About me, Margit Bantowsky, MA
Transformational Life Coach
and Creativity Catalyst
Hello... I'm glad you're on my website snooping around, checking things out!
What do you think so far? Am I making it sound a little too easy and shiny?
If so, I'm apologize. Because, surprisingly enough, it didn't start out very easily for me. It may look like I've got it 'down' now - I've had many art shows, and am living a pretty creative life. But it took a while before I could give myself permission to follow my dreams, and I've had a quite a few false starts (and crash landings!).
My parents highly valued getting a practical education, and as I graduated from High School, art was promptly put safely away on the proverbial back burner. In college I studied chemical engineering, and spent over two decades working as an environmental engineer, all the while my artistic side was aching to come out. Well, I finally listened to that inner part of myself and found a wonderful art teacher who encouraged my creativity and my craft. Over time I gained confidence and skill, and with my teacher's support, I started having art exhibits in local venues. I did this 'on the side.'
In my engineering job I participated in a lot of meetings, and became quite skilled at facilitating them. I was curious about what made people tick, and how to foster creativity in the workplace. So while I continued working in the environmental field, on the side I pursued graduate studies in psychology to learn about our "inner workings," as well as completing a yearlong intensive life coach training to develop practical skills. My colleagues at the office enjoyed (lovingly endured?) the experimental offerings I gave such as the lunchtime art exploration classes, a creative leadership class, and "Stoking the Fire: reigniting your relationship to work"
I few years ago I finally jumped off the 'cliff' so to speak, and left my engineering job. Now I am focusing full-time on my art and my passion for supporting others in expressing their unique genius. My own journey has forced me to become quite intimate with both the exhilarating highs of inspiration, and the painful lows of boredom, stagnation, fear, and self-doubt. It's been a bumpy road and I'm actually (now) quite grateful for it. Seriously.
Over the years, I've tried countless ways of dealing with the struggles inherent in the creative process and have honed in on the ones that have really proven to work. I know what it takes to encounter my fears and how to stay in action (of course, I'm allowed to rest!), so that my dreams can see the light of day. Gradually, I've become less of a control-freak and more of a flow-geek. I am devoted to the liberation of the creative process in myself and in others, and to discovering how we can dance with life more freely, authentically, and fully. In this process I have been profoundly transformed....and so can you.
I hope that I'm lucky enough to meet you sometime, whether at an in-person event, or through a virtual class or phone-based coaching. And if you're in or near Olympia, I hope you'll consider joining me and a small group of dedicated creatives in the 9-week Focus Boost starting on _____.
Yours in real liberation,
Margit
"Live your fully-expressed life!"
What do you think so far? Am I making it sound a little too easy and shiny?
If so, I'm apologize. Because, surprisingly enough, it didn't start out very easily for me. It may look like I've got it 'down' now - I've had many art shows, and am living a pretty creative life. But it took a while before I could give myself permission to follow my dreams, and I've had a quite a few false starts (and crash landings!).
My parents highly valued getting a practical education, and as I graduated from High School, art was promptly put safely away on the proverbial back burner. In college I studied chemical engineering, and spent over two decades working as an environmental engineer, all the while my artistic side was aching to come out. Well, I finally listened to that inner part of myself and found a wonderful art teacher who encouraged my creativity and my craft. Over time I gained confidence and skill, and with my teacher's support, I started having art exhibits in local venues. I did this 'on the side.'
In my engineering job I participated in a lot of meetings, and became quite skilled at facilitating them. I was curious about what made people tick, and how to foster creativity in the workplace. So while I continued working in the environmental field, on the side I pursued graduate studies in psychology to learn about our "inner workings," as well as completing a yearlong intensive life coach training to develop practical skills. My colleagues at the office enjoyed (lovingly endured?) the experimental offerings I gave such as the lunchtime art exploration classes, a creative leadership class, and "Stoking the Fire: reigniting your relationship to work"
I few years ago I finally jumped off the 'cliff' so to speak, and left my engineering job. Now I am focusing full-time on my art and my passion for supporting others in expressing their unique genius. My own journey has forced me to become quite intimate with both the exhilarating highs of inspiration, and the painful lows of boredom, stagnation, fear, and self-doubt. It's been a bumpy road and I'm actually (now) quite grateful for it. Seriously.
Over the years, I've tried countless ways of dealing with the struggles inherent in the creative process and have honed in on the ones that have really proven to work. I know what it takes to encounter my fears and how to stay in action (of course, I'm allowed to rest!), so that my dreams can see the light of day. Gradually, I've become less of a control-freak and more of a flow-geek. I am devoted to the liberation of the creative process in myself and in others, and to discovering how we can dance with life more freely, authentically, and fully. In this process I have been profoundly transformed....and so can you.
I hope that I'm lucky enough to meet you sometime, whether at an in-person event, or through a virtual class or phone-based coaching. And if you're in or near Olympia, I hope you'll consider joining me and a small group of dedicated creatives in the 9-week Focus Boost starting on _____.
Yours in real liberation,
Margit
"Live your fully-expressed life!"