Welcome to the
Catalyst for Fun
Website and Newsletter!
*Friends, I hope that you get a smile from my website! :)
This website and newsletter has been edited since 2004 by, me, Amanda Winters. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, residing in Austin Texas, after transplanting from New Orleans, LA in 1991.
I adopted the nickname “Catalyst for Fun” based on my propensity to crowd rouse (get people dancing), give them ‘free-hugs’, and connect them with one another.
This site is part of my effort to put the 'social' in being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker...sharing community, conscious evolution, personal growth and FUN resources.
*The fun tips are especially important since, if a party breaks out, we should BE PREPARED!
But seriously though ....this website, and especially my newsletter, could just as well be called: 'Catalyst for Personal Development...ie: 'Sustainable Fun' . That is because I not only post fun links, but also ones aimed at promoting the kind of peace and joy that we don't have to have to go to a party to access.
(see my Resource Page and the info below for more on that ;)
The Work of Byron Katie: It is my greatest joy to introduce you 'The Work' of Byron Katie, a method of self-inquiry that helped me question and drop many of my stressful thoughts. Katie calls it "Enlightenment for people in a hurry", and it is the most effective method for creating peace as an inside job that I have utilized, as a Professional Counselor, or in my personal life.
One of the many great things about utilizing The Work is that you no longer have to wait for others' behavior to change for you to have peace about them. Since it is not reality, but our thoughts about reality that create our stressful emotions, we need only focus on ourselves. The Work has us question anything that would stand between us and peace, our birthright.
I am currently facilitating the Austin Presence Group's weekly study of "The Work".
Our group's meetings are from 7-8:30 in Central Austin at The First Unitarian Universalist Chuch,
*To be notified of future meetings, please sign up on our Presence Group's email list.
I also can be booked for private counseling sessions and give free introductory sessions for The Work Method. See my profile page for more on that.
Catalyst for Fun
Website and Newsletter!
*Friends, I hope that you get a smile from my website! :)
This website and newsletter has been edited since 2004 by, me, Amanda Winters. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, residing in Austin Texas, after transplanting from New Orleans, LA in 1991.
I adopted the nickname “Catalyst for Fun” based on my propensity to crowd rouse (get people dancing), give them ‘free-hugs’, and connect them with one another.
This site is part of my effort to put the 'social' in being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker...sharing community, conscious evolution, personal growth and FUN resources.
*The fun tips are especially important since, if a party breaks out, we should BE PREPARED!
But seriously though ....this website, and especially my newsletter, could just as well be called: 'Catalyst for Personal Development...ie: 'Sustainable Fun' . That is because I not only post fun links, but also ones aimed at promoting the kind of peace and joy that we don't have to have to go to a party to access.
(see my Resource Page and the info below for more on that ;)
The Work of Byron Katie: It is my greatest joy to introduce you 'The Work' of Byron Katie, a method of self-inquiry that helped me question and drop many of my stressful thoughts. Katie calls it "Enlightenment for people in a hurry", and it is the most effective method for creating peace as an inside job that I have utilized, as a Professional Counselor, or in my personal life.
One of the many great things about utilizing The Work is that you no longer have to wait for others' behavior to change for you to have peace about them. Since it is not reality, but our thoughts about reality that create our stressful emotions, we need only focus on ourselves. The Work has us question anything that would stand between us and peace, our birthright.
I am currently facilitating the Austin Presence Group's weekly study of "The Work".
Our group's meetings are from 7-8:30 in Central Austin at The First Unitarian Universalist Chuch,
*To be notified of future meetings, please sign up on our Presence Group's email list.
I also can be booked for private counseling sessions and give free introductory sessions for The Work Method. See my profile page for more on that.
You are invited to Subscribe to my Austin Catalyst for Fun Hot Tips Newsletter
to get updates on resources and events concerning community, FUN and personal development.
*Since 2004, Catalyst for Fun Newsletter has been published, usually on a weekly basis to more than 1000 Austinites
What's in the Newsletter:
-Personal development, community, peace building, environmental, progressive activist, social/fun
opportunities and resources.
*Some examples of articles you might find in the newsletter:
-Events listings featuring: festivals, philosophical/spiritual retreats, environmental and
progressive community activism, community events, networking opportunities,
social networking as well as entrepreneurial events.
*Please consider submitting events to the newsletter for publication
-Also included in each newsletter issues are quotes and/or best
practices for experiencing sustainable peace.
I also invite you to connect with me "Facebook" of "LinkedIn" !
I can be found by searching for "Amanda Winters" in Austin, TX ...or click on the widgets on this page:
to get updates on resources and events concerning community, FUN and personal development.
*Since 2004, Catalyst for Fun Newsletter has been published, usually on a weekly basis to more than 1000 Austinites
What's in the Newsletter:
-Personal development, community, peace building, environmental, progressive activist, social/fun
opportunities and resources.
*Some examples of articles you might find in the newsletter:
-Events listings featuring: festivals, philosophical/spiritual retreats, environmental and
progressive community activism, community events, networking opportunities,
social networking as well as entrepreneurial events.
*Please consider submitting events to the newsletter for publication
-Also included in each newsletter issues are quotes and/or best
practices for experiencing sustainable peace.
I also invite you to connect with me "Facebook" of "LinkedIn" !
I can be found by searching for "Amanda Winters" in Austin, TX ...or click on the widgets on this page:
**Some Highlighed Resources Of this website:
Click here for my Resource Page
*Check out the Tabs at the top of this webpage for all the site’s resources.
(My site is homemade, so work with me on this, please!)
Resources included are:
The Austin Resources Section includes files about: Austin Publicity Resources; Austin Peace Building Organizations; Austin Mental Health Resources; Austin Personal Growth and Fun Newsletters that you can Subscribe or Post announcements to;Administrative Resources for Austin Non- Profits; Austin Social Service Job Opportunities and more!
* Included in this is My Best of Austin Recreation Guide: A 75-plus-page guide to my best picks
for the tourist attractions, music clubs, day trips, parks, music, etc ! Find lists, also, of as well as many
community newsletters and resources!
Other Resources are: Good Time Festifarian Tips, FREE HUGS Campaign Tips and Stickers
and Social Networking Resources and Websites for those wanted to get more connected to others.
Look for Community Resources, such as Publicity Channels, Event Meeting Spaces, Non-profit resources, Social Service Jobs and more.
Philosophical Resources include: Creating Conscious Community through joining Austin Social, Spiritual, Activist
and Personal Growth Resources
Newsletters and Resources
Since we all have a body, I included a page about How Eating for LIfe/Ways to transition into eating healthier, ie: with more fruits and vegetables in one's diet.
My Favorite Philosophical Teachers, include Adyashanti, and Byron Katie, and many others. Katie is my favorite. She is a best-selling author and teacher who discovered that "When I believe my stressful thoughts I suffer, and when I don't, I don't suffer." She teaches a 4 question technique that allows one to dismantle and challenge the beliefs that create negative emotions, which is the most effective that I have ever used in my experience as a Professional Counselor. You can also visit "The Work of Byron Katie website", or contact me to do the work through my contacts page. I am in Katie's Certified Facilitator Program and have been to 3 of her 9-Day Schools for the Work. I can not recommend her more highly as a philosophical teacher.
**Three of my favorite Katie quotes are: "My favorite part about history is, it's over!", "All the suffering in the world that has ever happened is over now...how much friendlier of a universe could you have?", and "What other people think of me is none of my business".
*I also included a listing of My Favorite Personal Development Teachers.
