Day 1: Out of Chaos Comes Order

Credits: Google Images

Hi,

I am thrilled and excited to welcome you all on the day 1 of the Seven Days Self Challenge Week.

Till yesterday, my scenario was this.

Scissors, papers, glue sticks, sketch pens, glaze papers, crayons, water colours, coloured tapes, chart papers, rulers, pencils, and xyzee all scattered around me and my son, since we were too busy in finishing and giving a final touch to his holiday homework.

Of course, this was not the very first time when we had to deal with the holiday homework at such a massive scale, but this time I felt, as if the deadline had been sprinting much faster than the last year towards me. The closer the dates came, the more stressed I felt.

So, to complete the task on time, was a true challenge indeed for all of us. Though, not of that greater magnitude as I imagined, but who looks at the magnitude when any challenge is there in your front? In the process of completing all the work, my rooms were in complete mess. Scattered all around were the colours and so were the papers and scissors and paint brushes.

But amidst this mess, something was taking shape.

Amidst this commotion, something was at work.

And so we worked, without thought, without pause.

When we got ready with the chart papers and project works, we forgot what all we had messed up in the last couple of days and got engrossed in looking at what we created in the end.

And then I felt…

Creativity was at its work, amidst this mess.

Beauty was ready to be born, amidst this mess.

And then, this thought knocked at my mind’s door, isn’t life also like that?

Because at times peace comes out of commotion. And order comes out of chaos in our life.

So, if you are too like me, and are experiencing something chaotic and disturbing in your life; then know that soon there will be peace and order emerging out of it. What we simply need to take care is of our perspective towards things, situations, experiences and people around us and see the seeds of beauty, creativity, and life revealing lessons inside them.

Since in the previous post, I have already shared with you that problems and challenges in our lives are nothing but life revealing lessons. Therefore, today, on the very first day of the Seven Days Self Challenge Week, I would want to share with you the challenges that I have taken up for the next 7 days. Now before sharing the challenges, here are the reasons why I took up these challenges, so that you too could try out something challenging this week.

The reasons for attempting the challenge are simple: to be ready and prepared for the forthcoming challenges in life, to be able to move out of my own comfort zone, to try out something which examines my own fortitude and attitude towards things; to introspect how does my mind work during these seven days and to use all experiences and exercises in training my mind for achieving more focus and discipline in my life to work efficiently and produce better results.

I know that initially there will be some commotion and chaos created by my own mind, but I also want to see how does it manage and follow my command.

So here are the challenge that I have taken:

1. I will write posts consistently for the next seven days on my blog. The word count of the posts will fall between 500 to 1000 words (This will be my prime focus).
2. I will also try to finish reading The Picture of the Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (If possible).

I have selected these challenges as per my priority list and I will share with you how I am going to progress and deal with these challenge on the day to day basis.

And now after knowing what I am going to do, it is your turn to take up the challenge and decide what you are going to do and continue for next seven days.

But before taking up the challenge(s) here are some suggestions that you could follow:

Decide. First decide that you are ready for the Self Challenge Week .

Select. Next, select an activity or a task that you would want to continue for the next seven days. Take up something which is high in your priority list or something which you have been procrastinating since very long. Few things could be:

• Finishing a book in seven days.
• Eating healthy food and homemade food for the next seven days.
• Meeting a new person everyday and trying to have an effective communication with him/her.
• Practice listening skills for next seven days.
• Being Engaged in some social service or environmental awareness for the next seven days.
• Keeping news fast or social media fast for next seven days (but you will have to read my blog for the latest posts).
• Helping your mother/father/siblings/relative on every day basis for the next seven days.
• Play outdoor sports for next seven days.
• Practising a skill that you would want to improve.
• Spending quality and quantity time with the members of your family.

You could explore and decide other interesting options that motivate you. Moreover, take up something which you can measure by your engagement in that activity so that you could monitor your own progress.

Make a commitment.  Commit with your other fellow mates and let them know about your challenge so that it is not confined to you and you feel accountable for the challenge that you have taken and try to strive under little pressure.

Write. Express and write about your commitment at a place where you can see it every day and keep a check on your own progress. If possible, share it in the comment section so that we too could know what you have taken. If not here, then write in your diary or journal or notice board.

Plan. Do plan for the entire week how will you take out your time for fulfilling your promise and will manage your time and sanity of mind. Make sure to keep this challenge high on your priority list. Try to slice out more time from the activities where you have been wasting your time. Keep a check. Practice focus and discipline and be self introspective in case of any digressions.

Execute. For effective results try to build the Great Wall of China within. You could also try to feel or imagine that for the next seven days, you have been bestowed with some kind of super powers and you could  accomplish any task that you undertake within this time frame.

Beat Distractions. Also be aware that while taking up this challenge, there will be another set of challenge (s) which will come up in-between but just remember that in such situations you have to practice mind like water and try to be calm, and be non judgemental of situations and people around you and keep your eyes focused on your goal(s).

You know that I have already fasten my seat belt and started my challenge flight, what about you?

Be ready to mess up the things a bit and see how does the order and beauty come out of the chaos and ugly things in life.

And don’t dishearten if you miss a day or could not keep up your pace because remember, we all are together on this journey. Even if we miss the target line, we will still be one step ahead from where we started and closer to the finish line of our journey.

So what are you waiting for? Start and take up your challenge. And don’t forget to share your learnings in the next seven days.

Best Wishes,

Pratibha