New Hobby

A few months ago I had a whim to start crocheting again.  I had learned how to crochet maybe 15 years ago but did not love it at the time so I let it go.   Of course I had forgotten how to do it so I watched a video on YouTube and re-learned in a matter of minutes.  A few days later my first crochet creation was complete and I was very proud!

My First Crochet Scarf

Fast forward to today and I have completed many projects, some I have given as gifts, some I am enjoying wearing, especially my slippers…

Crochet Slippers

For me, taking up a new hobby makes me think, gives me something creative to focus on, gives me a goal to work toward.  All of that combined infuses new energy into my life.

What about you?

What new hobbies have you started lately?

Which are you interested in trying out?

What are you waiting for?

What Works for You?

This months article focuses on learning what works for you, then using it to have a life that is more effortless.

I thought I would give you some examples by sharing what works for me.

What works for me in my business is structure.  For me that means scheduling everything, planning, getting ahead in writing, having a sounding board when I am working on a new idea and writing slowly in chunks.

One ingredient in my success formula is challenge.  When a trusted friend or collegue challenges me to do something that I don’t (at first) think I can do or am a little fearful of doing, it infuses me with just the right energy and courage to try it.

Two examples of this:  A good friend and mastermind partner Meri Rafetto of Real Living Nutrition and 3Tomatoes asking me to write my first article about 5 years ago.  My first thought was “I don’t like to write and I struggle with it”.  She believed I could do it and gave me a deadline for a publication she was seeking it for.  Well,  I took her up on the challenge and wrote something.  Much to my surprise it was easier than I thought!  That started me writing an article a month, and then blogging.

Another personal example is my personal trainer at the gym challenging me to run.  My first response “I can’t run”  She gave me one of her looks that said volumes so I said, “OK, I’ll try”.  Much to my delight, not only could I run (well, jog) but I liked it!  Now I include jogging into my weekly workout schedule.

Challenge (from those that have my best interests at heart and believe in me) clearly works for me!  When I focus on what works for me, I accomplish more, build confidence and achieve greater success.

What works for you?

If you like this post, Sign up to receive my Inspirational Newsletter and receive messages like this one emailed to you once a month.

Modify What You Have

We were ready to purchase a new sofa since the one we have was not very comfortable when my husband suggested we modify our current one instead.  We took a look at why we found it uncomfortable and realize it was the back cushions (they were too low and wide) and decided to create two new ones that were higher and firmer.  We did just that and now have a “new” sofa that is much more comfortable and for a fraction of the cost ($30 for fabric)!

I tell this story because it reminds me of many areas of our lives.  Say you are unhappy in your career.  What if you were to examine what you don’t like about it and change what you could?  You may still want to make a bigger change to a new career entirely, yet changing some aspect of what you have now can give you some breathing room while you prepare for your larger transition.  

I am an advocate of having the best experiences we can right now, not just waiting until we have achieved what we truly want.  When we make small modifications with what we have it allows us to do that and it gives us more choice and influence over our life.

What modifications will you make?