'Connecting with My Divine Feminine' by Annie Burns
An update on the 120 Day Do What You Love Challenge
My partner, myself and some other game folks are about one sixth of the way through our 120 Day Do What You Love Challenge. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s twenty days of practicing one thing that we love every single day.
I had no real idea what the challenge would involve when I started, it just seemed like a great idea. What is unfolding, is an extraordinary journey of learning about myself, others, reality and the activity I have committed to, which in my case is writing.
What are we learning?
The biggest learning for me has been seeing my big stories about what I produce: that I will be rejected and criticised for what I say, as well as wrestling with the loud voice that says I have nothing to say. In addition, I am incredibly judgmental of my output and can’t see any value in it. One of my major challenges is hanging out in my discomfort around these things, especially when I hit the publish button in the blog. One day, my tension was so extreme that I walked round and round the house, wringing my hands and wondering if I should go and take the post down! I didn’t.
I am also learning about being supported in what I love, by others, by the world at large and by my boundless imagination. If you choose an activity for the challenge that you truly love (not something you think you ought to do), the challenge is truly an adventure into imagination, an interaction with soul.
Here are a couple of comments from the others:
“I have learned that I have put off doing what I really love thinking that I was over the hill, too old etc.” Louise.
“I’m learning that I give up before I start (i.e. I have a feeling of what’s the use – this is not going to work anyway. So I don’t apply my will). That I compare myself to others a lot (not accepting where I am at and also not accepting my own uniqueness). That I make it look like I am doing a great thing and in reality I am not always committed to it in my heart.” Annie
“I am starting to look forward to doing it, though the blah blah is still there, parallel to it is excitement. I have noticed that I have been feeling inexplicably happy. I think this is directly related to the challenge. I’m learning stuff all the time. I am getting more relaxed when I draw, more right brain, less thinking about it. My visual imagination is on fire, stimulated much more than before I started doing this. The main thing I have learned so far is that, surprisingly, I like drawing from life much more than I expected.” Kirsty
Reaping the benefits
It’s obvious from responses (and from common sense) that those who have practiced their chosen activity every day of the challenge experience greater benefits. The main ones are:
- An increase in clarity;
- An increase in satisfaction;
- An increase in sense of purpose; and
- Improvement in the chosen activity.
A number of people also report unexpected events since beginning the challenge, that relate to their activity, such as:
- being asked to design a logo (activity is drawing);
- selling a drawing (activity is drawing);
- being asked to write an article.
The nature of the challenge
Some people have queried, quite sensibly, the validity of ‘forcing’ an activity every day. This question assumes that we are limited in our creativity and capacity, not boundless, creative beings, and is indeed one of the thorny parts of the challenge. I have run into it several times, but I live to tell the tale!
The nature of a challenge is that it isn’t a walk in the park, there are a few beasties to encounter. There is also incredible expansion, learning and adventure.
Join the challenge
If you would like to join the challenge, please take the time to reflect on what activity you will commit to. Perhaps there’s something that you’ve always yearned to master? Maybe you already have a vocation that you’ve neglected and would love to reignite? The benefits of choosing what you love are:
- you get to spend time every day doing it, which is inherently satisfying;
- you will connect to your heart; and
- you are taking action in favour of what you love, which always brings more of what you love.
To take the challenge and join the adventure, please email me and let me know what activity you will be committing to every day and when you are starting. It’s FREE, you’ve nothing to lose.
I would love to support you in the adventure and am currently developing a package to encourage and mentor challengees!
Not ready yet? Join Our Creative Community and get connected to others living what they love and sharing what they love with the world.
