Tag: hoping
Growth can Start with Shame
I’ve noticed that every time I take a new or risky step, the first thing that I experience is discomfort.
Later it coagulates as Shame.
So, if, say… I’m going to take on something now, or write about something close to my heart that, haven’t shared before, or extend myself in a way that feels out of my expertise or depth… I’ll feel weirdly yucky and vulnerable, and than shameful.
I’ll think, “No one will care about this, don’t be a fool.”
or I’ll think, “You will be mocked. Don’t do step out on this.”
or I’ll think, “How can I do this so it doesn’t feel so risky?”
Just beyond those moments are moments of greatest growth and authenticity.
Defining moments.
Fear is wrestled and vanquished.
We stand on the precipice sometimes not knowing which way to go…onward or backward.
If it’s starting to scare the stink out of you, you’re doing it right. You’re pointed in the proper direction.
If you feel like running, hiding, or chickening out, then, good: you’re about to grow.
Keep going.
Do the thing you feel most vulnerable doing that you’ve been hoping for down deep: It’s the idea you just can’t shake but it scares you silly.
Lent is a great time to wrestle with all this stuff and the Resurrection celebration later becomes that more precious.
Here is a Scripture meditation for you today:
“Survey says!” (7 second Survey results of 2014)
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.
Did you take the survey? Thank you!
A few weeks ago I created this The 7 Second Survey to see who was reading this blog and what you like best.
FINDING #1
I was going to post much more heavily on the thing that brings in the $ in my “day job” this year. I was hoping to get more work and inspire other creators and writers like me.
That’s right, Marketing Communications tips and tactics. But, it appears my reader base is mostly the original one from my first blogging efforts in 2007. Overwhelmingly so.
That’s probably good news, and honestly, it surprised me.
So, I will not discard the topics and theme that started it all!
Once per week, at the very least, I will hit on a spiritual topic. It may be anything from a Christian spiritual practice, to theology, to Christian living, or personal and spiritual transformation and improvement. If that’s how you found me, and that’s why you visit, I’m glad I know better now!
Also, I will be a bit more aware of including my brand of humor, which as you may know, I have determined as “damp”. (i.e. Almost dry humor)
(Please note that unlike many “Christian author” websites, I will very rarely step into the fray of controversy so commonly seen on religious blogs. I just don’t have the stomach for it anymore…for a while now, really. I find it 95% shallow and disheartening. If you like that stuff, you have plenty of options, though, and I hope you find what you like for that.)
FINDING # 2
Another thing I learned is that I don’t have too many folks who come by to read more than once per week, even though I post 2-3 times per week. Now, I’m wondering if I’m writing too much. Maybe. Or maybe you should come back more often!
I’m guessing that there are two possible solutions, or three, to cope with that:
1. I can encourage you, my dear readers, to list the blogs you read through the super handy free reader service called Feedly which houses posts you haven’t read yet. It works like a catalogue of awesomeness. No more bookmarks and time-killing web surfing. You just paste in the websites you like, and boom, they’re all in one place. The best part, no more relying on your memory to visit a few times a week. What a relief! (Can you tell I use it?)
2. I can encourage you to get email delivery through free Feedburner service (top right sidebar)…for no more silly and random blog searches and relying on your memory.
3. Don’t sweat it.
(I’m doing all three.)
FINDING #3
The third question was open ended…”fill in the blank style”. About half of the respondents left something to answer the question:
“What would you improve at the website?”
The funniest one (or whatever) was…
“Use spellchecker.”
As if I don’t.
…Yes. This site is full of mistakes. Typos. Proofreading issues. Editing errors. Etc. I try to hunt them down. I find plenty too late and some not at all.
If you see a problem that bothers you or you’d like to help me out, please use the contact button and let me know. I do like the help. :)
Also, I’m flawed and weak human–awash in imperfections. I’m more creative than I am a good speller or editor of my own work. If I ever have the money, I may hire someone for that. But, I’m doing #3 on this. (The “Don’t sweat it” option.)
In truth, I use this site as a sandbox. I build stuff. I sculpt the messy sand of words. I don’t worry too much. I would be creating posts even if no one came to read them. I cannot help it. At all.
It’s like this:
Sometimes you’ll find a few lincoln logs from the cat of imperfection here in my sandbox, as it were,
but hopefully more often you’ll find that what you’re reading is still worth it despite the shortcomings.
Anyway–
Thank you for reading and journeying with me through these years. I appreciate it immensely.
More great things are brewing!
The next post is here. It’s about the day I turn 42. The photo will give you a chuckle!
xo
-Lisa
Mindset Followup: A [visual] framework for abundance
[scroll down for visual guide]
I used to think books with “daily affirmations” were goofy new-age baloney.
Why would reciting some sappy self-help mantra change anything?
I still don’t own a book of daily affirmations but I’ve learned a lot about transformation.
Plus, the recent empirical scientific data shows what many of us who’ve studied spiritual formation already knew from a long record of wisdom writings and human history:
“As a man thinks so he is.”
3D brain scans verify that our thoughts, habits, and patterns (physically) change our brains, down to the cellular level and even into our DNA!
Prayer works like focus. Meditation works like concentration. And yes, affirmations can truly transform attitudes.
All 6 can, and do, change us for the better. It comes down to effort.
With practice, bad habits get harder to break (not so great), but new thoughts and actions build new cortical pathways (hope for betterment!).
I have some firm beliefs that I’m bent on making a potent reality:
1. My perspective can determine my actions.
2. My attitude can improve my life.
3. Reminding myself of the truth about abundance can transform me.
4. Connecting to a positive version of reality can revitalize me.
5. Hope is my choice.
I decided to create a handy guide to make each day better.
If you ever struggle with being positive and hopeful, I hope this makes it easier.
It’s really helped me to see the path visually.
I’m hoping to improve how I determine and live out my outlook and actions each day. How about we do it together?
Sure, we’ll fail sometimes, but maybe some guidance will steer us right again, soon.
Skeptical? Give it a chance.
Seriously. Try it for a few days:
1. Use this visual guide to help you.
2. Remind yourself throughout the day about your choice of a scarcity or an abundance mindset.
3. At the end of each day, review and see if you lost track of your perspective–then recommit to keep at it.
3. Note your mood and attitude throughout the day to gauge your progress.
4. Share your progress and this guide with others, if you’ve been helped.
I made it for you to ebed at your website, or share on Facebook or pinterest.
Want to pass it along? I’d love that.
Want in on the upcoming goodies and posts? Whoot! Sign up in the right sidebar!
Interested in brain science?
I recommend this:
On Mindsets: Achievement vs. Contentment?
I’m mulling over some things.
I’m beginning to wonder if those of us with a large degree of ambition, or drive, or even longing have a distinct disadvantage…
Are the skills and traits helpful for achievement also a tripwire discharging unabated discontentment?
Achievement, of course, is not negative. Nor is the desire to achieve, in itself…but I wonder about the byproducts. I wonder about the trappings or downsides.
Is the “content person” someone who tends to be less ambitious and is therefore more satisfied at a core level?
Or, could the experience of a more lasting satisfaction also be reached through a pruning process of maturation and holding the two in a difficult, but possible, creative tension?
How do you see it? I’m throwing it out their and hoping for extra insight.
I’ve been thinking about perspective and mindset. The next post will followup with a look into a framework for mitigating or ameliorating the issue. I created a visual to serve as a guide for the next post. You won’t want to miss it.
It, like me, is a work-in-process, not a final solution.
What about you?
Want to weigh in?
• Given that discontentment isn’t necessarily negative: Are you more content or discontent, in general?
• Do you sense that it’s connected with your ability or desire to achieve? (Why or why not?)
Visit soon. It’ll be a treat!
(Get the next post sent straight to your inbox by email delivery through feedburner. Place your name in the field in the right sidebar.)
Thanks for visiting, today! See you soon.
-Lisa