Participate in the Life Makeover challenge

it will be an amazing experience to be apart of this

Every morning when you wake up think of one thing you are thankful for…write it down!

Wow! So many people have jumped in on this goal when I have totally abandoned it. I have to apologize – life happens… But I have been re-inspired & have looked back to some of Cheryl Richardson’s weekly eMails, in which I want to participate on. I may back-track & post the ones I think worthy.

So for those of you who don’t know what the Life Makeover is, please look back to the first post here & read my first entry. It was derived from the book “Life Makeover” written by Cheryl Richardson, who develops a weekly eMail with a different challenge for the week.

I created this goal to keep myself working towards these goals & keep my mind challenged with her wisdom. Here is the website to Cheryl Richardson’s list of challenges for 2008: Click Here

And here is the latest challenge from last week from the Website:

^{I don’t know about you, but I’m happy to say goodbye to 2008. Although it’s been a year of tremendous growth and positive change, I’m ready for a fresh, new beginning where I can deepen my practice of extreme self care and establish a renewed sense of optimisim and hope for our collective future.}

Before moving forward, however, I’ve learned from experience that it’s smart to look back for clues that will inform a successful, more awakened next year. To that end, here are a few questions I’ve been thinking about this week as I review 2008. I invite you to do the same:
If you had to pick a theme of growth for 2008, what would it be? What did you most need to learn? What changes have you made that let you know you got the lesson?
What one thing are you still beating yourself up about? Are you ready to do what it takes to put an end to this hurtful behavior? Okay, then. What do you need to do right now to get started?
What did you accomplish last year that made you feel good about yourself and how did you celebrate? If you didn’t celebrate, what will you do this week?
How was 2008 perfect for you? What happened, good or bad, that forced you to wake up and see your life with clarity and truth?
Finally, as you think back over the last year, take some time to think about the people who influenced your growth – the ones who hurt you and the ones who supported you – and, in your own private way, thank them for their contribution to your life.

That’s it for this final week. Get ready for a “Mighty Fine 2009!”

Take Action Challenge

Over the next week, while things are still fairly quiet and calm, take some time to answer the above questions in a notebook or journal. Use this ritual as an opportunity to say goodbye to the past and hello to a bright new year.

I know that I’m the person who can change things too but I procrastinate too much.I have about 6 stone to lose and I start off well but as soon as I get upset then I go for comfort food again!I get so sick of myself!I feel as though if I could stick at this , I would feel so much better about everything else in my life!
Dratley, I am sorry to hear about your circumstances as I had that op in the uk when I was 17(for health reasons) but our health service paid for it.Request psychological evaluations and see if theres any funding available as it effects you physically and mentally!
x

I have 40JJ breast and I have told that I need to have them reduce due back, shoulder, back pain and more. My doctor says if I don’t have reduce I will regret it when I get older. I have seen one Doctor about this was all setup to have it done. But when we ( my husband & I)
met with the finaical person there the total cost jump up higher then what we were told. That meant more up front money we don’t have. I really want to have this done and I need to have thise reduction done for my health.

Make my life over, it’s easier said than done. I’ve attempted this many times, scratched the surface of what I wanted and then it all crumbles. Here I am, back to and with nothing all over again. I’m living in my mother’s basement, not working, eating her food, and with very low self esteem.

Last attempt was almost successful. I moved across the country, bravely on my own. I had two jobs, working 6 days a week and had an ocean front apartment. The ultimate goal was to work less, make more money and do my art on my days off, and eventually open up my own shop. Then I was hit by a car on the top of my head while leaning into another car, loading it while at work. Suddenly I was suffering with the worst kind of pain in my head and shoulders, and attending a physio- centre through WCB. They found I was in to much pain, were going to send me to the pain clinic, but then I recieved a phone call from my mother, who needed to have emergency open heart surgery. I quickly had my stuff packed, put into my friends bus for storage and caught the next plane home. Her surgery was quite an ordeal, she survived and I had to cater to her needs. After months of helping , I thought it time to get on with my life, and then she fell down and broke her shoulder in four places before I’d left so now was catering to her needs again. Mom has had two surgeries on her shoulder and is still not able to lift it or really use her arm properly but has regained most of her independence back. During the course of all this over the last year and a half, I’ve lost both jobs as I’ve not been able to return to them, and my apartment and am separated from my belongings. I’ve sunk into debt with my mom as well. My doctor is feeling that perhaps I am now able to hold a part time job, however when I try to do anything that is physical it causes muscle spasms, and pain to resurface for me. It has taken me one year to complete a painting, which normally would have taken 4 days, and I’m very frustrated with myself and my predicament. Any settlement that may be coming to me is not in the near future, and I have no income. I am feeling that I am very needed still by my mother as she cannot do the outdoor chores in the yard, or several other things that I pick up the slack for. I also have new physical problems that have come to surface over these last months. I have osteoporosis, fiber mialgia, carpel tunnel, tennis elbow in both arms, and swelling feet when I stand on them for any length of time, along with the muscle spasms and head and shoulder aches and pains.

I want to make my life over. I do not want to accept this state as my final condition in life. I want to be active and healthy and living and doing things for the next forty years. My talent is my painting, which I love to do, but my passion has not driven me to become an acknowledged artist as yet. This would be my ultimate goal. I do not know what holds me back from this, yet something does, but I am hopeful to overcome my obstacles.

i have lost everything….the job i worked at for 2 years…the house i lived in..because i had to leave because of my abusive husband..who also totaled my car..and i am now trying to divcore..i need a life makeover because losing everything gives me a chances to gain everything. so if anyone could help me find myself and create myself..please do help

“I am strongly drawn to the simple life.” – Albert Einstein

^{From the website: Well, we’ve been in our new home for three months now and I’m so grateful and happy to be here. Prior to moving, Michael and I went through our belongings and gave away anything we no longer used or needed. Then, as an experiment, we made a decision to move everything but the bare necessities into our new garage so we could experience what it felt like to live in the simplicity of space. What we learned surprised us.}

As someone who, for years, has taught the principle of “When in doubt, throw it out,” and as someone who loves space, I was surprised to discover that we still had way too much stuff. By leaving most of it in the garage and living in a state of “sacred simplicity,” we’ve created a peaceful home that feels calm, expansive, energetically clear, and open to new possibilities. As a result, Michael and I have set a new rule: if it’s not an absolute yes—something we absolutely need or adore, then it won’t come into our home. Instead, we’ve decided to hold a “give-away day” and share all the things in our garage that no longer meet this new standard. That way we’re able to spread the wealth and create a home that feels “spaciously elegant” at the same time.

That’s what creating a sacred home is all about—honoring the space as much as we honor the meaningful things we keep around us. Most of us are inundated by stuff, anyway. Just look around the room you’re in right now and ask yourself “How much space do I have here to breathe, expand into, or create from?” Are your shelves neat and orderly or are they crammed with too many books? Can you see the top of your desk? Do you have a clear view outside into nature or is it blocked by too many distractions?

This week, try this. Choose a room that you spend a lot of time in—a bathroom, a study, or a bedroom, for example, and find ten things (yes, ten!) to give away to someone who will absolutely love them for you. The idea is to make a little space and notice how open, expansive, and peaceful you feel as a result.

The environment in which we live (and work) has a profound impact on the quality of our present lives, and it has a profound influence on what we draw into our lives in the future. If you don’t have space in your life, for example, it’s tough to welcome in a new romance, a new job, or more financial abundance. There’s just no room. If you tolerate a home that doesn’t feel like you, chances are you’ll tolerate a relationship that doesn’t feel quite right either, or you’ll stay working at a job that’s just “okay.” While the idea may seem a bit strange, experience has taught me that how we live “out there” in the world is a reflection of how we live “in here” at home.

“Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

From the website:

^{A few years ago I wrote a newsletter about getting our creative needs met. It was in response to the fear I experienced as I prepared to finish my fourth book, The Unmistakable Touch of Grace, because the book shared intimate details of my own personal journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Because I’ve written about reawakening hidden parts of ourselves and expressing our creative desires over the last couple of weeks, I decided to dig this newsletter out and share it with you again because they’re so important.}

You see, all of us are creative. Yes, there are painters, writers, interior decorators, architects, dancers, and so on, but creativity is much more than the “artist” view that many of us hold. Creativity is expressed in many ways: how you dress, how you decorate your office, how you choose gifts for others, or how you cook a meal for your family. And these talents can be applied to any creative desire.

Think about the hidden part of you that you’d like to reawaken this year – the part that will require you to use your creative muscles in a more pronounced way. Then, consider these creative needs:

1. Creativity needs safety. The beginning stage of any creative process is one of the most fragile and vulnerable periods of all. Our creative dreams are so delicate and it only takes one negative comment to throw us off track. This is why you might need to keep your idea to yourself, holding the energy in, so to speak, so you can gain clarity and allow your idea to build strength and momentum. Otherwise it’s too easy to be influenced by the fears (or expectations) of others. Too many people I know have abandoned great ideas because of someone else’s insensitivity. You need to protect your dream.

2. Creativity needs space. When you begin working on a project you’ll need plenty of emotional and physical space. This might mean scheduling uninterrupted time to yourself, clearing out a room to work in, or letting loved ones know that you’ll be less available and asking for their understanding and support. Creating anything new not only takes physical energy, it takes emotional energy. The best creative projects are birthed from a “reserve of space” not from being squeezed into a busy life. You need to make space for your dream.

3. Creativity needs nurturing. Once you’re ready to share your ideas with others it’s extremely important to choose those people who will be positive and supportive. This doesn’t mean that they have to agree with you, but it does mean that they need to play by your rules. In other words, be sure to let people know how you’d like to receive feedback and what kind of feedback would be most helpful. It’s not fair to expect colleagues or loved ones to automatically know what you need to keep your dream alive. Take responsibility for the kind of support you receive. You need to nurture your dream.

4. Creativity needs a strong advocate. There’s a good chance that you’ll doubt your idea, question your direction, or wonder whether or not you have what it takes to follow through. When this happens you’ll need a strong advocate to keep you on course. My four books would never have been written had I not had people in place who reminded me of my strengths and challenged me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The completion of a creative project takes perseverance and commitment. You need a strong advocate to help you get to the finish line.

5. Creativity needs love. Like a flower that requires plenty of sunlight to fully blossom, your creative project will need to be nourished with lots of love. Who supports your creativity? Who keeps encouraging you to take the first step? Where will you get the sustenance you need to follow through? As you continue with the creative process, surround yourself with people who can love you through your fear, self-doubt or exhaustion. Sometimes you’ll need a gentle reminder to take a break. Other times you’ll need someone to listen carefully as you talk through an idea. The love you need will also come from you in the form of extra sleep, patience, healthy food, or time spent doing something fun and completely unrelated to your project. You need to nourish your creative idea with love.

Give that wild and wonderful hidden part of you a chance to emerge this year by protecting your creativity. Print out the following and keep it nearby as a reminder of what you need to breathe life into this important part of you:

You need to protect your creative Self.
You need to make space for its expression.
You need to nurture your creativity.
You need strong advocates to help you express it in the world.
You need to nourish your creative side with love.

Take Action Challenge
Think about a creative project or idea that you’d love to pursue this year. Then, consider the needs listed above and ask yourself, “Which one would be at the top of my list right now?” Is there one need, in particular, that derailed an important project in the past because it wasn’t being met? That might be the one to get met first. This week, honor yourself (and your soul) by taking your desire for creative expression seriously. Get your creative needs met now.

“Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of
what a miracle is and you’ll see them all around you.” – Jon Bon Jovi

^{From the Website:}

I know that many of us feel like there’s not enough time, we can’t afford to quit our day jobs, or that we’re missing vital training or experience. But, I think it’s something else…

1. Forgetfulness. We get lulled into a comfortably numb place by the busyness of our lives and forget what matters to our soul. Instead, we need to remember to keep our eyes and ears open for clues.

2. Not enough space. Yes, most of us do lead busy lives, myself included, but ask yourself: “What small thing might you let go of that would create a little space in your life to pursue the desire that tugs at your heart?” I say “small” because too often we imagine having to make a huge life change to accommodate this need. Anything big feels scary – and undoable. So, make it small. Easy. Doable. Where might you find a little space to breathe life into your passion?

3. Lack of faith. What if I told you that there was a Force greater than any fear you possess that will open doors and windows that lead you to do what your soul longs to do? Well, there is, but you’ll need to take action to ignite this Force and operate on faith until you see the evidence of its presence.

All it takes is one little step to get started. If you love animals, visit a local shelter and volunteer for one hour. If dancing is what makes your heart soar, make a CD (today!) of your favorite ten songs and find a place to let your body move. If you love the energy of space or the beauty of architecture, buy a magazine this afternoon and read it cover to cover! Just get started…

Take Action Challenge
One thing. That’s all it takes to keep your passion alive. What one thing will you do this week to make your soul happy?