Open Challenge, The Happiness Advantage Starting April 1st

[ms spock]

Usually before a challenge, I read up on various sites and look for ideas, links, music, inspirational stuff to read. Things to book mark so it doesn't take very much effort to do the meditation or inspirational reading. I am thinking I would like to try to keep the time down to about 1-2 hours per day for 21 days. With 30-45 minutes of that being cardio. With two jobs now and "the moms", I need to think of a strategy about how I can do it sincerely but efficiently (sp?). Then when the challenge starts I try to do the "plan" and tweek it to make it work.

That is a great way of setting yourself up for success The Albatross.

I need to think about setting myself up for success.

 

[Whitneys story]

:( :cry: Is it a sign I have been missed twice?

Shawn Achor is such an inspiration. He went against his mothers wishes to become who he is.

"Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves." ~Buddha

Time trials are in, Albatross has the Inside Post!

 

[The Albatross]

Invited you to the conversation... Challenge starts tomorrow. Very sorry to have missed you... and glad you spoke up because it is difficult for me to keep track.

 

[intothelight]

I'm getting excited about this! :) Looking forward to sharing it with you all.

 

[The Albatross]

Okay so. I think I'm going to count the days and tick off the 5 boxes in the public forum, and let the private conversation run for mutual sharing. Any weird reactions I'll put it in my diary.

 

[Changing4Best]

I decided to get warmed up to all this a bit today, even though it was a busy day. So I started off my morning with some free weight lifting, lady's style of course. Then there is the Easter Basket I've been gathering things for, for weeks. I brought it upstairs to the little girl who lives there with the bright red hair. She's such a sweetie. She wasn't there, but her brother said she'd be "tickled to death" with it. I'm sure I'll hear something about it this week from her when I run into her or something. So that was my Random Act of Kindness for today. Now I need to find my journal, it is probably dusty! LOL...

 

[ms spock]

Really struggling at the moment. But determined not to be left out of the 21 Day Challenge.

Things that I am going to do for the 21 Challenge:

1. Write down three new things you are grateful for each day.
2. Journal about a positive experience experience in the last 24 hours.
3. Exercise
4. Meditation
5. A random act of kindness.

1. I am so grateful that my emotions surrounding my never having had a loving and supportive family/not having a supportive, loving, connected family are being more contained and containable. I am being able to comfort myself and process them in a day or two rather than being laid out for weeks/months.

I am grateful that I am reconnecting with Halley.

I am grateful that I am having more insight and thinking about things more clearly.

2. The positive experiences I have had in the last 24 hours are being able to get things more in perspective. I was also able to leave the house and go to a restaurant for dinner tonight. I enjoyed being around groups of people enjoying themselves. It was a delicious meal. I did some reading whilst I was there as well. I did a little drawing as well. I got out and about. It was really a postive experience.

3. I did some exercise. I did walking today and not the dancing and boogie boarding I planned but at least I did some exercise. I will improve.

4. I did quite a bit of meditation yesterday and today working out what type of mediation to do for this 21 Day Challenge.

5. I did two random acts of kindness.

So going slowly but getting there for the first day of our challenge!

 

[The Albatross]

Okay so 6 am and Day 1:

1. I am grateful for mutual support.
I am grateful that I am available enough emotionally to listen to the troubles of a friend Chong.
I am grateful that I was invited to my senior friends birthday party (I was the only non family member there).

2. A positive experience I had in the last 24 hours: My husband took me out to supper and surprised me with a special dessert.

3. Exercise: blank til I update

4. Meditation: blank til I update

5. Random act of kindness: Found a loose Boston Terrier in the yard without a collar. Was able to stay near the animal and it showed me where it lived. I put it in the yard. The neighbor wasn't home last night, so I'll go over this morning and tell them what happened.

 

[The Albatross]

This really ties in with neuroplasticity and the ways in which the brain changes itself (to use the title of the book).

Ms. Spock, how right you are. I bought the book yesterday and started reading, though there is not a comprehensive section on neuroplasticity, it was indeed tied together. What is the name of the book you read?

 

[Changing4Best]

OK, I did my first 5 things, but I get up at 4:30 AM so don't feel out maneuvered!

1. a. Prayer and that we can turn to God about ANYTHING. He may not answer in the way that we want, but we need to remember that He always knows best. Afterall, if 5 folks pray for rain and 5 for sunshine... b. tissues, because I yawn with lots of tears early in the morning... c. LIGHT. What would life be without light!?! Cold and dark...

2. Being able to visit a large bustling loving & friendly family for Easter and eating Bar-B-Q (for the first time this year) with them.

3. Lifted weights. Oh, and by the way, I didn't feel like it at first, so I twiddled my thumbs to get in the mood to MOVE some part f my body. I thought this was funny and wanted to share it. It did work too! That was maybe at 5:30 AM.

4. I had a long talk (out loud) with God. Since I live alone, I figured this was a way to do something differently than I normally do, since usually I pray (meditate) silently. I wanted it to be more real. And it was. (God hears our thoughts before we speak them, so that was the meditation part, my voice was for me, though I'm sure He was pleased to hear it too).

5. Cleaned something that looked like blood on the front pedestal of the building where I live. I felt that none of us needs to see something that looks so VIOLENT upon entering or leaving this morning. I think it was candy or juice or something, but still, it looked just like BLOOD!

I feel good. This is a great idea, thanks for thinking of it and starting it! It got me moving earlier in the day and then I cleaned a window and so on...

 

[Eleanor]

Five for five on day 1!!!!

Ok, got a little prompting for the random act. H called, my (step) daughter had a rough weekend with her mother's family - her uncle is dying. I left a "phone hug" supportive message for her this afternoon. And talked to her fiance and shared his excitement - he is getting inducted as a Master Mason tonight. Exciting time for him!

On to day 2!

 

[GreenFrog2]

Hi Albatross,

I have only just seen this thread and would love to join you all - although it's the 2nd April!

I was a little uncertain at first as I have been more focused on my journal over the last few weeks, but then thought this will be a great way to engage with forum members. I also saw Whitney's comment:

we become what we think.

and realized for the millionth time that I need to keep working on keeping my thoughts in either neutral or positive, as this then becomes the life experience that I have. The down side of journal writing for me is that I am processing negative events and forgetting to balance them with positives - which I think your challenge will help me to do. The more I can bring positive into my thinking the more easy it will be to tolerate the emotions and distress that occur.....

So for April 1st:
1/ I was grateful for an old friend who I chatted to on face book.
Making a commitment to bike ride everyday in April with a friend.
That I let myself accept that I am not perfect, have weaknesses and was conditioned by my parents in a negative way (wow that was hard to write).

2/ I did not do my positive journal list yesterday, but I did remind myself that I was impressed that I had done things all day to cope and to sooth myself.

3/ 90 minute bike ride

4/ Practiced meditation without my recording and read some Buddhist affirmations.

5/ explained to someone where to catch the bus from on a public holiday - she was sitting at a stop on a route that did not operate so I showed her the correct stop around the corner.

Memo to self (and all): felt OK.