Improving Your Life – Week 2

So last week we were challenged by Cheryl Richardson in her book “Life Makeovers” to look at the past year, make a list of our accomplishments and then give ourselves a pat on the back for our wonderful achievements.
This week we are going to step forth and do something else.I must confess that I haven’t read this chapter until this morning so I’m as clueless as those doing this along with me about what our next step is……
Okay, chapter read.
This week is about creating change within ourselves starting with what’s inside.
Cheryl explains that long lasting change begins on the inside and by focusing our attention on things such as honesty, integrity, creativity etc working out how to achieve our goals becomes so much easier.
As you strengthen yourself from inside out you begin to shine your inner light out to the world and life takes on new meaning.
Working on this goal is going to be a week by week thing so it’s just as well we have a journal to record this in right?

Okay, so what do I want to focus on changing within myself over the coming year?
Hmmmm that’s a good one.
Cheryl has listed suggestions such as:

• Becoming financially responsible
• Reassess and focus top priorities
• Being patient
• Be more loving and kind
• Be better able to set boundaries and say no
• Be open-minded
• Be grateful
• Be proactive rather than reactive
• Be adventurous
• Be trusting and faithful

Once you have chosen this element that you wish to focus on then we need to expand upon it.
Step 1 is to write a positive affirmation in the present tense. That is “I am” and not “I hope” or “I would like to”. The subconscious mind is not able to differentiate between positive and negative and it will manifest whatever you feel. It isn’t really great at knowing past and present either so working in the present tense will allow your subconscious mind to bring your desire to pass.
Step 2 is to take that affirmation and write it out on a card or print it out several times on your computer and place it somewhere you will see it each day. You might like to write it out on a business sized card and place it in your purse so you can take it out and read it whilst you are waiting for appointments or when you’re out shopping. Constant reinforcement of your intention is a good thing.
Step 3 entails listing three steps that you are going to take in the next week to begin working on developing this quality that you wish in your life.

So here is what mine is looking like.
In the next year I would like to work on becoming more loving and kind.My affirmation to record will be “I am love. I am kindness. I am the person that I wish to be“.
My three action steps are:

1. I will stop myself when I begin to speak critically of another person and change my thought processes.
2. I will endevour to show at least two acts of kindness each day. This could include letting someone in front of me in the queue at the supermarket or waving a car in front of me in traffic.
3. I will update my gratitude journal each night

Okay, let’s see how I go at this. I’m thinking it’s not going to be easy but I’m going to work on it.
Starting today.

Who is with me?