Tag: Health

The 10- Day Mental Challenge has started today!

As I mentioned yesterday, I was embarking on a new project to happiness and self-improvement. Thanks to none other than Mr. Tony Robbins and his blog found HERE, as well as the audio book I checked out at the public library that I listened to in the car on my way to and from work. The audiobook inspired me to find the plan that he has laid out for the 10-day mental challenge. I loved the way that he framed it and I know I will find it valuable.

The goal is to replace negative thinking with positive and to bring down the intensity of negative situations/feelings, while INCREASING the intensity of the positive ones.  However, the kicker is this: IF I MISSTEP, I MUST START ALL OVER. Yes, you read that right. I have to start over until I can go the whole 10 consecutive days without letting the negative creep up and into my vocabulary.

Not only that, but I’ve got to literally and figuratively replace the negative and intense feelings with the positive and intense feelings. So for the words I use to describe the negative, I’m going to replace them with something else, and with lower intensity. And for the positive words I use, I’m going to ramp up the intensity from a 4, to a 10.

Also as part of this, I’m taking it a step further: I’m going to stop saying the words in step 2. You read that correctly- I’m going to stop saying them today. Now. This is where the real challenge lies for me. I use the F-Word like a comma, but for 10 (let’s be real honest here… I’m going to be trying to complete this task a LOOOOOONG time) consecutive days, I’m going to stop it. I need to lower the intensity of my usual language for the negatives and increase the intensity for the good things.

Step 1: List the words I use most often to describe negative feelings:

-Worry- to be replaced with uncertain

-Pissed- to be replaced with frustrated

-Angry- to be replaced with bummed

-Stress- to be replaced with a little overwhelmed

Step 2: List 3 words that I regularly use to intensify these negative feelings:

-Fucking… as in, Fucking pissed or Fucking furious.

-Kill… as in, I’m going to kill the dog for eating my stuff or I’m going to kill the neighbor for being so annoying.

-Bullshit… as in this is BULLSHIT (followed by tirade)

Step 3: List 3 words that I regularly use to describe positive feelings/ situations:

-Fun- to be replaced with exciting

-Good- to be replaced with wonderful

-Happy- to be replaced by ecstatic

Step 4: Leverage:

My leverage is this blog and my bestie, she can be found HERE. She the only person I trust to kick me in the pants when I’m screwing up, but not also fight with when she calls me out.

The words, both positive and negative, will be written down and carried with me on the back of my phone so that I may refer back to them when I need them and so they are always nearby.

Wish me luck readers. I’m nervous but excited about this endeavor, and I can’t wait to share the results.

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Day 39- Gratitude Project

Inspiration is what I’m most grateful for today. Like love, it’s kind of an abstract concept; however, it’s almost as powerful in our lives. Being inspired to make changes, to start something new, or to end something that no longer serves you can be the thing that changes your whole trajectory in life. I often find sources of inspiration in the strangest of places, such as seeing something that someone else is doing that interest me. I like to ask them about it, how they go about doing it. I’m a fact gatherer and then I experiment. I experiment with food, crafts, DIY projects, and anything that I can get my hands on. I love creating and making stuff. I’m inspired to do that when I see other cool stuff being made.

I’m also inspired by people who do great work. They inspire me to want to do more for my community and the world at large. I truly believe that these are the people who are making a real difference in the world and they inspire me beyond words. I am always inspired to get my ass off the couch when I see such amazing progress, so many helpers, and such transformative results.

I’m also inspired by people who have overcome great obstacles. I know the human condition is pretty much nothing BUT an obstacle, but there are some of us that have been dealt a pretty shitty hand and still manage to end the game with a full house. I don’t begin to think that I’ve got it worse than anyone, but life certainly has been a struggle for me and my family. I’m inspired by those that have experienced adversity and overcome it. It gives me hope that the “light at the end of the tunnel” is not, in fact, a train.

I’m grateful for all of these sources of inspiration, how they impact my life and the lives of others, and the great things that can come from being inspired to make positive changes.

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Day 36-Gratitude Project

Today, I’m truly grateful for a good laugh. Everyone in my office and in my personal life has seemingly had a challenging week. This morning was filled with funk music, 90s R&B, karaoke, dancing and laughter. It was a great pick-me-up to an otherwise slogging day. Everyone was smiling and joking for most of the rest of the day and the cherry on top was a Buzzfeed article of 27 photos to warm your cold dead heart- or something to that effect. They were all HILARIOUS, but one of them had me absolutely dying. I was laughing so hard my coworkers were looking at me like I was nuts. The photo was of a small girl, around 3-4 years old; three of them side-by-side. The text accompanying it was of an aunt who was surprised to find out that her niece was attached to a plastic owl; the one you find on houses to scare off birds, instead of something the average child would have- a blanket or something. Apparently the owl was her thing that she took everywhere. She even sleeps with it! This will be my kid in no time. I’m sure of it. She’s always doing weird kid stuff… I love it. But I loved the article and it was certainly a great way to get me through the final hour or my work day. I’m thankful we can go out with a smile today.

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Day 34- Gratitude Project

Today I’m grateful for flexibility. Remaining fluid in life allows a person the ability to sway in the wind, rather than to snap. This has been a challenging week once again, but not letting things get to me and just rolling with the punches has allowed me the ability to not murder people and to also be nicer to my family. I know last week I was kind of terrible to my husband and I’m trying to be better. He’s also been helping more so that I don’t feel under so much pressure. I’m thankful for this too. He loves me and is willing to help me keep my sanity. I like that about him, amongst other things. Being flexible has helped not just at work, but also at home. I could be freaking out because our baby was up 100 times again last night, but I know these times are fleeting and she will be grown before I know it. Instead, I roll with it and get back to sleep as soon as possible after she settles down again. I’m grateful that she usually settles down fairly quickly.

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Day 31 and 32- Gratitude Project

So, I was sidetracked yesterday with family and errands yesterday. I missed my post, but I’m making up for it now.

I’m grateful for the ability to run errands. We have a vehicle that works most of the time, even though it’s incredibly finicky. I have a job to pay for the car and it gets me to that job every day. It’s a safe car that keeps my family safe when we’re riding in it and I have to say it’s pretty fun to drive. I love the brand of car we have (Subaru, for those that are wondering), and will not likely own a different brand. I trust them with not only my life, but also the lives of my friends and family; my most precious cargo.

I’ve got the time to devote to things other than work, such as spending time with family and friends, because I only work one job at the moment. I use this “spare time” to run errands, like grocery shopping and taking pets to the vet. I’m grateful for this ability.

I’m also thankful for the fact that my husband is able to stay home with our daughter. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but it needs to be mentioned again. Last night was very challenging sleeping. She woke up every 30-60 minutes from about 9pm until 6am. I was up with her during those hours so she could get the attention she obviously craved from me. But the highlights of my day are getting phone calls from my husband on speakerphone, with her cooing and chattering on his lap. They call me when she wakes up in the mornings, and often when she gets up from her naps. It makes my day. If she were in daycare, not only would she be being raised by strangers, but I wouldn’t get to “talk” to her several times a day. I’m grateful for these moments, since she is growing up so fast, this time is fleeting. I’m also grateful for the cost savings of him being home and in school, rather than trying to eke out a living while paying the outrageous costs of childcare. I’m grateful for his willingness to be a stay-at-home-dad/ student.

My heart is full today, as is my caffeine level. I’m grateful and so very fortunate to live this challenging, fantastic life.

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