PHOTO: Elaine Patterson, founder of the Centre for Reflection and Creativity Ltd., advocates for authentic living through reflection, artistry, and soulfulness.
Coming Home To Yourself Through Reflective Practices
Elaine Patterson shares her expertise in reflective practices, creativity, and leadership, offering profound insights and inspiring tools to promote authentic living, professional growth, and deeper connections with ourselves and others.
Elaine Patterson, the founder of the Centre for Reflection and Creativity Ltd., is transforming the worlds of leadership, professional development, and personal growth through her soulful approach to reflective practices. Known for her warmth and creative insights, Elaine invites individuals to step away from the busyness of everyday life to reconnect with themselves and the wisdom of the world around them. From the rugged beauty of the Cumbrian fells to global conversations with leaders, her work draws powerfully from nature, artistry, and profound introspection, offering a pathway to a more connected and compassionate way of living and leading.
Elaine Patterson is an extraordinary, compassionate visionary, blending creativity and wisdom to redefine leadership and personal growth practices beautifully.
Elaine’s book Reflect to Create! The Dance of Reflection for Creative Leadership, Supervision and Professional Practice has become a beacon for professionals seeking transformation and innovation. Drawing on her expertise in executive coaching and supervision, Elaine developed this groundbreaking work to reposition reflection in professional spaces—not as an occasional luxury, but as an essential process for growth and creativity. “I see reflection as the meta capacity for insight, learning, and change,” Elaine shares. Her vision challenges the often mundane image of reflection in workplace routines, instead presenting it as an enlivening, empowering process that sparks profound transformation.
In her work, Elaine advocates for incorporating reflective practices, whether through journaling, meditative walking, or engaging in art and poetry. The underlying principle is clear: reflection fosters the seeds of new ideas, helping professionals to listen deeply, pause intentionally, and uncover what is wanting to emerge. Referring to her own research findings, Elaine underscores reflection as an act of creativity—a tool to stop ineffective habits, nurture existing strengths, and inspire innovation.
Another standout publication by Patterson, Homecomings ~ 52 Ways Back to Ourselves, explores the concept of belonging and the practice of coming home to oneself. This collection of 52 reflective soliloquies and creative prompts serves as a soulful companion for individuals navigating the complexities of modern life. Elaine addresses the continuous cycle of feeling disconnected and rediscovering oneself, referring to this journey as a process of “arrival and departure, disconnecting and re-connecting, forgetting and remembering.” Designed to feel timeless and contemporary, the book empowers readers to cultivate authentic living with joy, beauty, and grace in an increasingly overwhelming world.
Elaine has infused creativity and nature into her professional practice in a variety of ways, most notably through PattersonPrenticeDesigns, which she founded alongside her colleague Karyn Prentice. Together, they integrate their shared passions into work centered on radical hope and loving kindness. Their collaboration led to the creation of The Compass Rose – 8 Ways to Awaken Your Creativity and Re-Source Your Life and Practice, which introduces eight cardinal points as touchstones for reclaiming innate creativity. Elaine explains, “We believe that our creativity is the soul speaking through us in the world.” These cardinal points encourage individuals to refocus their environments, cultivate spaces for inspiration, and embrace creativity as part of everyday life.
Reflective practices, Elaine believes, are not only integral to personal and professional growth but are also ethical necessities for anyone working with people. By prioritizing reflection, leaders can expand their perspectives, deepen conversations, and foster more meaningful relationships within their organizations. Yet many leaders struggle to integrate this practice into their routines, often failing to recognize the transformative potential reflective practices hold. Elaine emphasizes the importance of modeling these habits so that teams view reflection as a necessity rather than an indulgence.
In her international work, Elaine has found that the desire to learn and grow transcends cultural barriers. Each person brings their individuality to reflective practices, tailoring them to fit their unique needs and worldviews. Her advice to fellow authors aiming to blend creative reflection with professional development is simple yet impactful: “Just try it! Do what works for you! Enjoy yourself! Allow yourself to be amazed and delighted!”
Elaine Patterson’s work stands as a compelling call to embrace reflection as a path to wisdom, creativity, and transformation. Through her books, professional practice, and collaborations, she has illuminated a more soulful and conscious approach to leadership and life, nurturing kindness, curiosity, and authenticity in an ever-changing world.
Source: Published in Reader’s House Magazine
