Create your renaissance
Welcome to the first week of the Renaissance workshop series. I’m so excited about these next 10 weeks we’re going to spend together, I COULD JUST TYPE IN ALL CAPS, but you get my drift. I’m pumped. Not just because I’ve gathered the coolest expert advice on the web for living your most authentic, kick-butt life, but also because I know when we get to the end, we’re going to feel great, and not just the temporary high we feel from snarfing the entire bag of M&Ms.
How is a renaissance different than all those new year’s resolutions that have come and gone in the past? Well, thanks for asking, because it’s a humongo difference. A resolution usually amounts to a wish with little consequence.
A renaissance is Italian for an “awakening.” It’s what my character Ramona gets in my novel, Dating da Vinci. She doesn’t just snap her fingers and a genie appears to grant her this fantastic life. She has to work at it. And so will you. But, wow, I promise it will be worth it in the end. You’ll feel more “you” and less what everybody else wants you to be. More at peace in your own skin. No, all of our goals aren’t going to be accomplished in ten weeks, but we’ll certainly know more of what we want out of life, beginning now.
If you’re going to have an awakening, then by golly, we need to do a little planning. We can’t just just nosedive into the River Self and expect we’ll come up for air a more fulfilled person. It takes preparation. So let’s figure out what you want most of out your life in these SIX LIFE AREAS. Your renaissance could include just one area or all six of them. Why? Because this isn’t a one-size-fits all kind of life. It’s your life. You may have BIG CHANGES in all areas, or just minor ones.
WEEK 1: Copy and paste these life areas or grab a notebook and do six columns. One for each. Then RATE your satisfaction in each area. A 1-10 scale will do just fine, 10 being best. This will aid in prioritization. Next, you’re going to come up with some general ideas on where you’d like to be in each area using the SMART goal planning.
Specific - be clear and specific about your goal.
Measurable - if you can’t measure it, it is difficult to achieve.
Attainable - make sure you are able to attain the goal
Realistic - is this goal feasible given your effort levels and tendencies?
Timely - write a specific date so when it comes, you can check off completion of the goal.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a SMART goal for them right now. Think on it. Jot down some notes. Pull out a calendar, and when you’re ready, begin envisioning the life you really want in each area.
Body - includes health, beauty, clothes, eating, exercise, hair & makeup
Career - includes career choice, position, education, advancement, work issues, compensation, benefits, work ethic, success
Home - includes living environment, personal space, organization, cleaning, clutter, home decor, personal style, energy, renovation
Mind/Spirit - includes spirituality, personal growth, interests, intellectual pursuits, passions, charity
Relationships - includes our own behaviors and interactions in all relationships in our lives - romantic, friends, parents, children, family, co-workers
Creativity - includes tapping in to a deeper source for more output and imagination to bring to our personal and professional lives.
There. Have you given yourself a satisfaction score for each? Now prioritize them from LOWEST life area to highest. Why the low score? What needs improvement? Start journaling it, and next week we’ll discuss a great topic with wonderful resources in each life area.
Good luck with your renaissance! Shoot me an e-mail to let me know what you’re working on and you’ll be entered in the drawing to win an Italian vase bought in Italy this summer to be given away at the end of our Renaissance series!
Your Renaissance Starts Now!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
