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Tag: motivation

Personal ROI

I’m nearing my 10-year anniversary of first arriving in Nepal and thinking of who I am now vs. the young woman who left New York City in 2013 has me in the feels. Sure, coming to Nepal alone is gutsy. Staying to start A Dream Project from scratch and working day in and day out to build a sustainable, stable learning environment in a place that can be anything but that has led to more sacrifice and hardship than I could have ever imagined. 

I suppose when you start evaluating your life’s work, you must weigh benefits next to spent resources. That’s ROI, for my business peeps. When I consider:

  • The students who have been inspired because of Learning House
  • Landscapes and cultures that I might have only read about but got to experience
  • The friends who encouraged me and believed in me

Worth a decade of my life? Possibly. From installing a solar grid to helping students experience new ideas and places, getting my research published, organizing hundreds of workshops and events, growing an education center that has reached thousands of students, mentoring leaders in the community… 

I am proud.

While I’m not exactly the same woman I was 10 years ago, I am thankful that I held onto the bravery and courage needed to listen to my heart’s call, even when the path ahead was clouded in fog. A friend recently reminded me that the greatest stones are often buried in the thickest of earth. I pray my efforts to spread kindness and creativity in a small corner of the world yield gems yet to be discovered.

Strategies to break out of a creative rut

If something keeps getting in your way when you sit down to write, you’re not alone. These moments happen (often), and it’s part of the work to know what you can do to show up anyway. It doesn’t matter how you crawl out of a non-writing writing hole, but the important thing is that you do. You can. And you will.

Here’s a list of 10 ways you can help yourself out of any writing rut:

  1. Write for one. Stop thinking about an entire audience. Write for one person. Think about what they want to hear, what they are excited to read about, what they need to succeed.
  2. Test something. Observe your blogs, social media content, and emails. Which stories fail? Which aspects get results? Use a variety of writing tactics and watch what lands.
  3. Show up. Instead of striving for “A” work, let yourself pass with a “C.” It doesn’t need to be pretty or good; sometimes the best work evolves from something subpar.
  4. Get personal. Let your feelings and emotions guide you. Follow whatever threads of excitement and curiosity you can muster.
  5. Choose a lane. And stick to it. Seth’s Lifeguard Hack is helpful.
  6. Just go. Push forward, regardless. Set a timer for ten minutes and write. You can leave when the alarm goes off.
  7. Distract yourself. Write something else. Not the thing you’re wanting to write, something else entirely. Play with lists and incoherent phrases. Write a story. Get creative then come back to the task at hand.
  8. You good? You good. Remind yourself how fabulous you are. Write down all of the things you know you do well, projects you’re proud of, accomplishments, battles you’ve fought through, and goals you’ve reached.
  9. Say no. Saying no to things that zap your energy and impact your boundaries will create more energetic space. Say no to tasks that take you away from writing.
  10. Create structure. Using your calendar in a purposeful way can help you feel more empowered and focused so you can get work done. Structure your day into manageable chunks, or dedicate a specific day of the week for particular tasks.

Creating movement in one area can unlock momentum in another. What tricks do you use to get unstuck? Tweet me @redheadlefthand.

Take 5

Tell 5 people you appreciate them.

Think of 5 things you love about yourself.

Set aside 5 minutes to write.

List 5 goals you want to achieve by week’s end.

Check-in with 5 people who appear strong.

Remember 5 obstacles you’ve overcome.

Thank 5 service workers.

Choose 5 songs you can play the next time you feel anxious.

Invite 5 people to a Zoom call.

Bookmark 5 websites that inspire you.

Tape 5 quotes next to your workstation.

Make 5 calls to people who might be struggling.

Take 5 deep breaths.

A manual for at-home daily adventure

Some folks are pretty bummed at the prospect of cancelled events, social quarantine, and days spent at home. Others are thrilled: Time to catch up on Netflix, read those books on the shelf, spend time with family, or just chill on the couch.

Life doesn’t have to become boring because social calendars are reduced. In fact, there are plenty of things you can do to shake things up, test limits, have some fun, and inspire others to do the same — right from the comfort of your own home.

We all have different thresholds for excitement and adventure, so pick what feels brave and fun to you. 

  1. Watch an inspiring documentary.
  2. Make something with Play-Doh or clay.
  3. Create a collage with newspapers, magazines, or other things you find around the house.
  4. Join a virtual dance party.
  5. Call a friend.
  6. Write a love letter.
  7. Savor a hot cup of coffee.
  8. Draw something with your opposite hand.
  9. Write a pageful of questions. Don’t worry about the answers.
  10. Plan a trip.
  11. Take a virtual tour of a famous museum.
  12. Stare out the window. Daydream.
  13. Make a themed playlist.
  14. Ask friends for book recommendations.
  15. Write a note to someone who has inspired you.
  16. List 100 things you’d like to do within the next 30 years.
  17. Sign up for an online class.
  18. Move! Jump. Skip. Do some pushups.
  19. Bake something or try a new recipe.
  20. Compliment a stranger online.
  21. Brush your teeth with your opposite hand.
  22. Concentrate on nothing except pouring yourself a cup of tea.
  23. Host an online trivia night with friends.
  24. List 10 “self care” items. Aim to do 2-3 each day.
  25. Unplug and turn off everything. Eat by candlelight.
  26. Think of ways to support local business owners.
  27. Stargaze.
  28. List 4 things you are thankful for in this moment.
  29. Grab your favorite book and sit in the sun.
  30. Think about the book you’d like to write.
  31. Set a new fitness goal.
  32. Initiate conversation.
  33. Sing loudly in the shower/your car/your backyard.
  34. Doodle.
  35. Plant something.
  36. Allow yourself 5 minutes of doing nothing.
  37. Paint. Draw. Make something. It doesn’t have to be good.
  38. Count your breath: 6 seconds for each inhale, pause, exhale.
  39. Style your hair differently.
  40. Hide a note for someone to find.
  41. Be a slob. Don’t make the bed. Leave it on the floor.
  42. Eat with chopsticks.
  43. Build a tent in your living room.
  44. Pretend you’re famous.
  45. Ask yourself: “If you could do anything, anywhere, what would it be?”
  46. Clean. Throw out junk. Organize.
  47. Put together the wackiest outfit you can think of.
  48. Donate money to a cause you’re interested in.
  49. Write down what your life looks next year. Five years from now.
  50. Try at-home yoga.

Let me know how it goes.

Modified from A Manual for Daily Adventure.

7 essential benchmarks for progress

Inspiration

Who and what inspires you? Where do you go to find inspiration?

Motivation

What keeps you pushing and moving forward? What sustains you through hard times?

Support

What do you need to feel supported? How can you get even more?

Commitment

What does commitment mean to you? What can you to commit to? For how long?

Feedback

What do you need to feel appreciated and valued? How do you know what you’re doing is working?

Guidance

Who do you look up to and from where do you receive advice?

Nourishment

What keeps you strong, both mind and body? Where will you learn and how will you grow?