Friday, January 23, 2009

Secret #3: Following Your Fascinations

"And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more." Erica Jong

There's a lot of content in this chapter, with risk-taking, intuition and staying power being at the core of Secret 3: Following Your Fascinations. The root message is that bringing our dreams to life involves moving outside of our comfort zone and taking risks.

There are 2 things I really want to encourage you to explore this week. One is from the book. And one is from me. First, the book.

The last challenge in this chapter is "Bolstering Your Staying Power." This week, get a clear picture of what en-courages you. What helps you be brave? List anything you'd like to draw on when the journey gets tough or scary, including what has worked for you in the past. Does it help to journal? To call a friend? To have a coach? To pray? Do you like to be super prepared? To do it quickly and get it over with? To plan how you'll celebrate when it's done?


This week, by sharing what helps us find the courage to take the risks necessary to make our dreams come true, we can fill each other's en-couragement toolkit with new ideas. What a gift that will be! And once we have that to draw on, what's next?

We get to be brave. We get to take a step.
This week I'd like to offer you the challenge of taking one brave step towards your dreams. One. It doesn't have to be big - but it can be. Draw on whatever support is available to you (including us) and then, take a step. Make that phone call. Buy a sketchbook. Add red. Add chillies. Write the first sentence. Sign up for that class. Wear colour. Book a ticket. Audition. Share your art on your blog. Share your dream with your partner. Share your article with an editor. Get an editor's address. Take a step.

One step. Don't worry about making it the right step, the best step, the world-changing step. Just make it the next step. A confidence-building step not because of the result but because you had the bravery to take it. And we'll be cheering you on.


Interview with Jessie Marianiello

What a perfect week for an interview with Jessie, founder of the Be Brave project. Enjoy! You can hear the interview here.

The Vault


Each week, on Fridays, the vault will be emptied. Imagine every negative word, every spiteful thought, breaking into tiny, harmless molecules washed away by the water pouring out of the vault. A fresh start. A clear sky.

The Encouragement Box


Ina had a great suggestion of adding an encouragement box for balance. Please, share your encouragements for each other directly in as comments on each other's blogs. Everyone loves comments :) But if there's something you're aching to hear yourself, put it here. And if you drop leave a negative thought in The Vault consider delivering its opposite as a gift in the Encouragement Box (e.g. Drop off in the Vault: Who do you think you are? Drop off in the Encouragement Box: You are a goddess, a special gift to this world. Never doubt it, my love)

Have a brave and fascinating week!

40 comments:

Kathryn Costa said...

I can't believe that I'm the first one this week. I had so much fun this evening making affirmation statements to post on my bulletin board. Thank you so much for encouraging us to be brave!

Lisa said...

I can't believe I'm second again ;)
I'm really jumping at the bit these days.

Jenn said...

Another early bird for the blogging this week! My Friday's are always too busy to get this done then.

patti said...

I'm usually at the end! :)

Loved the interview with Jessie. Really, really inspiring and encouraging!

claireylove said...

My Friday's start a bit earlier over here in the UK!

Anonymous said...

I'm a little behind, this belongs to Inspiration week - but I wanted to share this video of a British artist who passed away this week after inspiring millions to play with art. Ties into Leah's CED theme of Play too.

Anonymous said...

Jamie -- Love the Encouragement Box! And thanks for that question: what HELPS you to be brave? I hadn't thought of that! But making a list sounds like an excellent idea.

esk said...

Chapter 3 was great, one that really resonated with me. I enjoyed writing this post.

Miss Kim said...

Isn't it funny how we write our posts and we continue to develop our thoughts all through the coming week?? It proves something is truly happening here!
Kim H
http://kimssoulcollagecards.blogspot.com/

Jen said...

Finally made it!~ Took me a bit but I did it! Thank you once again. Loved the interview and your Encouragement Box is amazing!

D said...

This weeks secret was a really thought provoking one for me. I had a hard time deciding what to write on. I could have kept going.

Mjfontaine said...

I'm done I need perspective this week guys.


Last week I got overwhelmed at 104 posts I realized I would never be able to comment on everyones blog at for that week so I will do it randomly.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this week was a tough one for me. I tried very hard to remain positive in my post and focus on what encouraged me from the chapter. Feeling a bit fragile.

Anonymous said...

Interesting subject. I am struggling with this one. Any suggestions are most welcome.

Kathryn V. Crabbe said...

I love risk taking! I kinda realized that after writing about it this week for my blog - risk taking has led me to some of the greatest highs of my life and I recommend it wholeheartedly!!!!!

Kathy C.
http://SoulReaderBlog.blogspot.com

TesoriTrovati said...

Hey Jamie! I accidentally posted my Secret #1 post to this Secret #3 post (you can remove that one). I just posted my Secret #2 in the correct spot, but I am a week behind. I am hopeful I will catch up and be able to catch up with what everyone else is posting! Thanks! Enjoy the day! Erin

Olivia said...

Well, this was a great chapter, and one that I had a bit of trouble with as well---finding my fascinations and associating them with work! Any ideas or reflections others have would be really welcome. Thx!

Anonymous said...

Another one of my favorite weeks! Taking risks can be so empowering for women.

SunTiger said...

I'm trying really hard to think: what encourages me? What helps me feel brave?

{All I can think of is "CHOCOLATE!"}

Maybe R.K. Rowling, when she wrote how chocolate helps overcome grief from encounters with death-eaters/dementors, she was really onto something!

Merry Thyme Fairy said...

Awesome interview. Each highly creative woman you interview says something that triggers me in the most inspiring, enlightening way! I just love it!! Thanks Jamie. And thank you for your help with all my little requests. And for your lovely support! :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you, everyone! You inspire me to keep taking those medicine steps to realize my dreams!

~ Jane-Singing Deer

Anonymous said...

i'm here, i'm here!!! ffeeewwww what a doozy of a chapter!!! what struggles i had to even post anything!!! but it was your prompt jamie of exploring what encourages us along our creative path that got my wheels turning...

oh and i LOVE your encouragement box as well as your vault... such great tools to help us move along our paths!!! thank you thank you thank you!!!

it's such a bright blessing to see into your world and how you motivate yourself!!!

peace and love

Sheila said...

Gonna hafta check out the encouragement box - what a great idea!

Anonymous said...

finally getting started. Great interview! Very encouraging for me right now. Thank you!

Unknown said...

I made a top ten list of things that encourage me and help me to be brave.

Anonymous said...

I'm finally jumping in here. Love the collages.

Anonymous said...

rather an overwhelming week hence lateness of my post

http://creativevoyage.co.uk/node/142

all theb est


mary
www.creativevoyage.co.uk

LissaL said...

This book is the best book I have yet to read! Thankfully, I have a wonderful group of inspiring women to be my guides:)

DS Borror said...

still need to listen to the interview...this was an interesting chapter...made me think

Anonymous said...

I am so behind on this:( It looks like a great interview, but I don't want to listen until I get the chapter read-so I'm going to do that right now!! Thanks for all the work you put into this, I know it'll really help me (IF I get with it!)
have a good evening!
Trish

Kathie said...

I am a late starter this week!!!

Anonymous said...

This chapter was troubling for me, but I wrote what came from my heart and I did it, just in time!

gma said...

Wow I wish I had time to visit all of these fellow bloggers.

jennifer lee said...

Better late than never!! ;)

Sara Moriarty said...

I second the better late than never. ;)

Anonymous said...

Almost totally caught up! Yay! I loved this chapter because it made me really think about and realize a few things...and gave me some power words to use for the year. :-)

Kristine said...

Better late than never! Just two more chapters to go until I'm entirely caught up. :)

TesoriTrovati said...

Hi Jamie-
I am so relieved to see that I am not the only one who is struggling to catch the pack! This post morphed from one thing to another. I thought about editing, but that is part of my process. I like where it ended, following my son's fascinations and inspiring his creativity. Thanks for this whole process. It has been so good for me!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

barbe said...

I'm still waiting for my book so trying to catch up. Great interview.

Anonymous said...

I'm behind, but this chapter--and your added challenge, Jamie--really hit home and inspired me. Thank you for doing this, again and always.