#creatingchallenge day 7 / life audit

Today I happened upon the most exciting resource called a "life audit." I wanted to share it here for
those of you who may also be interested in doing one: How and Why to do a Life Audit: Architecting a life in 100 post-its & 1 Saturday Afternoon

If you do it, will you let me know? I'd really like to hear what worked, what didn't work, etc. as I'd like to use this resource with clients. Thank you! (I'll post my own experience of going through the resource as well.)

#creatingchallenge day 6 / kristin's cancer treatment fund

My running partner, Kristin, was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and is having to do a fundraising campaign to raise funds for her cancer treatment. Would you consider contributing to her treatment since it is not covered by insurance?

Here is the open letter she sent to our run club for details on how to contribute:

"Hello Unstoppables (our run club),

Many of you know that I was diagnosed this fall with stage 3 breast cancer. What you may not know is that after much research I have decided to follow an alternative treatment approach.  Unfortunately, this approach is not covered by insurance and I am responsible for the full cost of treatment. Therefore, I have started a fundraising campaign.  I can't start treatment until I have the funds in place.  It's my goal to have the funds and start treatment by January 31st.

Would you consider helping  me out?  Here's how you can help:
 1     Go to my page and read my story:
http://www.gofundme.com/kristinscancerfund.   

2.    Share my site with your friends and family and write an endorsement
for my cause?  The more I can get the word out the better.
http://www.gofundme.com/kristinscancerfund

3.    Consider making a financial gift to my fund? Any amount is greatly
appreciated. http://www.gofundme.com/kristinscancerfund

4.    Continue to pray for me!  I covet your prayers and words of
encouragement

Thank you so much for your help!

With so much gratitude and love,
Kristin Sauer
Certified Health Coach
Take Shape for Life
www.coachkristin.tsfl.com/explore"

Who would have thought that crowd funding would become a place for community support and contribution?

Check out http://www.gofundme.com/kristinscancerfund for more details and to contribute. 

#creatingchallenge day 5 / authenticity paradox

Wow! Thank you HBR and Herminia Ibarra for an awesome article on the authenticity paradox and what it means to be "adaptively authentic." Here is the link to the full article: The Authenticity Paradox 

And here is a summary for your quick reference:

"Authenticity has become the gold standard for leadership. But as INSEAD professor Herminia Ibarra argues, a simplistic understanding of what authenticity means can limit leaders’ growth and impact.

All too often, we tend to latch on to authenticity as an excuse for sticking with what’s comfortable. But few jobs allow us to do that for long. In this article, Ibarra explains how leaders can develop an “adaptively authentic” style by experimenting with many different leadership approaches. It’s OK to change tactics from one day to the next, she says. That’s not being fake; it’s how we figure out what’s right for the challenges and circumstances we face.

Three strategies can help you break free from a self-concept that’s too rigid:

1. Learn from diverse role models.Growth necessarily involves some form of imitation, but don’t copy just one person’s leadership style. Borrow selectively from various people to create your own collage.

2. Work on getting better.Set learning goals—not just performance targets—to focus on the value of experimentation. Stretch the limits of who you are by doing new things that make you uncomfortable but help you discover by direct experience whom you want to become.

3. Don’t stick to “your story.”Jettison outdated self-concepts and draw on personal narratives that fit your circumstances as you’re taking on new challenges."

Number three (3) is the strategy that I'm currently working on this first quarter of 2015.

Which one of these three strategies most speaks to you today?

#creatingchallenge day 4 / be the 8%

I heard today that according to Forbes Magazine "40% of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions and only 8% of those Americans actually accomplish their resolution." Although I'm not a big proponent of New Year's Resolutions, I have to admit that New Years is my favorite holiday. I love starting a new year that is a completely clean slate.

I want to be in the 8% this year that actually accomplishes the hopes and dreams I have for this year. How about you? 

Here are some further thoughts on how to make that happen:

• Set a stretch goal - outside of your comfort zone
• Be specific on what you want
• Keep it simple
• Focus on 60 day chunks of time
• Pay attention to how you will execute the plan
• Determine what spiritual practices will help you get there

And here are a couple more I'd add to the list:

• Use short term or long term #creatingchallenges to stay motivated 
• Hire a coach to support you in making it happen

It's easy to forget that we do not have to go it alone. We are built to be in relationship and live in community...how might a friend, family member or coach help us have the most fulfilling and joy filled 2015? 

I have learned that #creatingchallenges are very motivating for me. And I have utilized coaches to support my forward momentum consistently over the last seven years. 

What works for you? 

#creatingchallenge day 3 / real rest

Guidepost recently posted this meme on their Facebook wall:

I love the dedication and sense of raw commitment it expresses...which is backed up by Jimmy's hand's on work with Habitat Humanity.

Having grown up being challenged to live my life to the fullest while making a difference in the world, I now reflect on what that means to me today. I've gone the route of "martyr" and "accommodator" and can now confirm that neither of these routes have led to a life of contribution and joyful abandon that is sustainable.

What was missing? Rest.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. 

Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how 

to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how 

I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything 

heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn 

to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 The Message Bible

What an awesome invitation to walk and work with God and learn from him the unforced rhythms of grace! Yes! THAT is what I want for 2015.

What do you want for 2015? What difference would "real rest" make in your life this year? 

#creatingchallenge day 2 / all in

It's the strangest thing...when I commit to fully be "all in" and really go for it , I end up getting what I want in multiple arenas of life, not just the one directly related to my decision.

The following quote describes this phenomenon so well...

The following passage occurs

near the beginning of W.H. Murray's

The Scottish Himalayan Expedition (1951):

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance

to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts

of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the

ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:

that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence 

moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the

decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen

incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man

could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a

deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:

Whatever you can do

or dream you can, begin it.

Boldness has genius,

power and magic in it!”

I experienced this today! For the new year, I said "yes" to a whole new level of commitment to my business...and today I received unexpected support to build my professional wardrobe...it was like having my own personal fashion consultant (thanks Shanna!). I am so grateful!

#creatingchallenge day 1 / write every day

This year's creating challenge is to write every day! What this means will become more clear as the year progresses, but for now I know that it means I am to post every day this year. 

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."  -Walt Disney

Do you have a word or phrase that will focus your creative energy and time in 2015? My word for 2015 is PRAYER. This year prayer will be at the forefront of each day as the life blood of my creative energies as well as my relationship with God. At the beginning of her book The Artist Way, Julia Cameron does such a great job of expressing who God is as Creator and I have every intention to lean in to God as I create my way through 2015. 

Fun Fact: I signed up for The Sketchbook Project today! This will keep me focused on getting my ideas and creativity onto paper through the first quarter of 2015 and will provide a forum to publish my first book! BTW - you can sign up too up till January 5th!