Tuesday

Tuesday is my day to look at my social and emotional self, make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view and treat the people in my life, and get ready for a week of fun activities with my grandsons.

Agenda:

1. Read "Tiny Habits"

2. Expressing Needs in the World

3. New narrative for presence

4. Monthly journal brainstorm

5. Brainstorm my equanimity

6. Cleansing

1. Read "Tiny Habits":

Today I'm beginning this book by BJ Fogg (2020), with the subtitle of "The Small Changes That Change Everything". This is the scripting process introduced in Sweet Spot, only enlarged.

Some areas I'd like to write scripts for:

• Equanimity, vulnerability, listening
• Projects, preparedness
• Order, simplifying
• Drink water/ Beingness

Chapter One is the Elements of Behavior. Behavior is driven by Motivation + Ability + a Prompt (or cue). When troubleshooting a behavior:

1. Check to see if there is a prompt or cue: No behavior happens without a prompt of some kind.
2. Check if you are able: The easer a behavior is the more likely you will do it.
3. Find the motivation: The more motivated you are the more likely you will do the behavior.

2. Expressing Needs in the World:

On Tuesdays I often go through this Ongo practice to define the Needs I want to express: 

1. Sit for a couple minutes and then invite in three questions, and write the answers in my journal:

• "If I knew this was the last week of my life, what is one Need or quality of life I'd like to be or express more fully?" 
• "What's one quality of life I'd like to contribute more to one of my relationships?"
• "Whats one quality of life I'd like to contribute more to my community?" 

2. Consider each of these Needs, one at a time, and feel the surge of this energy in my body. 

3. Invite myself to take one action each day this week to express the energy of one of these Needs, or bring it alive in my relationships. Be sure it's done in the spirit of invitation, not demand, and that it is specific and doable.

4. After doing the action, be sure to take a minute to visualize the happiness or fulfillment I experience, and extend it out to all beings.

The Needs that come to me today are Presence, Calm, and Power. After sitting with the energy of these, I've listed some ideas for action:

• Presence: Inhabit Grandma Earth Teacher and be present.  
• Calm: Locate a prompt (jaw clamping?) and breath.
• Power: Write about our personal power to change our practices.

3. New narrative for Tenderness:

One of my weekly Creative Perspective tasks is to define a new narrative, today for the habit of Presence.

I intend to be present-centered and aware, listening beyond words.

4. Monthly journal brainstorm:

Every month just after the third quarter moon, I take some days to be quiet and contemplative and prepare for the next phase of my life. At the new moon (on Friday) I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. This week I'll take time to write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next 30-days. This exercise has three parts: 

• Brainstorm goals, dreams, and exciting ideas without judgement - include at least a few crazy, improbable notions;
• Reflect on the next month of my life, and what my best month would look like, moving me in the direction of my most important reasons for living; 
• Then take time to weigh the possibilities.

5. Brainstorm equanimity practices:

Today I'm going to focus on ideas for ways to build the habit of equanimity. I know all the practices, but still cannot make it a habit. Some ideas:

• The "Notice and Name" Pause: Throughout the day, check in with yourself. When you feel triggered, instead of thinking "I am furious," practice saying, "I am feeling anger right now." This creates mental space.
• Use my breath as a tool to ground. When emotions run high, slow my inhale, and make my exhale even longer. This creates just enough space for me to pause before reacting.
• Get curious: Curiosity helps me stay present with my experience, rather than fighting it.

6. Cleansing: 

Every month just after the third quarter moon, I think about things I'd like to clear and clean, and how I might release trapped energy, habits, burdens, and excess possessions of all kinds. 

Moving towards this next new moon, I want to release two thing:

• My impatience, self-protection, and reactivity.
• Junk in the studio - so I can USE it.

Today I will use smoke to cleanse: I'm going to do a bit of energetic clearing in the studio, then light the sage and smudge, saying, "Today I clean the stale energy of impatience and hoarding."