Self-Growth Challenge Complete (But its not Over)

I wrapped up the Spring Growth Challenge I made for myself a little bit ago. My last instagram post was actually a few weeks ago, but life got busy (and patios opened) and here I am on a rainy Friday afternoon typing up a post awhile in the making.

To recap, this is what I challenged myself to do for thirty days:

1. Do something creative (writing, painting, dancing, etc)

2. Wake up the same time every morning (one hour later on weekends)

3. Write down three things I am grateful for every morning and every night

4. Do one act of kindness 

And, most importantly, 

5. Post on Instagram my daily updates about this challenge.

So. How did it go?

1. Do something creative.I started off recording on my instagram posts the act of creativity I had done each day. Usually it was flowing or dancing, or writing. Once or twice it was water colour painting. I continued doing these creative things (not quite everyday) but I found writing so much in a post daunting, to the point where it was stopping me from posting as frequently. But I was still conscious of doing something that had me using my brain in a way that was not just thinking (or overthinking) something in the routine of my day.

Sometimes it took a little effort. Its easy for me to log on zoom for a pole class and just do whatever movement I am instructed. But when its just me, turning on some music and allowing my body to go with the beat and melody, it takes a few minutes to get into a flow. The first song comes on and awakens some emotional response in me, but like greasing a door that isn’t used often enough, it takes a few stiff, awkward movements before that emotion really translates into anything that looks or feels flowy. But I found if I committed to dancing to at least 2 whole songs, I would inevitably keep going for me, reaching that creative place of flow that actually felt good, where I wanted to keep dancing.

2. Wake up the same time every morning. I started this one out with the best intentions. However as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. So while I did start waking up a little earlier every day, my weekends still had me sleeping in a good 1.5 -2 hours later than my usual 8:08 AM wake up on my teaching days. That being said, waking up at 8:08 instead of 8:30 which I was doing before, put me back in a habit of journalling an doing yoga before sitting down at my computer. And that is a routine that I have continued to keep even since ending this challenge.

3. Write down three things I am grateful for every morning and every night.

I would say this was the most powerful act of all that I set out for myself in this challenge- despite it seeming like the most simple. Having kept gratitude journals on and off for a couple years now, it was not hard for me to come up with three things twice a day— most days I actually had many more listed. What I loved so much about this exercise is that it made me so much more mindful and optimistic every hour of the day— not just when it came to write.

I was constantly on the lookout for the little good things that I could include as part of my gratitude list later— from the sun coming out on my morning walk, to not having to wait for the elevator, to nailing a new pole trick. Everyday I noticed the little, simple things that were going my way. At first it was just for the sake of recording it later and put in a post. But after a bit it became habitual. And honestly, I feel like I felt a little bit happier every day because of it.

Started paying attention to little good things, like cold ciders on a warm night

4. Do one act of kindness.

This one felt a bit overwhelming at the beginning of the challenge. For the first few days, I was trying to schedule into my day chores or tasks that were undoubtedly kind, but also took some planning, money, or other resources not readily available. Baking cookies for a nursing home, or taking a neighbour shopping are really kind things, of course, but a little tough to do in a day when it feels like here is a million other things to be done.

So I focused more on spontaneous acts of kindness. Such as holding open a door, or sharing an elevator, offering to take a picture for someone, or giving a compliment. Walking down the street, Ill often see someone dressed beautifully, with a dog thats adorable, or wearing earrings I love. This challenge, I made a point to open my mouth and say this.

Sometimes, people were surprised. In that half a second after blurting out my compliment, before people registered that yes, it was me, a stranger, addressing them, there was a coldness or awkwardness in the air. But in the second that followed, when they realized it was in face a compliment, and genuine kindness, a big smile or moment of warmth always followed. And I swear, both of us left that exchange feeling like we were walking a little bit taller.

Spending time with my senior dog and my senior grandfather

So to wrap things up, it was a good month. It wasn’t perfect. Nor was it groundbreaking. But it was a nice little refresher for myself about what’s important, and how to live everyday in a way to make up a good, balanced, satisfying life. So I’m going forward now, keeping most of these habits, even if I am not recording it or posting it.

Except for going to bed earlier. That’s gonna take a bigger challenge.

What are you tackling next?

xoxo

Jordan

Spring Growth Challenge (an Inner Spring cleaning to grow your mindset)

#MayGrowth30 :

30 Days to a Healthier, Stronger, and Clearer Mind

I love spring.  There is something about this season of growth and renewal that has always sparked inspiration and excitement in me.  I suppose its seeing the changing of seasons, the melting of snow, and the slow invasion of green, new life life that makes me feel empowered to take undergo some of my own change and self-growth, and come out of the winter dormancy that so many of us find ourselves in.

Over the past several months, I have found myself in a bit of a mental rut. I’ve fallen into less-than-helpful patterns and habits. I stay up too late for no real reason, wake up feeling tired and lacking energy to face the day, and spend too much time in front of my computer, consuming content rather than creating it.

I have also found myself feeling more stressed and anxious over little things that really shouldn’t get to me, and in turn, becoming so wrapped up in my own problems that I am not always able to respond to the needs and feelings of others around me.

I value being a generous, kind, and compassionate person, and when my own mental health is suffering, I am not living up to this version of me.

And so, I am dedicating this month to spring cleaning my mental health.

Just like spring cleaning of our homes inside and out is a common occurrence with the end of winter, shaking the cobwebs off some of the goals and resolutions I have made for myself earlier in the year just seems to come as a natural inclination as soon as the days get longer and warmer.

Especially this year, where once again, we find ourselves in lockdown here in Toronto in these early days of spring.  It feels counter-intuitive to what spring usually inspires in me:  to be holed up by myself up indoors, cancel plans, and put off all the activities and gatherings that usually fill me with a new energy this season.  

So this May, I have decided I need to take kind of internal “spring cleaning”  into my own hands.  I am giving myself a 30- Day Spring Growth Challenge (#SpringGrowth30). 

I know that challenges especially these short and sweet month long endeavours are all over Instagram, TikTok and every other social media platform. A lot of them focus on our physical fitness or body goals (just Google Chloe Ting and you'll see what I mean). 

And while people may find some benefit out of these fitness-focused challenges,  the kind of change I am after is more holistic than that. I am trying to achieve mental, spiritual and emotional growth. 

More simply, I am trying to be a better human; a stronger, kinder, more resilient, more content, and more productive person. 

This is not an easy task, and it will require a lot of rewiring and retraining my brain to think different thoughts and form new habits. It won’t happen overnight.  It likely wont even happen in thirty days. 

But I am committed to making a good start over this next month, and making the necessary first steps to lay down the foundation for the kind of lasting change I want for myself. 

 I want to level-up my mindset.

Here are my goals for this challenge: 

Goals:

1. Shift my mindset from scarcity to abundance

2. Gain clarity on what passions I want to pursue

3. Be more productive (ie. get more done in pursuit of those passions)

4. Strengthen my relationships

5. Foster my creativity.

Without further ado, here is my 30-Day May Growth Challenge. 

May Growth Challenge

Everyday, I will:

1. Do something creative (writing, painting, dancing, etc)

2. Wake up the same time every morning (one hour later on weekends)

3. Write down three things I am grateful for every morning and every night

4. Do one act of kindness 

And, most importantly, 

5. Post on Instagram my daily updates about this challenge.

That last part of the challenge is *key.*  I will be keeping myself accountable through posting what I am grateful for each day (twice a day!), what time I woke up and went to bed the night before, and whatever creative outlet and act of kindness I may have done. 

I have also been beating myself up over not blogging or writing more.  So forcing myself to post about this challenge everyday on my seedling of an account @dayslikeblankpages will also work towards my goals of becoming a more productive person.   

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jordan Elizabeth (@dayslikeblankpages)

So if you are curious on how I do, and how I (hopefully) grow in the next thirty days.  Follow me there.  Better yet, join in this challenge with me! 

Maybe you will share the same goals I do, and maybe you have unique goals of your own, and will make your own version of this challenge, whether its getting outside every day,  drinking more water, being more spontaneous, or being more organized, you can craft your challenge to meet your own unique goals and values.  

Day 1 starts tomorrow.   Stay tuned, and let’s GROW. 

(pun intended; you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but cant take the classroom out of the teacher!) 

How are you challenging yourself this month?

xxoo

-Jordan