My 10 Daily Disciplines

On Pinterest last night I started looking at self-improvement plans. Ones that other people have tried. I'm excited to pursue my own, but what's wrong with a little extra help. I have the same amount of time roughly for all of these challenges, and there is nothing wrong with having extra things to think about daily.

The first challenge I found was 31 Days of Self Love. I do love who I am. I love everything I want to do. But it's one thing to simply say that, and another to feel it. Today's prompt is is: identify my biggest struggle and obstacle to loving myself.

Answer: I've thought about this one a lot actually. I worry that I come off as controlling. I don't want to be a puppet master. I don't intend to be manipulative. But I worry that I am. I am trying my best not to be. 

The second challenge I found was Be More Positive: Be Happier, Think Positive & Find Greater Success in 30 Days.  The first day's prompt is to imagine the best case scenario of every possibility instead of worst case. I'll report tonight on what all I observed from this attitude adjustment and shift.

I also discovered the 26 Questions to Help You Know Yourself Better activity. This is not a month long program like the others, but I will answer one question daily. The first question is: What are my strengths?

Answer: I am smart. I am resourceful. I am curious. I am compassionate. I am empathetic. I am a diligent worker. I am dependable. I am loyal. I am thoughtful. I am resilient. I make the best out of situations. I am optimistic. I am articulate. I am talented. I write well. I write often. I am in tune with my emotions. I am honest. I have integrity. I believe in my own intrinsic self-worth. I am strong. I am courageous. I am kind. I am self-aware. I am self-assured. I am intuitive. 

In that same vein I am also answering one question to help me become more self-aware every day for 30 days. The first one is: How do I respond when I don't get what I want.

Answer: I convince myself I didn't want it very much. I recognize how little it matters in the big picture. I look to God. I reflect. I wait until I am ready to try again. I improve myself. 

The 30-Day Self Care Challenge I also started today instructs me to fill out my planner with some "me" days. In a way, every day is a me day. Spending time with friends. Self reflection. Family. I do these things because they fill me up. I write because it gives me purpose and joy. I included this example because I am not malleable. I recognize these challenges as guidelines. I know myself. I know what I need. But initiating is sometimes difficult. That's what the challenges are for.  But I will not dutifully follow them to a T. I am more than that. I know this.


The Know-Thyself Challenge is another set of questions I intend to answer daily. The first being, "What does your ideal day look like"

Answer: Making someone smile. There is music. There is laughter. There is adventure. There is love. But above all, there will be a smile that I get the pleasure of witnessing, whether I caused it or not. My ideal day is one filled with joy.

There is a misconception that ideal days must be structured or planned to a T for a Type-A personality such as mine. But in an effort to become more flexible, my goals are more realistic and less measured. I like simplicity.

The shortest challenge I start today is the Seven Day Attitude Adjustment Challenge. I am going to modify this. It will be a month long. For Four days I will repeat the first challenge and I will not repeat answers or actions. Today I am supposed to make a list of five things I am thankful for.

Answer: Family, Friends, Christmas Music, Oreo, Pinterest

The 30 Day Happiness Challenge prescribed an outdoor adventure for me today. Beth is taking me outside for a photoshoot. I'm excited! I'm excited to be outside in the brisk 40 degree weather looking amazing, feeling amazing, and sharing in the company of a beautiful friend. She wanted to make sure I was doing okay after my break up, and among the hugs, and the cookies, and all the other things that make her an incredibly thoughtful friend, her gift of kick-ass portraits might be the best of all.

The ninth discipline I began today is 30 Days of Gratitude. Today I'm supposed to write about a moment of inspiration that I am grateful for.

Answer: I am grateful for my first visit to Butler University. I am grateful for my mother and her ipad sitting in the passenger's seat as we drove around campus under complete construction and she told me about the psychology faculty at this school. I had never considered psychology before, but it is the greatest gift to me in the world. I am good at it and I will do so much good with it. But today I am grateful for the moment we turned down sunset avenue and circled the emerging Fairview House and tried to peer into campus but had our view obstructed. I didn't know that would be my home then, but listening to Adam Lambert's Original High Album and discussing memory and learning studies gave me a glimpse at a future I could only have dreamed about.

Finally the Move Forward Challenge encouraged me to face issues and fix them. I'm not sure what issues I will run into today, but I promise that I will try.


I am optimistic that these challenges will be good for my spirit. I may not stick to all of them, but they keep me writing. They keep me thinking. They keep me happy and mindful that life is good. I am good. And all will be well!