Completed #6: Buy and Finish The War of Art

Happy Monday to you all!

I hope this post finds you all in great spirits today! I wanted to report on accomplishing one of the items on my list, which was to purchase and read this book by Steven Pressfield, The War of Art.

While many people may be acquainted with Pressfield through his novel-turned-movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance, I became informed of this particular work through my complete obsession with listening to personal development podcasts. This particular work was first on my radar when I hear it mentioned on Dean Dwyer's "Make Shift Happen" podcast, and I knew from his first reference to the book that I had to read it. Dean described that this was the perfect book for anyone who has dealt with challenges related to procrastinating over the creative process.

A few weeks after my initial discovery of this book, I was reviewing the resume of a candidate who came through my office, and he listed this book as one that had left an impact on him. OK, I'm starting to see that this is one I shouldn't let slide. But the straw that broke the camel's back for me was hands-down an interview I had scheduled with a canididate who had a podcast where this book was actually read, page-by page. Clearly this was a sign.

I ordered the book within a few days of adding it to my list, and can now successfully cross #6 off my list. However, I don't think it would be fair to tease you all without sharing some of the truly profound take-aways for me:

• If you believe in God (and I do) you must declare Resistance evil, for it prevents us from the life intended when he endowed each of us with our own unique genius.
• Look in your own heart. Unless I am crazy, right now a still small voice is piping up, telling you as it has ten thousand times, the calling that is yours and yours alone. You know it, no one has to tell you. And unless I'm crazy, you're no closer to taking action on it then you were yesterday or will be tomorrow. You think Resistence isn't real? Resistance will bury you.
• The best and only thing one artist can do for another is to serve as an example and an inspiration.
• The working artist will not tolerate trouble in her life because she knows trouble prevents her from doing work. The working artist banishes from her world all working sources of trouble. She harnesses the urge for trouble and transforms it in her work.
• If you find yourself criticizing other people you are probably doing it out of Resistance. When we see others begin to live their authentic selves, it drives us crazy if we have not lived out our own.
• Remember our rule of thumb: The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.
• The more Resistance you experience, the more your unmanifested art/project/enterprise is to you- and the more gratification you will feel when you finally do it.
• The more energy we spend stoking up on support from colleagues and loved ones, the weaker we become and the less capable of handling our business.
• In my view, the amateur does not love the game enough, if he did he would not pursue it as a sideline, distinct from his "real" vocation. The professional loves it so much he dedicates his life to it. He commits full time.
• Nothing is as empowering as real-word validation, even if it's for failure.
• We know that if we embrace our ideals we must prove worthy of them.
• We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune or  attention or applause.
• If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion, you not only just hurt yourself, even destroy yourself. You hurt me. You hurt the planet. You shame the angels who watch over you and you spite the Almighty, who created you and only you with your unique gifts, for the sole purpose of nudging the human race one millimeter farther along its path back to God. Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. Its a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got.

This last bullet for me was the take-away. For those who know me well, know that within me exists a passion to transform lives by helping people overcome their food addictions, remedy disordered eating challenges, and create ideal lives where people thrive: thrivestyles :)

As I place this book on the shelf in my office to share with others, it is my hope that they, too will uncover their purpose and have the strength to overcome their fears so that the world doesn't miss out on their amazing gift.

Have a great day all!

A trip to SLO: #1 & #19 completed!

 

Hi All,
Well, I seem to be thriving my way through July and am happy to report that just 3 weeks into my quest and I have already knocked off 10 items on my list, so I wanted to update you all on the experiences, but for now I will start with 2 major ones that were part of my trip to SLO:

Me and Michelle Axberg- my mentor. She has always pushed me to advance in my career and stand up for myself. It is no surprise that she is also the person that told me to read Lean In.

1. Catch up with friends I haven't seen in more than a year. Earlier this month I took a well-needed trip back to San Luis Obispo, home of my alma matter, Cal Poly. While I will always look back at that time in college with fondness, one of the things I truly value are the relationships I created while I was in school (and working my tail off to support myself). As part of an early birthday gift to myself, I drove up to SLO and spent a couple days with some friends who I hadn't seen in years. Not only was this an opportunity to reconnect with each of them individually, but it was an opportunity for my own self-reflection and connection with where I am in the space of my life.

Front of the Apple Farm

Since one of the other items on my list included a visit to SLO,  in addition to catching up with friends I was also able to accomplish items #19: Visit the Apple Farm (sent my mom some jam from there and she practically squealed on the phone in gratitude when it arrived).

 As a result of the trip I also visited Cal Poly and I walked down the halls. Its strange to think that even after nearly 10 years has passed since I completed my undergrad that I still get chills walking down the halls, thinking of the time my friend Colleen and I clobbered our favorite teacher, Fitzhenry with a sandwiched hug, and how we use to laugh and laugh about him saying "Fair Field Full of Folk." I walked through the halls, looked at the murals of Canterbury Tales and Shakespeare. I recalled talks with my dear friend Megan, and the numerous study sessions we had to maintain our high marks. I remembered Dr. Wenzl and the Polyrating that once referred to him as "Grendel's Mother."

In addition to my planned visits, I fortunately ran into someone I hadn't expected to see, my old neighbor Ping, er Jill LeRoy, and her dear husband, Ritchie. I walked with Michelle (my host) through a concert in the Mission San Luis Obispo plaza, and had a great dinner at Palazzo Giseppe. What a wonderfully rewarding experience.

All in all, I thrive-worthy journey. Lots of driving, but definitely a lot of joy!

Thrive on!

THRIVE at 35: Intro to it all!

Hi All,
So, I am not sure if anyone will read this or not, but I decided I'd give it a shot anyway. I usually blog at my home base of Chunky-to-Cha-Cha (chunkytochacha.blogspot.com), but I am working on what we will call a side project that I felt warranted a separate page.

While I will still be an avid Cha-Cha blogger, I am embarking on a special project this year that I want to share with you. For those of you who know nothing about me, I am a 35 year old single gal living in beautiful San Diego, CA. I am unmarried (divorced) and childless, which therefore means I must have an awesome career because I've devoted my life to climbing the corporate latter, right? That would be great, and the company I work for is awesome, but the truth is that sometimes life happens. While I have enjoyed the awesome ride of my life, unfortunately being a great wife and supporting my ex-husband's career doesn't net any points for my own professional endeavors.

While this may sound like a bummer, and you are probably wondering why you would ever read a depressing blog like this, I want to assure you that my motivation in writing this blog is to share that while yes, it would be great to be in a happy marriage with children at this stage in my life, the reality is that instead, I have been provided an opportunity. The opportunity is this... I am single, I live in a great city, and I have the opportunity to accomplish some great things. While I have completed my formal education in human resources, over the last year I have been considering the opportunity for more in my life: more hope, more sharing, more giving back, and less sitting in a cubicle. While I have not nailed it down yet, I do know that it will involve coaching and will include improving health and body image for women.

As I embark on this fact-finding journey this year, I figured that not only will I take deliberate action to discover my business and formulate it into something wonderful, but that I will enjoy this time in my life. Instead of sitting around waiting for life to happen, I am going to go out and create opportunities for fun, reward, growth, and goodness. It is with this concept on my heart that I present to you THRIVE at 35 list.

THRIVE AT 35:

1. Catch up with friends who I haven’t seen in more than a year.
2. Call my grandma and get her recipe for Spanish Pork chops.
3. Donate anything I haven’t used in a year that does not hold legacy or historical value.
4. Go horseback riding
5. Make a meal for someone I care about
6. Shake my booty
7. Go to yoga class
8. Passionately kiss someone
9. Send 10 hand-written thank you notes
10. Help someone find a job (not for work)
11. Start every day with gratitude, inspiration and motivation.
12. No negative self-talk: foster a positive environment.
13. Buy and finish The War of Art
14. Buy a bikini I really like- not from Target.
15. Throw away or donate anything with a negative association (old clothes, love letters)
16.  Buy something for a stranger
17. Take care of my sleep needs
18. Forgive someone
19. Visit Apple Farm
20. Create a new tradition
21. Drink a really great glass of red wine and buy fancy make-up (also not from Target)
22. Create a multi-media presentation
23. Do something en francais
24. Be honest about my feelings
25. Get a massage
26. Leave any date immediately once I’ve said “that’s interesting after the 15^th time.
27. Do a pull up (parallel bars ok)
28. Move business forward. Get website up.
29. Read my coaching manual
30. Go ice skating
31. Find a niche market
32. Go see fireworks at Sunset Cliffs
33. Give someone a thoughtful gift- just because
34. Ask for feedback, even when its hard
35. Don’t apologize for not liking something or for being assertive.
36. And one to grow on... Try something new, even if its uncomfortable.

While I have already begun to work on this list, I thought that it would also be an interesting practice to share what happens along the way as I attempt to tackle some of the things on my list. I have one year to accomplish the list (well, my 36th birthday, so less than one year now).

I will write a couple initial blogs to catch up on the ones I've already completed and will then work on a plan for accomplishing the remainder on the list over the next 12 months.

I'm so excited to share this journey with you.
Wendy