This week I am asked to look at 5 energy drains in my home and environment. I need to figure out a plan to address them and look to resources who can help me with that.
Now I had to laugh because in a previous time, I had done this exercize in this same book. My answers are still there and they are very different from what I am starting to let roll around in my house. My resources are different and my reward for completing this goal is the funniest of all - Get chinese food and rent a movie. That's a random Friday night for me.
And I am anti-chinese food right now...
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Absolute Yes List
This week the chapter talked about an Absolute Yes list. This list deals with your personal top priorities for next 3 to 6 months. It should have no more than 5 items on it.
I have been thinking about this list since Friday. It has had a lot of things put on and taken off. I have really massaged it down to the following - in order -
1. weight loss/fitness/health - I need to take care of this now. This is it, this is the time. It's MY time ( I sound like such an advertisement don't I????) and I WANT to be an AFTER ( HA! see)
2. My friends - I have different "pockets" of friends. I have my friends from Freeport, I have my friends from college, I have my music friends, I have my work friends, ,kiwanis friends etc. They don't all overlap - in fact very few do. I am tasking myself with maintaining them better. For example - I feel that my Freeport friends are slipping away. As a group we need to make more of an effort, especially now that 3 live far away.
3. Finish organizing the closets and drawers in my house
4. Stop working and sign off by 6PM each night. Unless I have a conf call with a customer or I am on call I will not be working at night. Additionally no more using work as an excuse for missing church.
5. Tidy up the loose ends in the house - mount the mirror, lose the bookcase and love seat, get chaise lounge moved in, remove mirror in LR and repaint, Hang wrought Iron candleabra.
I have been thinking about this list since Friday. It has had a lot of things put on and taken off. I have really massaged it down to the following - in order -
1. weight loss/fitness/health - I need to take care of this now. This is it, this is the time. It's MY time ( I sound like such an advertisement don't I????) and I WANT to be an AFTER ( HA! see)
2. My friends - I have different "pockets" of friends. I have my friends from Freeport, I have my friends from college, I have my music friends, I have my work friends, ,kiwanis friends etc. They don't all overlap - in fact very few do. I am tasking myself with maintaining them better. For example - I feel that my Freeport friends are slipping away. As a group we need to make more of an effort, especially now that 3 live far away.
3. Finish organizing the closets and drawers in my house
4. Stop working and sign off by 6PM each night. Unless I have a conf call with a customer or I am on call I will not be working at night. Additionally no more using work as an excuse for missing church.
5. Tidy up the loose ends in the house - mount the mirror, lose the bookcase and love seat, get chaise lounge moved in, remove mirror in LR and repaint, Hang wrought Iron candleabra.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Week 4 The Challenge
Morning pages. This is the big challenge.
They are suggesting that one write 3 pages longhand every morning in your journal before the hectic day starts. They suggest morning because night time tends to make the journal a venting mechanism rather than a spiritual guide to be being "better".
I started with their suggested thinking items:
This MOrning I feel...
I'm always daydreaming about....
My nagging inner voice keeps telling me...
The thoughts that roll around in my head....
My soul longs to....
My inner critic tells me....
What I am most grateful for is....
I have 2 days under my belt in this format. It's interesting what comes out the mind when using a brainstorming technique. In short whatever comes to mind for each section is written down. No editing just keep moving forward.
Its truly interestingg.
They are suggesting that one write 3 pages longhand every morning in your journal before the hectic day starts. They suggest morning because night time tends to make the journal a venting mechanism rather than a spiritual guide to be being "better".
I started with their suggested thinking items:
This MOrning I feel...
I'm always daydreaming about....
My nagging inner voice keeps telling me...
The thoughts that roll around in my head....
My soul longs to....
My inner critic tells me....
What I am most grateful for is....
I have 2 days under my belt in this format. It's interesting what comes out the mind when using a brainstorming technique. In short whatever comes to mind for each section is written down. No editing just keep moving forward.
Its truly interestingg.
Week 3 Finding your lost self
This chapter dealt with spending time with yourself. By spending time with oneself, unplugged from TV, phonse, computers, cell phones, pagers, blackberrys, one is better able to be in tune with their physical and emotional needs.
The take action Challenge is get your datebook out and schedule some uninterrupted time for journaling, meditation, community support, or dream journaling.
I have taken some alone time that I normally have on the calendar and transformed that into "me" time. For now I will be using it for journaling or blogging. I will be breaking into yoga at some point with meditation. Identifying that time as mine really makes a difference in my mental stamina.
The take action Challenge is get your datebook out and schedule some uninterrupted time for journaling, meditation, community support, or dream journaling.
I have taken some alone time that I normally have on the calendar and transformed that into "me" time. For now I will be using it for journaling or blogging. I will be breaking into yoga at some point with meditation. Identifying that time as mine really makes a difference in my mental stamina.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Week 2 results
So far I am pleased to say that most of the relationships in my life have made the cut.
I have identified a couple of relationships where I need to personally do some more work to be able to make an informed decision.
I have identified a couple of relationships that need re-hab'ing as well before I make the decision.
Overall, I think these works in progress are good. I have noticed that I crave approval and some of my relationships are based on that. In order for them to be good for me, the relationship needs to move to equal ground. At least the basis of it does. I like having relationships with people who have qualities I can learn from and traits that I aspire to. But I don't want to be in the relationship, learning these things, if we don't start on equal footing somewhere.
Take my Voice Twin. She is 10+ years younger than I am. Meeting her had me a little bit intimidated, which she and I have since discussed. In reviewing that intimidation closer, it was a combination of fearlessness- a good quality and one I have sporadically. Nice to see in one that age and one I wish I had more of at that age. It was also a feeling of inadequacy as she is much like I was at that age - but more. I feel that in many ways she is light years ahea of me in self assuredness and confidence in her abilities. She doesn't give off the appearance of needing approval.
I do need the approval. I know this. And its something I want to change. To not care so much in that approval others is a big deal to me. TO be so confident in my ability that I do not give a rats ass about someone else's approval is a big deal to me. I'm so-so at it. I've gotten better as I get older but I want to keep working at it.
My Voice Twin is good at showing that face to the world. I use her as a model of how I want to be.
What's nice about this relationship for me is I get to impart some wisdom of my years when it's called for. She's not shy about asking and I like that. I like being able to pass some of my experience on. It's a strange relationship for me as I don't have that many younger friends. 2 actually. I was selective about both too. Voice Twin and Kathy are the two that I have that are younger by a significant amount and I am usually the youngest. So I like this.
For me, the approval thing is all about self confidence. As long as I am confident in my abilities than the need for the approval won't be so strong. At the same time, I won't stand for people capitalizing on my weaknesses and the weaknesses of others. I stand RIGHT up to that. I won't be taken advantage of or belittled. I despise people who will take you down because you have a gift or a talent. God didn't just hand one person every gift in the world. He doled them out across mankind. So perhaps one person is a genious at science and uses that gift in one way, another is musically gifted, another might be gifted with perfect pitch but just an adaquate musician, another might be an organizational genious but can't sing a note. Maybe someone has musical talents, but there true gift lies elsewhere.
So you see, I feel that there is some significant progress here and I have selected some models of what qualities I need to work on in relationships I already have. I have also identified some qualities that need to be addressed and dealt with in a re-hab of it's current status in the relationships. I am going to continue working on that while I gear up for week 3
I have identified a couple of relationships where I need to personally do some more work to be able to make an informed decision.
I have identified a couple of relationships that need re-hab'ing as well before I make the decision.
Overall, I think these works in progress are good. I have noticed that I crave approval and some of my relationships are based on that. In order for them to be good for me, the relationship needs to move to equal ground. At least the basis of it does. I like having relationships with people who have qualities I can learn from and traits that I aspire to. But I don't want to be in the relationship, learning these things, if we don't start on equal footing somewhere.
Take my Voice Twin. She is 10+ years younger than I am. Meeting her had me a little bit intimidated, which she and I have since discussed. In reviewing that intimidation closer, it was a combination of fearlessness- a good quality and one I have sporadically. Nice to see in one that age and one I wish I had more of at that age. It was also a feeling of inadequacy as she is much like I was at that age - but more. I feel that in many ways she is light years ahea of me in self assuredness and confidence in her abilities. She doesn't give off the appearance of needing approval.
I do need the approval. I know this. And its something I want to change. To not care so much in that approval others is a big deal to me. TO be so confident in my ability that I do not give a rats ass about someone else's approval is a big deal to me. I'm so-so at it. I've gotten better as I get older but I want to keep working at it.
My Voice Twin is good at showing that face to the world. I use her as a model of how I want to be.
What's nice about this relationship for me is I get to impart some wisdom of my years when it's called for. She's not shy about asking and I like that. I like being able to pass some of my experience on. It's a strange relationship for me as I don't have that many younger friends. 2 actually. I was selective about both too. Voice Twin and Kathy are the two that I have that are younger by a significant amount and I am usually the youngest. So I like this.
For me, the approval thing is all about self confidence. As long as I am confident in my abilities than the need for the approval won't be so strong. At the same time, I won't stand for people capitalizing on my weaknesses and the weaknesses of others. I stand RIGHT up to that. I won't be taken advantage of or belittled. I despise people who will take you down because you have a gift or a talent. God didn't just hand one person every gift in the world. He doled them out across mankind. So perhaps one person is a genious at science and uses that gift in one way, another is musically gifted, another might be gifted with perfect pitch but just an adaquate musician, another might be an organizational genious but can't sing a note. Maybe someone has musical talents, but there true gift lies elsewhere.
So you see, I feel that there is some significant progress here and I have selected some models of what qualities I need to work on in relationships I already have. I have also identified some qualities that need to be addressed and dealt with in a re-hab of it's current status in the relationships. I am going to continue working on that while I gear up for week 3
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Week 2 - New Year New You.
This chapter deals with setting internal goals for the year for yourself. Taking a quality that you admire or would like to adopt or be better at and making that your target for the year.
I need to focus on a selection and then I need to write a short positive affirmation in the present tense relating to that goal.
Then I need to post in my working and household environment ( Lisa- I could learn to cross stitch it! I need a new hobby!).
Then I need to come up with three actions I take immediately to start honoring that quality and adopting it as part of my person.
I always have trouble with this and have a tendancy to wimp out and pick something that's too easy to fix. Or worse yet, one that's not even broken.
So in thinking this through I have decided that this year I am going to be focusing on surrounding myself with people who honor and support the values that are important to me. Yes, this sounds very basic I know. But all of us have people that we hold onto for sentimental reasons but you have grown apart, or people who are just plain toxic to you, but you stay because you don't want to deal with confrontation.
So this year I am either going to massage the relationship so that both people truly benefit from it or I am going to cut it loose. Of course, I will be slowly evaluating each one and asking some questions like:
I need to focus on a selection and then I need to write a short positive affirmation in the present tense relating to that goal.
Then I need to post in my working and household environment ( Lisa- I could learn to cross stitch it! I need a new hobby!).
Then I need to come up with three actions I take immediately to start honoring that quality and adopting it as part of my person.
I always have trouble with this and have a tendancy to wimp out and pick something that's too easy to fix. Or worse yet, one that's not even broken.
So in thinking this through I have decided that this year I am going to be focusing on surrounding myself with people who honor and support the values that are important to me. Yes, this sounds very basic I know. But all of us have people that we hold onto for sentimental reasons but you have grown apart, or people who are just plain toxic to you, but you stay because you don't want to deal with confrontation.
So this year I am either going to massage the relationship so that both people truly benefit from it or I am going to cut it loose. Of course, I will be slowly evaluating each one and asking some questions like:
- Does this person support the value set that I have?
- Are we family?
- Does the relationship make me a better person? Do I contribute that to the other person as well?
- Is the relationship something I enjoy or is it a "chore"
- Does this person represent an ideal for me?
- If any of the answers reflects in the negative, can the relationship be salvaged ?
This is going to be tough and I need to come up with my three point plan on how to accomplish this on a daily basis.
More on that later!
Week 1 The Journey Begins: 25 accomplishments from 2006.
- Performed my first 1 hour long vocal recital
- Improved my relationship with my brother and mom
- Survived my 5th merger at my company
- Organized my kitchen cabinets AND Maintained them
- Organized my bedroom closet and maintained it
- Continue to attend my Weight Watchers meetings
- Acquired the tools that I need to be a better singer and teacher
- Improved relations with my oldest friend.
- Worked on relationships with my friends in general
- Brought in a significant amount of money for ALS fundraiser
- Continue to do my job well despite personel issues relating to merger
- Maintaining my skin.
- Have worked my finances so that I teach what/who and when I want not when I HAVE to teach.
- Standing up for myself in a respectful manner
- FINALLY acknowledging that I am GIRLY Girl. I like frills, clothes, even pink in small doses. Yes I own Maribou slippers in pink AND white.
- I hooked up and am working the Dubbing VHS/DVD AND figured out my Ipod.
- Lost a dress size - two actually.
- I sang backup to Andy Williams.
- Auditioned for and got selected to sing First Soprano in LI Masterworks last season
- Learned enough HTML to be dangerous ( and still make pretty Blog pages)
- Consistently blogged for 6 months on blogger and 4 months on Myspace.
- have managed my finances so that I have the best retirement plan for me plus additional savings accounts.
- Respectfully Stood up for my beliefs and needs despite the demands being put to me by others
- Helped a friend through a divorce
- pulled the copper tiles off the walls of my kitchen and replaced it with wallpaper.
- Maintaining my cats health and our happiness together.
- My teaching has improved. My kids are happy and I have retained the same kids for more than 3 years
- Made two new friends - one is a neighbor in my building
- Brave enough to have my eyelashes curled AND tinted.
- Using Self awareness to help make better choices for me.
- Healthier this year than previous years through some uses of holistic remedies
- Keep in touch with my grandmother and aunt more frequently.
- Have started using the internet to improve my time. ( Peapod, bill pay, medco delivery)
- Keeping God and Church a priority for me rather than just a job.
- I'm starting to get comfortable with being "my age". I may look young but I'm not 20 anymore.
- Created and Maintained a household budget that enables me to know what I want to do and then go out and earn the money in order to do it.
I think my personal preference for my top 5 accomplishments are;
- Performed my first 1 hour long vocal recital
- Improved my relationship with my brother and mom
- Created and Maintained a household budget that enables me to know what I want to do and then go out and earn the money in order to do it.
- Respectfully Stood up for my beliefs and needs despite the demands being put to me by others
- Improved relations with my oldest friend
Three ways that I have Grown in the last year:
- I'm starting to get comfortable with being "my age". I may look young but I'm not 20 anymore
- FINALLY acknowledging that I am GIRLY Girl. I like frills, clothes, even pink in small doses. Yes I own Maribou slippers in pink AND white.
- Using Self awareness to help make better choices for me.
This was a fun exercise. I have done it before - each year actually. I am going to be moving through the book faster in the beginning to catch up to actual calendar week that we are at. So for awhile you will see 2 exercizes per week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)