gratefulness challenge

I have a tendency to quite elevated highs and quite depressed lows, as you may have noticed. Yes, I've seen doctors, tried medication and various therapies, but I don't like what the meds do to me. And it all seems to balance out in some way. It's as if the highs come with a cost, but they are absolutely worth it for me. If it was more extreme, I would have to reconsider, but it's ok for now, and I've figured out some coping mechanisms (which sometimes involve hiding from the world - not ideal, but there you go).

One thing I have noticed, though, is that when I start emerging from from a difficult time my thoughts tend to revolve around the things I am grateful for in my life. Which is precisely where this theme came from.

You may have also noticed that I'm a big fan of Zen Habits, and when I Googled 'gratitude' earlier this evening, what should come up but a Zen Habits post on that very topic. It's from a few years ago, but still very relevant, and it contains a challenge - the Zen Habits Gratefulness Challenge. How very appropriate! So I'm taking it on for the month of February (and hopefully it will be a habit I maintain a lot longer than that).

The Zen Habits Gratefulness Challenge 

Fellow readers of Zen Habits, I’d like to leave you with a challenge today. This is not a theoretical challenge–it’s designed to be quite practical.

Over the next 30 days, I would like to challenge you to create your own life of gratitude in a way that is meaningful to you, and to begin practicing acts of gratefulness more than you have ever done before.

I’ll be doing it along with you, and so will a lot of other readers. It’s always good to be specific, so here are some ideas… but don’t let these limit you.

• Spend three minutes every morning writing down a few things you are grateful for that day
• Devote a full morning or afternoon to composing a more detailed gratefulness list. (One tip: think both about what you are grateful for and also how you can show that gratitude)
• Make it a habit to encourage at least one person every day
• Review your finances to make sure they are in order and aligned with your values
• Plan something fun, like a trip to somewhere you’ve never been
• For one day (or more), say something positive to every person you meet

Lastly, every good challenge has a part two. Are you ready for the part two of this challenge? Here it is:

The second part of the Zen Habits Gratefulness Challenge is for you to pass on the challenge to others. 

You don’t need to do this in an organized way–make it your way. Just make it real, because the world will be better for it. Bloggers, you have a loyal audience that pays attention to what you have to say. Tell them what you’re grateful for, and then challenge them as well.

In your work and school environments, you can be an influence for positive change, and one way to start is by spreading the habit of gratitude.

From Zen Habits: Three Truths to Help You Create a Life of Gratitude,
guest post by Chris Guillebeau of The Art of Nonconformity.

So what am I grateful for today?

• The children having an "awesome!" first day back at school.
• The chance I took on setting up a home-based business ten years ago, that now means my time is pretty flexible so I can be involved in school and other kids' activities, go out for coffee, and make my work fit around my life.
• That my energy levels are starting to increase again, bit by bit, and consequently I'm achieving more each day.

What are you grateful for?

what do I want?

Today's Zen Habits post is entitled How to want very little - very apt after my post on priorities yesterday. It begins: "There are two challenges that people face when choosing to live a more simpler life: owning little and wanting little." The author talks about how wanting little is much harder than the decluttering and elimination involved in owning little, because it involves an attitude shift.

I find that these days I don't want a whole lot in terms of material goods - what I want is more about experience: travel, fun, sharing, trying new things, knowledge and so on. I have been struggling when relatives ask me what I want for Christmas and birthday presents, and usually come up with something I would need anyway (like clothes), or something related to the experiences I am working towards (contributions to the travel fund, a bigger memory card for my camera ...). I'm also struggling a bit with suggestions for what to buy the children - I would rather purchase a season ticket to an attraction they love, or put the money towards a combined holiday, than buy more 'stuff'.

And it's the 'stuff' we already own that is weighing me down. We're gradually decluttering, but it's a slow process. I love that I've been able to give friends certain items, and donate to the school fete and charities, but I have a secret desire to either a) set fire to the whole lot and start again, only replacing what we really need and love, or b) hiring a skip and just throwing stuff out - lots of it, ruthlessly. Of course, I'm far too sensible to do either of those things, but it's good to have a dream ;)

So I will go on with the decluttering, and resist the constant marketing hype, and hopefully pass on to my children that having more stuff isn't the answer to anything.