20 CHALLENGES OF GROWTH

 

20 CHALLENGES OF GROWTH

 (EXTRACTION FROM POST: 30 CHALLENGES FOR 30 DAYS OF GROWTH, WRITTEN BY: MARC AT http://www.marcandangel.com)

1. Use words that encourage happiness.

Typically, when asked by someone “How are you?”, the reply always were, “I’m fine” or “I’m okay.”  But one lazy Monday afternoon last month a new colleague of mine replied, “Oh, I am fabulous!”  It made me smile, so I asked him what was making him feel so fabulous and he said, “I’m healthy, my family is healthy, and we live in a free country.  So I don’t have any reason not to be happy.”  The difference was simply his attitude and his choice of words.  He wasn’t necessarily any better off than anyone else, but he seemed twenty times happier.  Use words that encourage a smile.

2. Try one new thing every day.

Variety truly is the spice of life.  You can see or do something a million times, but you can only see or do it for the first time once.  First time experiences often leave reflective marks in our minds for the rest of our lives.  Make an effort to try something new every day.  It can be a whole new activity or just a small experience, such as talking to a stranger.  Once you get the ball rolling many of these new experiences will open doors to life changing opportunities.

3. Perform one selfless act every day.

In life, you get what you put in.  When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life.  Do something that’s greater than you, something that helps someone else be happy or suffer less.  It will be an extremely rewarding experience.  One you’ll likely remember forever.

4. Learn and practice one new skill every day.

Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life.  To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades.  Contrary to what you may have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one.  And besides, learning new skills is fun.

5. Teach someone something new every day.

We all have natural strengths and talents that can dramatically help those around us.  What comes easy for you is no doubt challenging for others.  We tend to take these gifts for granted, often hardly noticing what we have to offer, and thus we rarely share them with others.  Inner happiness and zeal come from using these inherent gifts on a routine basis.  What do people thank you for?  What do people routinely ask for your help with?  Most people’s passions and talents help others in one way or another.  Devote some time each day to sharing your talents and expertise.

6. Dedicate an hour a day to something you’re passionate about.

This could be anything.  Some people take an active role in their city council; some join social clubs supporting causes they believe in and others find passion in their hobbies.  They engage themselves in something they strongly believe in.  This engagement brings happiness and meaning into their lives.

7. Treat everyone nicely, even those who are rude to you.

Being nice to someone you dislike doesn’t mean you’re fake.  It means you’re mature enough to control your emotions.  Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they’re nice, but because you are.

8. Concentrate on being positive at all times.

The real winners in life cultivate optimism.  They have the ability to manufacture their own happiness and drive.  Failure is only as an opportunity to grow and learn a new lesson from life.  People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times.  Look at the bright side of things.

9. Get rid of one thing a day.

So much clutter is surrounding us at any given moment (at the office, in our cars, in our homes) and we’ve become so accustomed to it that we no longer notice how it affects us.  If you start cleaning up some of this external clutter, a lot of internal clutter will disappear as well.  Choose one needless item each and every day and get rid of it.  It’s that simple.  It might be difficult at first, so expect some resistance.  But after some time you will begin to learn to let go of your packrat tendencies and your mind will thank you for your efforts.

10. Create something brand new.

Creation is a process like none other.  Putting to use your innovative faculties and constructing something with your own two hands will leave you with an indescribable sense of wholeness.  There is no substitute for it.  Find something you love, and create something related to it, it will make all the difference in your life.  If you haven’t created something in a while just for the sake of creating, do so.  Let your creativity run wild.

11. Don’t tell a single lie.

With all the seemingly innocent, white lies that trickle out of us, this is way harder than it sounds.  But you can do it.  Stop deceiving yourself and others, speak from the heart, speak the whole truth.

12. Ditch 3 bad habits within a specified period.

You know some of your bad habits.  Pick 3 and quit doing them for a specified period.

13. Watch less than 30 minutes of TV every day.

Entertain yourself with real-world experiences.  Great memories are the product of interesting life experiences.  So turn off the television (or the computer if that’s how you watch your TV programs) and get outdoors.  Interact with the world, appreciate nature, take notice of the simple pleasures life has to offer and just watch as life unfolds in front of you.

14. Read one chapter of a good book every day.

With globalisation and ICT, people are spending more and more time reading online.  Nevertheless, the Web cannot replace the authoritative wisdom from certain classic books that have delivered (or will deliver) profound ideas around the globe for generations.  Books open doors, in your mind and in your life.  Read an online book list and find a good book to grab at the library today.  Spend reading at least one chapter a day until you reach the end. 

15. Watch or read something that inspires you every morning.

Sometimes all you need is a little pep talk.  Watch a motivational video or read something (quotation, blog post, short story, etc.) that inspires you.

16. Do something every day after lunch that makes you laugh.

Watch a funny video clip on YouTube, read your favourite comic strip, or find a good joke online.  A good chuckle stimulates the mind and can give you a renewed level on energy.  The best time for this laugh is during the lull in the mid-afternoon, when you need it most.

17. Exercise for 30 minutes every day.

Your health is your life.  Don’t let it go.  Eat right, exercise and get an annual physical check-up.

18. Spend 10 minutes every evening reflecting on what went well.

Spend 10 minutes every evening pondering the small successes that occurred during the course of the day.  This process of positive reflection will remind you of all the tiny blessings in your life, and help you to celebrate your personal growth.

                                                                                                

19. Have a conversation every day with someone you rarely speak to.

People are interesting creatures, and no two people are exactly alike.  Interacting with different people will open your mind to fascinating ideas and perspectives.  Strike up a conversation daily with someone you rarely speak to, or someone you’ve never met before.  Find out what makes them tick.

20. Document every day with one photograph and one paragraph.

Take one photograph that represents a standout experience from each day.  Before you go to bed each night, write one paragraph in a notebook or journal that highlights your day.  If do it all digitally you can unite your daily photograph and paragraph in one digital space (like a personal blog), which can be easily reviewed in the future.  Many moons from now these old photos and journal entries will ignite your recollection of interesting memories you would have otherwise forgotten.