Monthly Archives: March 2017

Setting Our Goals

Before we can send our little engines up that mountain, we’ll need to define our “mountains.” In my experience, the best goals are goals that you actually WANT to achieve, and are willing to WORK for. It’s also important that your goal is actually DO-able. It really helps is you already have a clear idea of HOW to go about achieving it. Being really clear with yourself about the goal, setting strong parameters, having a good vision of the desired results, are equally important.

For example, let’s say you have a goal of: “I want to write a book.”

First off, is this DO-able? Thirty days isn’t a very long time. Do you really want to write a whole book? Or would you feel more comfortable writing a story? Or an article? Or a poem? How many pages do you think you could write every day? Etc.. Etc.. It’s a nebulous goal, I think. Not specific enough, and maybe not even possible. You might be setting yourself up for failure.

Much better to say: “I want to begin writing my book, and I plan to have at least 4 chapters of a rough draft finished by the end of 30 days.” 

Here’s another example. Suppose you have a goal of: “I want to get in shape.”

Nice goal. But what does it mean? How will you measure your progress? How will you know you have succeeded? What if you absolutely hate to exercise? How will you do it? Does the thought of “get in shape” make you feel tired? cranky? hungry? Are you sure this is what you really want?

So, are you ready? Let’s set some goals. Remember, it needs to be something that you really DO want, and really WILL work for.

A Gallery of Trains

I thought I’d upload an image gallery of trains since our upcoming project is called “The Little Engine That Could.”

Let’s Do Something!

Our next project is due to begin on April 1st, just a few days away, and it’s time to start thinking about what comes next. What I’d like to do is build on what we have accomplished so far. In our last project, Laying The Groundwork, we made lists … lots of them, we journaled, we explored our deeper inner selves, and we talked, but we didn’t actually DO anything.

I think it’s time to stop talking for a while and start doing. The idea is to pick one doable goal, something that you could actually accomplish in a span of 30 days, and then actually DO it. I think it’s important that the goal be something that you actually WANT to succeed with. It could be a series of small simple practical things that you’ve been procrastinating, something you’ve always wanted to do but never made time for, it could even be something you were going to do anyway.

I am modeling this project around “The Little Engine That Could,” a story from my childhood that still influences me, even this many years later. I’ll also be looking for motivational videos, and whatever else I can find that will help us accomplish whatever it is that we’ve set out to do.

If this project interests you, I’d love it if you’d join in. A public statement as to what you are planning to accomplish in the next 30 days might be a great way to get started. You can leave a comment right here, right now, defining your goal. If public statements don’t float your boat, make a note and put it on your refrigerator, put a reminder on your phone, tell a friend, or do something to make it “official.”

 

What’s Next?

I am currently taking suggestions for upcoming projects. The next one is scheduled to begin on April 1st, and while I do have a good idea of what I’d like to explore, I am open to ideas and input. So, if you have anything you’d like to try, now is a good time to put in any requests you might have.

Laying The Groundwork Project Overview

This post provides links to pertinent aspects of The Laying The Groundwork project, so that you won’t have to sift through the archives to find out what you want to know.

The original idea, basic concept, and statement of intent is here:

If you would like to try this project for yourself, you can start on Day One: You Are, and come back daily to continue on thru Day Thirty: Falling Into Place. Or, you can pick through the posts, finding what seems interesting and useful. The important thing is to commit to a daily practice.

As you work with the Laying The Groundwork, we encourage you to post your thoughts, ideas, results, joys and disappointments as you go. This is an active blog, and if you post, we will notice and reply, and give you the benefit of our own experience and support if it seems pertinent or appropriate.

The basic summary of our results is posted here: Posting Our Results. A gallery of all the images used in this project can be found here: The Groundwork Gallery!

Here is the complete listing of the daily posts for the Laying The Groundwork project:

Posting Our Results

So here we have the results and the comments on the Laying The Groundwork project. These are taken directly from comments left on the website, and from the Facebook page. Self exploration is hard work, and it was a bit much for many of us to do the exercises every day. That being said, those of us who did complete all or most of the work did get some great results. The feedback is as follows:

Daniel:

This to me is one of the more enlightening projects for me. It really worked for me to answer all of the statements. I found that if I did it more than once my answers became more honest. The project lead me to a very dark realization but also hope to over come. Loved it so much I printed it out to do again. Thank you so much Shirley Twofeathers

Sydney:

  • I did not do all the exercises.
  • The ones I did do have helped me a little.
  • I was a little more confident about myself, more comfortable about myself.
  • The exercise that I benefited from most was the one where you had to write your greatest fear or weakness and find ways to deal with it.
  • I didn’t really have a least favorite part.
  • Yes, I learned that I can truly be myself and not care about what others think and not let my insecurities get me down if I really put my mind to it.
  • I have discovered that I don’t have to have someone tell me I’m beautiful to know I am… I know I am in my own way.
  • It really brought out some stuff about myself that I didn’t even know about, and it help me sort through them!

Saskia:

I really like the concept of this project. I unfortunately fell behind and was not able to really catch up. I am going to redo this on my own.

James:

It was a great project. I just got behind on it. It is a fun experience.

Shirley:

  • Yes. I did complete all the exercises, most of them more than once. The only one I didn’t complete was the big ass character development one… but I do plan to eventually get it filled out.
  • I don’t think I could pin it down to just one or two exercises that were the most beneficial to me. I had so many insights all through the project….
  • My favorite parts were the help wanted ad and the movie trailer tags… so much fun !! I’m still playing with the idea of posting my help wanted ad on Craigs list… LOL
  • My least favorite part was when I was the only one leaving comments.
    Did you learn anything new about yourself?
  • Did I learn anything new about myself? Yes. I learned what my motivations are, a new appreciation for all that I am and all that I do, and I quit beating myself up for the things that I don’t do, don’t want to do, and can’t do.
  • One of the other things I discovered is that self exploration is hard work … and a challenge … not everyone enjoys it as much as I do.
  • Is there anything else I’d like to say about this project? No, I’m pretty sure I’ve said enough.

The Groundwork Gallery

While I’m waiting for everyone to post their results, and leave their comments and insights on the Laying the Groundwork, I thought it might be fun to share a gallery of the images used in this project.

How did we do?

When I first had the idea for this project, I looked up the definition of the phrase, “Laying the groundwork,” and this is what it means:

  • To create or prepare the basics or essential foundation (for something); to pave the way (for something).
  • Something that is done at an early stage and that makes later work or progress possible.

Most of the exercises this time around were aimed at getting a clearer understanding of ourselves. And in the process, discover where our strengths, weaknesses, limitations, motivations, talents, and abilities lie.

Now that we’ve come to the end of our 30 day experiment, it’s time to check in with your results, experiences, and insights. Even if you didn’t complete all of the exercises, it will still be helpful to know what worked, or did not work for you.

Note: A simple way to leave feedback on the project is to copy and paste the questions into the comment box, and then answer the ones that appeal to you.

  • Did you complete all of the exercises?
  • If not, were the ones that you did do helpful to you?
  • In what way?
  • Which exercise did you get the most benefit from?
  • What was your favorite part of this project?
  • What was your least favorite part?
  • Did you learn anything new about yourself?
  • Did you discover anything important that you’d like to share?
  • Is there anything else you’d like to say about this project?

I would really love it if everyone that did the exercises would leave some feedback on this project. The fact that other people participated is a huge motivator for me. I deeply appreciate every person who visited this project and took part in it.

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Current Project

Our current project began on July 4. We are exploring the concept and practice of Radical Self Care . Feel free to join in at any time!

Interested? You can visit our current project page, or you can take a look at the About The Project page if you are curious about the concept.

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Please feel free to join in at any time! No experience necessary.

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