel.
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* Focus on what you can do, moment by moment.
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* Power up. You got this!
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Oh, what an adventure.
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09/01/2020

Who's ready for the Full Moon!? According to astrologers, she brings us mystical and awakening energy. She invites us to get out of our heads and dive deep into our souls. She encourages us to integrate our inner and outer realms.
As a Pisces Sun, I'm feeling especially empowered by this Pisces Full Moon and want to share my energy with you. Ready for two quick rounds of Truth or Dare?
TRUTH: I've been secretly exploring Tarot and Astrology since I was a young teenager. But my Christian upbringing told me "no" and warned me of its "wickedness" and "sorcery". In my 30s, I took a hard look at my religious beliefs. The process felt like the floor falling down from under my feet. I landed in a place where my spirituality can expand and evolve. I believe in God and I believe in magic.
DARE: Define spirituality for yourself. Challenge the beliefs you hold about yourself, others, and the world. Consider how your beliefs influence how you show up in life. It will shake up your life in amazing ways you can't even imagine.
TRUTH: This graphic is a sample of my personal Full Moon ritual which has brought me many transformational "aha" moments. I'm very excited to officially offer this to you as part of my coaching services and will be sharing more details soon.
DARE: DM me if you're feeling intrigued by Tarot and the coaching process. DM me if you want to know your answers to the questions in the spread. Embrace this Full Moon with me and see what magic comes.
With lunar love,
Karen

08/31/2020

Dear mamas, your intuition and creativity matter.
During our morning walk, I met this gorgeous creature and thought of you.
The Tarot's Mother of Cups is represented by a graceful swan. She is nurturing, caring, and compassionate. Her love is timeless. Her beauty is boundless. She supports others by listening with an open heart. She tunes in to others' needs with her divinely tuned intuition. She holds the safest space for others to pour out their most vulnerable emotions and to find their greatest strengths. She brings healing to those around her.
At the surface, your work may not always be seen or acknowledged. But I want to remind you today that it is deeply felt. It is felt when you are present. It is felt in the intensity of your eyes. It is felt in the laughter of your children. It is felt by those who you've lifted up to keep going. It is felt by those who you've challenged to be better. It is felt in the growth of your community. It is felt every time I see a swan.
You are stronger than you know. You are a leader. Let your intuition and creativity flow. Let everything you deserve flow in abundance back to you.

08/31/2020

08/29/2020

"They get better." - Haruki Murakami
Let's play a game I just made up called "Three More Words" that answer the question, "What happens when people open their hearts?"
I will start...They feel free...Helps them heal...Wakes them up...Come to life.
Now your turn!