Tag Archives: The List

Nudged: Look to books for inspiration

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Backstory: I’m getting ready to launch 52Nudges 2.0, and my last task before I finalize The List is to look to some books for inspiration. To find some new nudges, I might pick up books on:

  • Travel
  • Health & Fitness
  • Spiritual Growth
  • Self-Improvement
  • Creativity
  • Financial Planning

Take some time this week to look over your shelf–or wander your public library–and see what comes. If you need ideas, check out the list of resources under “For Inspiration” in the right column of this page.

Then mark your calendar…

52Nudges 2.0 starts Sunday, September 8!

What Happened: I looked over my rough list of Nudges and noted a healthy dose of tasks under Self-Care, De-cluttering, Creativity, and Passion & Play. But Spirit seemed to be lacking. So I pulled a few books that have long sat on my shelves and dove in for inspiration. First up, The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life and The Lord’s Prayer: An Interpretation by Emmet Fox.

My intention was to skim, but I was quickly reminded how it’s often those “little” books that get you into “trouble”. A quick skim? Riiight. I ended up reading just a couple of pages every day, taking notes, mulling over the lessons. There’s so much more I want to get from this, but at this point, here are some of the ideas that might make their way onto The List of Nudges:

  • Allow one channel to close; look—with excitement and anticipation—for its replacement to open
  • Claim my Bread (i.e., stop being so stubbornly self-sufficient and allow someone to help me)
  • Pick an affirmation and work it to fruition
  • Pick a random passage from the Bible and really study it
  • Let something go (100% turn it over to God*)
  • Practice scientific prayer
  • Buy a new candle and light it every day with prayer requests for others

The Ah-Hah: As the lessons and ideas sank in, I was struck by something rather profound. Let me give a little backstory: After I moved cities 10 years ago, I made a real effort to keep in touch with the long-time friends I’d left behind. With most, the effort was reciprocal, and I continue to be grateful for the gifts of those deep relationships.

But one in particular has been the source of some pain. Even though I’ve reached out to my old friend with calls and cards and text messages, the only times I’ve heard from her is when she’s needed favors. And not just small things. I’ve been asked to do big jobs for her for free “because we’re friends.” Earlier this year I allowed myself some clarity that this was no longer a friendship, and I let it go.

I recalled this history as I read Sermon on the Mount this week and it dawned on me: I am such a hypocrite! It’s not that I’ve been unequal with a friend, it’s that I’ve been a taker with God. How often do I get in touch just to say “Thinking of you!” or “Wassup?” or “Have a great day!”? Um, never. Once in a blue moon, like when I am inspired to write in a gratitude journal, I remember to say “Thank you” for life, for love, for clean water and the roof over my head, but most days, our one-sided conversations are all about “This is what I need…want…please help…I’m begging you….”

So I’m going to include some weekly nudges that will help me build a better—more personal and appreciative—relationship with God.

As you consider possible nudges for yourself, you might think about which relationships in your life need nurturing. Perhaps you can take a first step toward healing a rift with a family member, reconnecting with an old friend, or getting to know one of your co-workers. Or perhaps the relationship you most need to attend to is the one you have with yourself.

*For simplicity, I am using “God” here. Please substitute whatever term or name works for you.

Nudging: Look to books for inspiration

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Backstory: I’m getting ready to launch 52Nudges 2.0, and my last task before I finalize The List is to look to some books for inspiration. To find some new nudges, I might pick up books on:

  • Travel
  • Health & Fitness
  • Spiritual Growth
  • Self-Improvement
  • Creativity
  • Financial Planning

Take some time this week to look over your shelf–or wander your public library–and see what comes. If you need ideas, check out the list of resources under “For Inspiration” in the right column of this page.

Then mark your calendar…

52Nudges 2.0 starts Sunday, September 8!

 

Nudged: Review the original List

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Backstory: For the past couple of weeks I’ve been journaling and brainstorming and exploring tasks that might make it on to The List for 52Nudges 2.0.

This week I’m going to review old posts, to see if there are any old Nudges I’d like to do again. Take a look, and let me know if there were any you thought were particularly effective–or worth revisiting.

Before I started the whole project, I reached out to a my sister and a couple of close friends to ask “What do you remember about me as a kid? What did I love to do? What was I passionate about? What have I let go that you think I should try again?” Their answers led to some of my original Nudges, so I’m not interviewing anyone this week. But you might. What have you forgotten about yourself? What have you let go of that you’d like to try again?

What Happened: I took a break after delivering a big job early Wednesday morning and spent an hour reviewing all the post topics (dating back to March 2018) from the first round of 52Nudges. Some seemed so small, but had big impacts (Wear red lipstick, Visit a new-to-me bookstore). Some didn’t work out so well (creating a vision board was a bust), but others were fun, challenging, motivating. I got to “Create a chalk message on the front sidewalk” and immediately got up from my desk, grabbed the basket of chalks, and headed outside to do this:

Have a FUN day!

It’s going back on The List because it scratches my creativity itch, it’s uncomfortable (I’m sure the neighbors think I’m nuts), and it feeds my soul (those uplifting messages are really directed at me, you know).

The point of this week’s Nudge was to see if there were any I wanted to do over, either because they were really fun or because I feel there might be more for me to learn from them. Some that may make it onto the final 2.0 List:

  • Compliment a stranger
  • Work offsite
  • Go through one bookshelf
  • Be early to everything
  • Use the good silver
  • Fix something

Ah-Hah: One is definitely not going the list: Listen to 2 old CDs. Why am I dropping this? Because that one tiny Nudge has been a huge success. I drew that Nudge in September 2018, and after I went through our personal collection, I branched out. Now, every couple of weeks or so, I go to my public library and request CDs of music I’ve never listened to before. I’ve heard opera, hip-hop, jazz, pop. I’ve sung and groaned aloud, depending on how much I liked/disliked what I’ve heard, whether it be country or classical or contemporary. I’ve developed new appreciation and respect for great artists of past and current generations, and I’ve let go of any need to like someone’s music because someone else said it’s “great”.

All because I nudged myself to try something different.

Cool. 🙂

 

 

 

Nudging: Review the original List and ask a friend (or two)

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Backstory: For the past couple of weeks I’ve been journaling and brainstorming and exploring tasks that might make it on to The List for 52Nudges 2.0.

This week I’m going to review old posts, to see if there are any old Nudges I’d like to do again. Take a look, and let me know if there were any you thought were particularly effective–or worth revisiting.

Before I started the whole project, I reached out to a my sister and a couple of close friends to ask “What do you remember about me as a kid? What did I love to do? What was I passionate about? What have I let go that you think I should try again?” Their answers led to some of my original Nudges, so I’m not interviewing anyone this week. But you might. What have you forgotten about yourself? What have you let go of that you’d like to try again?

Meanwhile, last week I shared a list of topics I pulled from our city college’s course schedule. One of those was “Lost Wax Casting.” I had absolutely no idea what that was, so I wrote it down to find out more. A few days ago I googled it and learned it’s a process for duplicating metal sculptures (and jewelry dating back 6,000 years! (Read more about it here.) So cool!

This isn’t something I want to explore further, no part of it is going on my List of Nudges, but I’m kind of pleased with myself for pursuing it.

Nudging: Explore things I’m curious about

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Backstory: Last week I worked with some prompts to come up with tasks that might become Nudges on The List for the re-launch (coming up in September). I was shocked when “3 Things I’m Curious About” yielded only two. What the heck?

So this week I’m going to dig a little deeper and try to find things I’m curious about. I might google random topics online. Maybe I’ll look at maps or pick up a book about reinventing myself. I’ll definitely review class offerings at City College.

What have you always wanted to learn? Was there an academic or career path you let go because it wasn’t “practical”? Is there a skill you’ve always wanted to acquire? Let’s explore those and figure out how to get some of those small steps on our lists for the next round of 52Nudges.

Nudging: Build “The List” with prompts

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Backstory: I’m gearing up for 52Nudges 2.0, which I plan to launch in September. To do this, I’m reviewing old to do lists and generating new ideas to update The List. When I’ve got a bunch, I’ll type it all up, cut it into strips, roll those strips into balls, and put them into a bowl. Then, each Sunday, I’ll pull one to tackle that week.

Last week I reviewed my Big To Do List and reviewed the musts, the shoulds, the need to dos. This week is all about what I want to do.

I might set a timer for 5 minutes and:

  • take look at course offerings at City College (What do I want to learn?)
  • go online and read up about faraway cities I want to visit some day (Can I get a book about its history? Is there a local cultural center that has programs? Can I get a CD of folk music or a cookbook of cuisine from the library to experience it without the big expense of travel?)
  • list small things I can do for myself (We’re talking self-care: take a hot bath, walk a labyrinth, warm my PJs in the dryer before bed)
  • remember specific activities I loved doing as a kid (Dancing? Reading? Playing games with my friends? What do I want to do again?)

The goal is to find some FUN things to add to the list. And for this week, it’s about brainstorming. I want to let my imagination run wild, then in a couple of weeks I can edit the list for things that really speak to me and for things that fit the 52Nudges parameters (must be able to be completed in a week, not expensive, nudge me out of my comfort zone).

Hope you’ll share some of the items that come up for you.