my three words for 2014

shirlnutkin ponders
(from Archie McFee)

THANKS @chrisbrogan ... Now in my third year for three words - explained over here in Chris Brogan's post, my three words for 2014 are -

• Shift
• Fingertips
• Practice

 

SHIFT

I shift into gear.

A carry-over from 2013, shift is about recognizing and creating those events and activities that bring meaningful change not only to my big story/vision but also to the big story/vision of those around me. (Added for 2014 is the element of providing the support and framework for others to shift.)

So far, for my endeavors, this includes my commitment to -

• becoming a peer-group leader for GlobalNiche's SUM-it UP program with my first study group beginning in 2014 Q1, and 
• becoming certified by BJ Fogg and Linda Fogg-Phillips as a Tiny Habits® Coach, with more about this explained in this < 3 minute video by BJ over here

 

FINGERTIPS 

My fingertips are always active.

OH THE PLACES my fingertips have been and will go! There are many activities accomplished by fingertips - some I have engaged and others I've yet to discover. Keeping my fingertips active dovetails with my many areas of interest.

Deservedly so, fingertips, for me, includes/will include (... strap in) - writing, blogging, journaling, playing the ukulele, occasional refreshers at the piano, cartooning, improvising (and making more out of object work), wrangling hair products, less "story-duck-mouth" motions (... tip of the hat to my friend andy), more thumbs up, cooking, tapas eating, home decorating, sign language, collaging (... tip of the hat to my friend theresa), and ... those activities that contribute to shifts.

PRACTICE

I engage daily practices.

As an evolution of one of my 2013 three words - deliberate - practice is inspired by the following -

• perspective shared by Chris Brogan in 2011 over here - The Practice is the Reward 
• having participated in early 2012 in BJ's Tiny Habits® program - simple, daily tiny habits that you choose for yourself and that you practice daily to bring about new behaviors
• the perspective of Deliberate Practice from Cal Newport (and here on Real Leaders Project's YouTube channel is an interview with Cal Newport)

- and to a great extent, practice is/will be tied to those "shifts" and "fingertips" - the practice of serving as a peer-group leader will include the daily checking-in on the Google+ Community that is formed, the practice of learning more chords to learn more songs on the ukulele, the practice of tiny habits toward a more health lifestyle, etc.

MY THREE WORDS OF THE PAST YEARS

My three words for 2012 -

• Believe
• Foresight
• Expression

My three words for 2013 -

• Deliberate
• Expressive
• Shift

as Chris shared in 2013 -

"The three words are a shorthand representation of your bigger story. It’s kind of like how an icon isn’t the software program. It’s just a way for you to mentally access all the work you’re doing."

What three words - 

or maybe it's more words or less words

- reflect you?

 

unleashing soulwork ...

image from bindlestiff studio

thanks @MaxaliShines ... you don't know me (yet), but i'm glad we have a friend in common.

i don't think i've been bit by the performance-bug (if there is such a bug), however, i do believe this "bug" is part of my 3 words shared earlier this year - believe, foresight, expressive. (and in fact, now i am wondering how close or far the idea of performance is from the desire to be expressive.)


expressive ... i am creatively expressive. writing and speaking are my first go-to places for being expressive. i'm chugging along to create and experience these opportunities. also, i have started my second year of improv with made up theatre. i have my little brunetti cartooning tidbit. and a few other express-yourself ideas brewing, such as aarp's expressive drawing on-line course.

coming sooner ... soulwork: creating, acting, living begins april 1 (afternoon) for 6 sunday afternoons, and signing up is easy. created and taught be nicole maxali (on web, twitter, facebook, youtube), this workshop will be at SF's bindlestiff studio. nicole shares -

"Inspired by books like The Artist's Way and real life experiences, this experiential workshop includes reflective writing exercises, improv games, scene work and theater basics to help participants get out of their own way and manifest their deepest desires. By being in the moment, actively listening (to oneself and those around you), finding your true intentions and taking risks, you can become a better actor and if the world is a stage better you as well."

expressive inventory ... for me at this time, blogging, improv, cartooning, soulwork, long walks, journaling, and meditation are those activities i have engaged that come to mind.

and for my dear @TKSaville (aka tracy, on twitter), creator of the digital magazine LeadingPossibilities, i will indeed give birth to writing what tracy likely already has seen in my future, while i work on my unleashing the thoughts from my head with the passion of my heart through the fingertips on my hands! (virtual hugs, tracy!)

what does expressive mean to you?

how do you express yourself? 

and if you don't, why not?

2012 mash-up goals

mash-up? ... yup! mashing up yhd + my 3 words + scanner tendencies + 3 tiny habits (upcoming) for being in 2012. it is all part of my continual effort to pursue my curious discoveries.

what does it all mean? ... it's just how i "australian-shepherd" (aka herd) what's swirling around in my head AND my heart AND my hands. the beginning of the year is simply a convenient time, however, there's readjusting throughout the year.

overview mash-up ingredients  ... the following lists a little about each of the mash-up tidbits.

 

yhd ... or your heart's desire is something i started in 1999 (more detail over here for yhd2011), thanks to my friend, debbie. author sonia choquette's your heart's desire: instructions for creating the life you really want is a workbook of sorts with 9 principles. i consider this a woo-woo book - a kind of spiritual and law of attraction thing. as stated on choquette's website -

"There are metaphysical laws at work in the universe that bring to us both what we want and what we don't want, depending on our habits of thought and behavior."

9 principles ... each chapter includes exercises as part of learning the 9 principles presented by choquette. the principles (in order) include ...

1. focus your desire (bring your dream into focus)
2. send clear messages to your subconscious mind. repeat them and make sure they are positive (gain the support of your subconscious mind)
3. deeply imagine realizing your goal ~ do it in detail (imagine your heart's desire)
4. establish order in your physical environment (eliminate your obstacles)
5. open yourself to your intuition ~become aware of synchronicity, etc. (be open to intuitive guidance)
6. rein in impulsive behavior (choose to support your dream with love)
7. honor the power of your words ~ say what you mean (surrender control)
8. persist in your dream (claim your dream)
9. surrender to divine power and allow the universe to do the rest (stay true to your dream)

ten categories ... there are 10 categories one can touch upon. i identified tools and put forth a mindset for each category, and as part of my own journaling and personal reflection, revisited each regularly. the 10 categories are (here, listed in order of my yhd2011):

• health & body, 
• finances, 
• creative expression, 
• relationships, 
• spiritual, 
• work, 
• special intentions, 
• travel & adventure, 
• home, and 
• possessions. 

my yhd2012 ... although i will be mashing up for 2012, the yhd categories will continue to serve as my basic framework because i have become quite accustomed to my yhd process for being mindful.

 

my 3 words ... i mentioned my 3 words for 2012 last week over here - believe, foresight, expression. a little bit more about chris brogan's my 3 words is that it includes a #12in12 (from over here), which is basically accomplishing something each month. 

my friend, yvette, wrote an article last year for pick the brain over here about monthly habits. as a side note, yvette (her blog) - also boulder examiner's dating advice columnist - suggests another creative idea of using the alphabet throughout the year over here - every week, just move on to the next letter in the alphabet. (and yes, it's not just for dating.)

3 tiny habits ... i learned about this through health month. bj fogg (on web, twitter) states  -

My expertise is creating systems to change human behavior. I call this “Behavior Design.”

- and 3 tiny habits is explained a little more over here on shareable. although i won't be starting yet, i have signed up; i received health month has been a great similar approach. this is actually a bit akin to the health month fun i also mentioned last week over here.

yup, this is how i am herding

my 2012 swirls!

my 3 words ...

for 2012 ... thanks @chrisbrogan (on web, twitter) for a nifty start to 2012.  he shared his 3 words for 2012 over here - temple. untangle. practice.

my turn ... as an incentive to reflect and ponder, my 3 words for 2012* are -

believe. 
foresight.
expressive.

believe ... i believe wholeheartedly - in myself, in others, and in my core spirit. this is not a "religious" thing for me; it's about having my own understanding and being clear about the creativity that swirls around in my head. swirling in my head are many memories, reflections, ideas, possibilities, wonderment, emotions, and just plain thoughts. in october, i shared about humility over here, which included a little tidbit about The Belief System™ - excerpted here -

"basically says that when it comes to motivation, what a person believes is often more important that what really is. ... believe they can make the change ... believe there will be an outcome or consequence if they make the change ... be something they want ... Belief 1 - Confidence, Belief 2 - Trust, and Belief 3 - Satisfaction ... much more to the The Belief System™ ... basics will be enough to show how the concept applies to behavioral change."

- and with a train the brain four steps of self-assessment, motivation, practice, and feedback.

my swirls are sometimes jotted in my moleskine, on my springpad, or on my blog. mind maps. voice recordings. journaling. swirls everywhere. and among the swirls - where my many strong beliefs already reside - there are the occasional blips, tidbits, bruises, and speed bump thoughts -"what if ...?" blips, "huh? no really?!" tidbits (e.g., where rigid science does not plainly explain things like reiki), "but why not?" bruises, and "o.k. ... soon" speed bumps. so for 2012, i'll gather my swirls and enjoy gaining clarity in, being clear about, and engaging in my beliefs.

foresight ... i choose living with foresight. inspired by servant leadership coursework with the greenleaf academy, the topic of foresight was part of required readings. robert greenleaf once stated, "the failure (or refusal) of a leader to foresee may be viewed as an ethical failure. ..." from this, in daniel kim's "foresight as the central ethic of leadership" (an adapted version referenced over here), kim takes a "deeper look" at greenleaf's statement, and presents his thoughts about the power of choice. kim also shares, "in the end, foresight is about being able to see all things that are important to our future." and although this was presented within the context of transforming organizations, this has value for personal foresight. so for 2012, i'll be mindful of connecting my activities to my core values and identity within the context of foresight.

expressive ... i am creatively expressive. writing and speaking are the basic go-to for expressing thoughts, ideas, and other things swirling in my head; seeking opportunities to write and speak more will be part of 2012's express-yourself moments. and 2012 also will include seeking and learning new forms of and venues for expression. back in late january 2011, i tried out improv classes over here and continued throughout 2011; 2012 will see more improv moments! i'm going to give cartooning a whirl per ivan brunetti's cartooning: philosophy and practice. (check out this little promo over here)




why cartooning? well, i've never tried it, so why not?! so for 2012, i'll look forward to surprising myself (and others) using different forms of expression.

believe. foresight. expressive. 

* finally feeling much better

to sit propped up in front of my computer

to post my 3 words for 2012. phew!