Welcome to part three of my 30 Days to a Better You Challenge. (You can find part one here.)
This is not a 30-day self-improvement program. It’s not 30 days of guilt or motivational hype.
It’s a collection of small choices and simple actions to help you know yourself, love yourself, nurture yourself, and pursue your calling.
Each day I offer one simple thought and one small step to help you move forward.
Week Three Focus—Nurture and Develop Yourself
You are unique. You have abilities, interests, and hobbies that deserve to be nurtured, developed, and challenged. You have both the ability and the responsibility to learn and grow in all aspects of your life. Don’t waste your talents by ignoring them. Instead, be intentional about growing the potential God put inside you.
The goal of Week Three is to embrace your unique qualities and pursue activities that will help you develop all you were created to be.
Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.
Golda Meir
Week Three Mantras
Change is never easy. Here are some helpful phrases you can repeat to yourself when you get discouraged or need a boost of motivation.
- I can grow in all areas of my life.
- My interests are worth pursuing.
- Mistakes are not failure. Mistakes are normal. Mistakes help me learn.
- The best version of myself is the most authentic version of myself.
30 Days to a Better You Challenge, Week Three
Day 16: Say “Yes” to something new. If you tend to stick with the tried and true, this challenge is for you. The next time you are tempted to say “no” to an invitation, idea, or option, stop and reconsider. What would happen if you said “Yes” instead? Step out of your comfort zone and try something new and different instead of playing it safe.
Today’s step: Notice when you are sticking with your safe default choice. Challenge yourself to say “Yes” to a new choice instead.
Day 17: Invest in yourself. We all need the proper tools, supplies, and education to grow in our profession and our areas of interest. When was the last time you spent actual money on something that will help you pursue your interests? Even something as simple as a new pen can lift your spirits and motivate you to move forward.
Today’s step: Invest in something that will help you grow a facet of you: a tool, a class, a book, art supplies, membership to an organization, etc. Pick something affordable and order it today.
Day 18: Make something. You and I were created to be creative. We are not all sculptors or violinists, but we all benefit from using our actual hands to make actual things. It isn’t the result that matters but the process. Physically creating things is good for our brains. It enhances our creativity and problem-solving abilities. Try it.
Today’s step: Make something today: doodle, write a letter, make pretzels from scratch, invent a dance, plant flowers, build a wonky vehicle out of Legos. It doesn’t matter what. It doesn’t matter if the result is any good. Just create something.
Day 19: Take a small risk. Taking risks is part of growing and challenging yourself. Some personalities naturally embrace risk-taking, but the rest of us need to work at it. So step out of your comfort zone and try something that isn’t a sure bet today.
Today’s step: Prove to yourself that risks won’t kill you by taking one small, intentional risk. It doesn’t matter how insignificant, so long as it feels like a risk. Speak up even though it will ruffle feathers. Show your art to someone. Make a gutsy play in a game of cards. Go for it!
Day 20: Let go of an expired hobby. Are there things you used to love that no longer float your boat? It’s OK to feel that way. There is no law of the universe that says you must enjoy the same activities your entire life. You are not being a quitter. You are being intentional about opening room in your life for something more important.
Today’s step: Give yourself permission to quit doing “fun” things that are no longer fun. If it no longer feeds your soul, let it go. (Even if you haven’t used up all the supplies!)
Day 21: Get around to it. Take time today for a hobby or activity you love that you haven’t done in a while. I don’t mean the chores lurking on your to-do list or things someone else wants you to do!!! This is about reconnecting with something that brings a smile to your face and joy to your soul. So stop procrastinating and get busy.
Today’s step: Do that thing you love: Open that book you’ve been meaning to read. Get out your paints. Hike that trail. Have the neighbors over for dinner or dessert. Feed your soul today.
Day 22: Practice with intention. Practice isn’t always fun, even when you’re doing something you love. However, practice is the only way to improve your skill, whether the skill in questions is your backswing or basket making. Those who excel at any activity know how to practice with intention.
Today’s step: Select a skill or hobby you are already proficient at and do a challenging exercise that will hone those skills even more.
It is good to love many things, for therein lies true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.
Vincent van Gogh
Which of this week’s small steps was the most challenging for you? Let me know in the comments.
Want a cheat sheet? Get a one-page summary of the 30-Day Challenge here.
