The declarations are still being made and the Miracle Challenge is shifting into high gear already! I’m absolutely blown away by what I’ve seen so far from everyone! If you’re here for the first time, post your declaration here and then join us each day to share the miracles you see.
I want to congratulate you for showing up with a willingness to participate – not just in the Challenge, but in your own life. I am completely inspired by the things you’ve posted.
Here are a couple of things that particularly caught my attention…
LMVL wrote: “when it came down to thinking about what I’d look for each day… the reality is; the root of my responsibility is my self worth. I struggle with feeling good or worthy enough and my falling down about that shows up in my marriage, my eating and mostly my negative self talk. It’s not about figuring out what magic combinations of buttons to push to improve my romantic relationship with my husband, it’s learning to be enough for myself and letting go of my need for outside reassurances.”
WOW! LMVL, identifying the root rather than the symptoms is a huge victory. Congratulations and I hope that you’ll find the support here and the love within yourself to move your own internal mountains. 🙂
Lanie Sue, who will be working with symptoms similar to ADD and specifically with keeping a neater home, shared her first miracle with us: “My miracle yesterday sounds like such a trivial little thing, but it is a big one for me. After coming home from the senior center, I got out of my jeans in preparation for taking a nap. I put the jeans on top of the pile of other clothes that I had put on top of the hamper (filled with old stuff that isn’t worth the cost of laundering). I put on some pj bottoms and started to lie down when I sat back up, looked at those jeans I’d only worn for a couple of hours, picked them up,took them out to the closet in the hallway and hung them up. It certainly didn’t make a dent in the mess in the room, but it was a hallmark for me and my self esteem. My first little miracle of the challenge.”
That is the kind of first step that many of us overlook and dismiss because we think it’s too trivial. Lanie Sue, I celebrate with you!! It’s NOT trivial – acknowledging and celebrating those first little steps allows us to grow into more and more steps that eventually turn into BIG shifts. Fantastic!
Finally Karen McCrocklin, as usual, gave me a big laugh with this post: “I’ll be focusing on patience. Unless I get bored with that. No, wait…. :-)” She then followed it up with a heartfelt post about practicing patience.
One more thing for everyone – I encourage you to look at this as your place for support, sharing, and growth. I encourage you to NOT compare yourself to anyone else’s journey. Everyone starts at their own starting place and everyone moves at their own perfect pace. Take your journey and don’t worry how it looks in comparison to anyone else’s. And let’s celebrate with each other!!!!
Well done…on to day #2!!
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Leah Carey
September 16, 2011 at 8:15 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Today, an honest accounting of where I am.
The issue: I feel shame about my financial situation.
The truth of who I am and the miracles I’ve already experienced:
I’ve always had enough money to make my payments each month.
I’ve got a good credit score.
When I’ve really needed financial help, it’s always been available to me.
I know that no matter what (and despite my biggest fears), I will never be living on the street because I have a lot of people who love me.
I know that I have a lot of skills and talents that aren’t being fully tapped.
I am showing up now, for the first time, to really deal with the underlying beliefs so that I can let those skills and talents flourish into a healthy financial life.
And I’m willing to do the work, even though it still feels scary.
Loretta Stride
September 16, 2011 at 10:48 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Today I decided to be grateful for the shift in my life instead of being frustrated. I realize that I am so, so lucky to have a paying job and even though it isn’t doing something creative, I get to spend more time with my husband. It also creates an atmosphere where I have to be organized which in turn makes me more productive in all areas of my life. Thanks Leah for helping me open my eyes.
Steph
September 16, 2011 at 4:18 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Today I’m feeling grateful for my extended family, who I’m going to see soon in California! I don’t get to see them often and it is hard to let go and leave my 3 kiddies and husband behind for the weekend, but I also think it’s going to be great =)
Susan M
September 16, 2011 at 4:44 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Today. The day started with a reasonable pace. Key word is “started”. I arrived at my destinations without being late and feeling frantic. This is remarkable for me. This lasted until about 1:00. After this the “mindlessness gremlin” stole its way into my being. I lost track of time and was late running out the door with a sorry excuse for a lunch in my hand. As I backed my care out of the garage I absent-mindedly hit the button on the door remote. The door, which was previously open, was now closing on my as I was backing up. This was it! This was the miracle! I stopped in my tracks, put my car in park and sat laughing at myself. After a few deep breaths to get rid of the gremlin and renew a sense of mindfulness, I got going again. And guess what the other miracle was? The person I was headed to meet called and said she would be late. Relax!
LMVL
September 16, 2011 at 5:01 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I started today not looking for a miracle as much as feeling a little proud for being honest with myself yesterday and then on the Miracle Journal that I feel insecure about my self worth. In my head I know it’s time to let go of this invaluable negativity, but my body and my mind naturally knee jerk themselves into being a professional martyr – silently crying out for someone else to validate me, subsequently weighting my spirit down with made up reasons why I don’t feel that outside love and appreciation – hence, “I don’t deserve it”. (My apologies to anyone reading this needing benadryl to assist with the motion sickness of my round-a-bout reasoning.) This dizzying and exhausting practice no longer serves me, if it ever did, and I look forward to moving away from it no matter how scary the just being still and comfortable with myself may be.
Miracle #1 – I made an exercise choice for myself today that ended up feeling SO great (runner’s high), and I’m really really proud of myself for putting myself ahead of all the other chores and responsibilities to take that 30 minutes for myself. I missed a phone call – but everybody survived and the world didn’t end. Lesson beginning to learn that I have a right to take care of myself. duh!
Miracle #2 – I’ve allowed myself to savor that really good feeling throughout the whole day about doing that for myself. I feel really proud of myself and I feel strong for doing something good for me. It’s not the exercise itself as much as the choice I made in favor of myself, and I’ve allowed myself to enjoy that!
Lisa
September 16, 2011 at 6:08 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
When I got up this morning I felt like lolly-gagging around in my jammies for a few hours. Considering I’m not a morning person the previous statement could apply every day! 🙂 In an effort to live healthier, I washed up, dressed, and started the day with an OJ, apple & cheese. America might run on “Dunkin” but I live on Diet Cokes usually between 4-6 a day (none after 3 PM). Todays miracle: I only had 2 all day and I actually ate something healthy in the morning! I know that probably doesn’t sound like much of a miracle for most. For me this was a huge leap to know I really don’t need all that caffeine and chemicals and to not put so much in my body.
Eileen
September 17, 2011 at 12:01 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I had a very productive work day, without any of the usual procrastinations. I kept my breaks short and got right back to work and I accomplished so much, so I’m ending the day feeling very good. Procrastinating wastes my time and energy and in the end makes me feel nervous and not good enough. My miracle today is realizing I need to tune in and take good care of myself, and really own my actions, before I can be in an intimate relationship with anyone else.
TR
September 17, 2011 at 1:57 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
My miracle today was being able to value myself enough to not let last minute time crunches and struggles at work come home with me. On the way out the door I was meditating and releasing all the tension, stress, and anxiety as I walked down stairs where my husband was waiting to pick me up. It worked so well that when another problem later arose with being able to secure and pay for the plane tickets we need in two weeks, I calmly thought somehow it will all work out. I am not going to let it keep me from a good night’s sleep this time. Instead it was my husband getting angry and frustrated when normally I would be the stressed out mess wondering where the money to cover something is coming from. Thank heavens so much for the peace of mind today.
Leah Carey
September 17, 2011 at 8:12 AM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Amazing work everybody! Day #3 is now posted, so head on over when you’re ready. 🙂
William
September 17, 2011 at 12:33 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This evening a neighbor wandered by my shop and stopped to say hi. From a few feet away I could smell alcohol. We chatted for a several minutes and laughed about how much time I spend in the shop because I’m amazingly slow with just about any project. We were both happy and I relished basking in the beauty of friendship. As he said good bye I felt a flash of judgment like he was somehow lesser because he had a few beers in him. In the next instant I felt a flash of disgust with myself for being judgmental. It was only a second for both judgments to arise and fall away as I came back to the beautiful colors of evening following days of rain. That second of judgment, short as it was, dramatically dimmed my connection to the beauty of my lovingness. I’m stunned to see so clearly that being judgmental in my heart dims my light of loving beauty and I’m excited for the potential that tomorrow brings to dwell in acceptance and beauty.
The Miracle Journal » Finding peace in the chaos
December 25, 2011 at 9:00 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
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