True Grit- I did it

I hung this note on the mirror in my office's bathroom. I'm not sure if it made anybody else's day, but it made me smile thinking it might.

True Grit Week 8

Become a Surpriser.

I kind of like week 8's challenge even though I didn't do any of the suggestions. Next week?

The challenge is to plan a surprise for someone. Nothing big, just something fun. The suggestions include:

Start an anonymous tic-tac-toe game via a note

Stick a post-it on a public bathroom mirror saying "you look awesome!"

Hid candy in someone's desk. Email them a clue.

Walk up to a friend, say "Tag you're it" and run away

Arrange objects in the shape of someone's initials and send them a photo, just because

Do you ever plan small (or HUGE) surprises? Did you try any of the suggestions? If you've been following along with True Grit did you learn anything about yourself?

True Grit week 6

How did everyone do with their posture? Stand a little taller? Demand presence when walking in to the room? I didn't notice any difference, but have noticed myself speaking up more lately. Maybe its related?

This weeks challenge is de-clutter and release.

- Create a map of your living space and identify clutter areas, clear one item away from a heavy clutter area

- Clear your inbox to zero

- Think of something that frustrates you and brush its energy away from you

- tackle one nagging task that you have been postponing

These goals align closely to The Happiness Project Chapter 1: Vitality where she worked to toss, restore, organize and tackle a nagging task.

One thing I've been doing a lot lately on the subject of "Think of something that frustrates you and brush its energy away from you" is remind myself that its not me its you.  For example on my walk home tonight a car honked at me even though I was in the bike lane where they shouldn't of been driving, then they ran a red light. At first this made me mad, but then I reminded myself that the driver must be having a bad day and was running late to something very important. And then I realize how little the honk really impacts my life.

Do you have any habits or mantras that lets you de-clutter and release?

True Grit 4 & 5

My luke warm participation continues.

Week 4: Radical Productivity- basically do the most important thing "MIT" first not the thing that is wanting the most attention.

I've heard this advice several times before. Especially at my old job, where you could come in to work and spend the whole day trying to answer emails as they come in instead of tackling the big project due for the day. At my current job its not so much a problem. So I did go in each day and start to work on the MIT, but it wasn't challenging.

Week 5: Walk the Walk- working on your posture. The big to-do is to imagine a string pulling you up every time you go through a door way. Therefore making a grand entrance. I think posture is important, but generally think mine is pretty good (one of my previous coworkers would always tell me mine was best of the ladies in the office at least), but I like the idea of making purposeful entrances into rooms. So I will try my best to check my posture at all doors.

Do you find it challenging to perform your MIT each day? How's your posture? Did you have any success with week 1-3?

True Grit week 3

First off, how did I do with the eyebrows?

Honestly, I had a hard time remembering to look at other people's eyebrows when they were talking to me. I'd remember afterwards, but that didn't do me any good. I did notice that Ann Curry doesn't really move her eyebrows much on the Today show and Frasier's go crazy. I also noticed my niece seems to have wonderful arches in her eyebrows.

Ok, on to the week 4 challenge: The week of Wonderizing

The challenge is making "I wonder" statements at least once a day. Apparently it starts amazing conversations and makes you sound more intelligent, likable, and wise.

I kind of planned out my wonder statement on my walk to work. I knew a situation would come up with my coworker and when it did I let it fly. "I wonder what kind of conversations we will have at lunch" (We were having lunch with our boss and another boss level guy) At first I thought it flop as he kind of just shrugged, but then a few seconds later he started hypothesizing.

I like this challenge a bit more, because I'm not just looking at things and I'm curious to see how others will respond. 

the neon envelopes are the best

True Grit Adventure Week 1 & 2

At some point when I was living in NYC I came across LifeLabs. I think they might of been mentioned in New York Magazine for something. So for the past year or so I've been receiving emails about their up coming classes. One class they offer is the True Grit Adventure. As described on the website: 

Become braver, more alive, more alluring, more mischievous. Add some grit and
adventure. Observe your friends & neighbors...(hm? Intrigued?)

For the next 8 Mondays you will receive, via postal mail, a little letter that gives you a secret 
mission. Complete the mission and a new layer gets added to your personality.

The missions are playful and fun, yet scientifically proven to make an impact. You will be noticing
new things, walking differently, designing small surprises for your friends and family, and stirring 
up new talents and habits:  An 8-week personality remix.

Upon sign up, you will receive your first mission via postal mail
within 10 days (yes, an old-school letter), and then another mission each week.

So after reading about this several times I decided to sign up. To be honest, after two weeks I am not impressed. These are not the type of challenges I expected. Hopefully the next 6 weeks are more exciting. To make it more exciting I'm letting you guys follow along.

Week 1: Become a professional shadow noticer

Basically look at shadows. The adventure includes three tasks.

1. Once a day evaluate the shadows around you (I did this a few times, maybe 4 days)

2. Point out a shadow to someone (I pointed one out to Matt!)

3. Trace a shadow with chalk and watch how it changes (Fail)

Week 2:  Become an eyebrow expert

The three tasks.

1. Pick one person each day to track, see if what they say matches what their eyebrows are saying.

2. Watch TV without sound, create your own dialogue using eyebrow cues.

3. Once per day spot an "eyebrow flash" An eyebrow flash is a short raising of they eyebrows to signal "hullo" it happens when two acquaintances meet for the first time that day. It also happens when people want to signal that they are done talking and it is your turn to talk.

I received the second task yesterday and I must admit I didn't do any of the tasks... better luck tomorrow.

What do you think? Do you notice shadows? Are you ever confused when eyebrows are telling you the opposite of what someone is saying? What do you think about the eyebrow flash?