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"Everyone knows somebody that needs to read this book (Perseverance) !" –Kathie Lee Gifford, Live on NBC’s Today Show

"Perseverance offers… profound insight for all of us seeking to lead a meaningful life." –Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of A Whole New Mind

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Posts Tagged ‘Blogging’

Create a Beautiful Ripple Effect of Inspiration: The 7 Link Challenge

July 20th, 2010 | 10 Comments »

I love digging into my archives and reading through “older” posts! So I am super excited to participate in The 7 Link Challenge, found via Susannah Conway (who found it via Darren at Problogger). Susannah writes, “The idea is to link to six of your old posts (and one by another blogger) to help your readers dig deeper into your archives.”

The Seven Links

  • Your first post
  • A post you enjoyed writing the most
  • A post which had a great discussion
  • A post on someone else’s blog that you wish you’d written
  • Your most helpful post
  • A post with a title that you are proud of
  • A post that you wish more people had read

My Seven Link Picks

Wanna play along? Leave a link to your post in the comments and help create a beautiful ripple effect of inspiration!

:: goodies ::

-> Check out Spring for new content (videos, mp3 recordings, giveaways, guest posts) each day! The site is growing like crazy and is full of unique inspiration for designing a creative and intentional life. I hope you enjoy!!

-> Have you heard about The Daily Brainstorm? I am a regular contributor and it just launched last week. It is an emporium of blog posts on a broad range of topics. Be sure to visit the site and indulge in its amazing inspiration!

image: skippy designs

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Posted in: Treasure Chest

Learning As You Go and The Itty Bitty Check-In List

July 6th, 2010 | 9 Comments »

Today’s post is a little different… no sage advice or aha! moments to share (still there?)… instead I want to talk with you about blogging and how I’m trying to learn as I go. I crave structure and beautifully created project plans; however, when it comes to blogging, structure and plans don’t work for me. I find that as soon as I turn blogging into a project with a start and an end, it quickly becomes another obligation in my already obligation heavy life. And if blogging feels like an obligation, I don’t show up as my essential self. Instead, I enter with expectations and rules to follow — no longer enjoying the process.

Recently, I’ve been telling myself that I am in a blogging rut! I’m not even sure what that means, but my mind has really stuck onto this concept. Something is missing, but I can’t put my finger on what that “something” is just yet. I think the “rut” is a combination of various factors: comparison and judgment (my posts aren’t good enough = I’m not good enough = well, what am I doing? = and around we go again!), personal factors (how much I can share on here about what is happening in my day-to-day life, while maintaining clear boundaries between my personal, professional, and online life), and learning (what is working for me and what isn’t working for me). Now, that’s a lot to process! Rather than berate myself for not having everything figured out, I’m focusing on letting go of the need to know. Uncertainty is scary when we choose to let it take the reigns, but letting go of the desire to create a state of certainty enables us to reestablish a sense of control.

I am learning to show up and acknowledge what is. Simply noticing how I’m feeling without an obligation to fix the situation is liberating. For the past week, I have been checking in with myself at various times throughout the day, utilizing a simple little checklist. About five times a day, I’ll stop what I’m doing and complete the simple list. It consists of six items on a small index card. Each morning, I cut one index card into five smaller cards to use for the day. I write the same list on each of the cards.

:: The Itty Bitty Check-In List ::

day of week:
ticktock:
current activity:

(1) inspired
(2) discouraged
(3) energetic
(4) overwhelmed
(5) confident
(6) bored

This little check-in helps me to refocus and become present. I put the card into my drawer after I complete it. I plan on looking through them at the end of the week to look for any big patterns (e.g., wow, it seems that regardless of the activity, I always feel bored at 4:30 pm… or regardless of the time, I always feel inspired when focused on a writing activity). Even if the cards remain in my drawer forever without any “analysis,” I really value the activity as a way to regain a sense of mindfulness throughout the day.

… endnote …

I wrote this post and was going to separate it into two separate posts, expanding on the first part (learning as you go and blogging) separately from the second part (the itty bitty check-in list). However, I decided to let go and share the thoughts in a less polished format. It’s hard for me to do and the little perfectionist voice inside my head is not happy with me; but oh well, learning as we go, right?

… end endnote …

If you’re interested in working with me to learn innovative ways (creative tricks and techniques with a touch of idea genie dust!) to live a life you love, and truly walk the talk, email me directly to discuss personalized options. Email: carolyn (at) abeautifulrippleeffect (dot) com.

[image: laurageorge]

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Posted in: Authenticity, Personal, Tips + Techniques

A Beautiful Ripple Effect’s First Video!

December 17th, 2009 | 11 Comments »

After one year of blogging, I decided it was time to post a video! I hope you enjoy my thoughts on 2009 and my goals for 2010! I resisted doing a second take so you could see the “real” me — rambling, mistakes, and lots more :)!

If you are interested in guest posting, please comment below or contact me!

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Posted in: Announcement, Personal

Unfiltered Blogging

July 7th, 2009 | 5 Comments »

Today is my second day of “unfiltered blogging.” I would love for you to join along, please post in the comments if you would be willing to come on this adventure! I’ll be sure to post a link to anyone who says, “YES!”

Check out Deniz’s blog post – he began today!

I have two new articles to share. I would love for you to comment on them!

Psychology Today – 10 Methods to Use When Returning to Normal: Part Two

Huffington Post – Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson: Two Tragedies, Two Different Emotions

It’s cloudy in Boston today and was storming earlier. It’s strange how the weather influences our emotions (or atleast my emotions).

Perseverance is released in exactly five weeks. I wish I were filled with excitement, but I’m filled with other emotions. The book just hasn’t followed my vision – that is really hard to rationalize. I’m trying, but this is such new territory for me. I did learn a huge lesson though that I will share with others who ask for advice about publishing: don’t write your first book about something extremely personal. A topic that is still raw and so much a part of who you are will be redefined by others and to protect yourself is so difficult. So write something a bit more distant and then go for the personal stuff. I just know that’s what I wish I had known prior to publishing Perseverance.

I am focusing a great deal this week on research – working on daily progress and micro-steps! It feels good to break things into little action steps and actually acomplish items each day. I love research and graduate school. I have an incredible advisor so I feel grateful to know that in five weeks, my life will be 99.99% graduate student. Such a relief :).

I also received the most incredibly kind postcard from Leana May just this afternoon. Her words came at the perfect time and gave me a huge boost of positive energy. One postcard can truly change someone’s day – as it did mine. Thank you, Leana!

I am looking forward to a great call with Leo tonight – will certainly be filled with great insight! And then a busy night filled with lots of work and then the Bachorelette (yes, I’m a huge huge fan and LOVE her fashion!). She seems so fun – would love to meet her one day and go shopping :). On that note, I’ll wish you a wonderful evening and look forward to hopefully more “unfiltered bloggers” joining the adventure/mini-challenge! Until tomorrow!

***unfiltered blogging***

Okay, here are the rules to get started (and they can/may be modified by any participants at anytime):
- Post once a day for five days (updated: five days don’t have to be consecutive, five “unfiltered posts” over the course of 14 days)
- Limit “blogging” to 15-30 minutes
- Optional: Spend a max of 15 minutes adding links and editing
- “Regular” blog series do not count!

–> Join by posting a link in the comments!

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Posted in: Authenticity, Balance & Simplicity, Goals & Productivity, Personal

Blogging Adventures: An End of June Update

June 30th, 2009 | 5 Comments »

I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.

- Rosalia de Castro

Spring Landscape

… image via istockphoto member: JacobH …

I have been on quite a blogging adventure! I’ll share all the details below and sincerely appreciate your support.

It’s a fun and scary time. I’m trying to enjoy the ride and focus on the fun (more so than the fear) — easier said than done!

End of June Updates…

–> Unfiltered Thoughts and Emotions

My book, Perseverance, will be officially released in exactly 6 weeks – YIKES! The whole journey from start to finish will be almost exactly four years. What I’ve recently realized is that I have a tremendous fear of asking for others’ support. I’m getting better at it – in terms of emotions – and knowing when I need emotional support; however, I have become so accustomed to the “giver” role that it feels incredibly strange to market something for others to purchase. And so I’ve been feeling as if I’ve given my entire life to others and essentially that no one is here now to give to me – this book (it’s a difficult struggle that I’m working to deal with). But I think the reason for the book not doing so great in pre-sales may be because I haven’t asked for support. I haven’t said, please pre-order my book today! Because that doesn’t feel like me. But I need to find a happy balance and learn to advocate for something new. I didn’t plan to write about this issue in my “end of June updates,” but I guess it just had to come out on here for me to honor this blog as something deeply personal to me. So those are my unfiltered thoughts and emotions right now. If you have any tips or suggestions for how to better cope with this, I am all ears! And please do pre-order Perseverance — you will not only be supporting my vision and goal to share with others how to truly live in the now, but also will be donating directly to CCC and the Chordoma Foundation (where all of my proceeds are going). Okay, I can breathe now!

–> New Blogging Adventures

  • I am excited to be a regular contributor for the Huffington Post (Living Section) and Psychology Today. I plan to post once a week on both sites. My first posts are up on both sites! I would love for you to check them out and leave a comment. I haven’t decided yet how to best organize the different posts on this blog, but am working on that now (will likely have that figured out by this Friday).
  • A Beautiful Ripple Effect will remain my personal blog at this domain (rather than move it to my main website). However, I will be moving servers which may cause the blog to go down for a bit of time or not have all the posts, etc.. Not sure what may happen, but the transition will take approximately 48 hours. So I won’t be adding a new blog post until Thursday or Friday. Just a pre-warning that things may be a bit off, but I’m still here! The blog design will be a bit different, but very clean and simple. The design is still a work in progress – so I’ll be making tweaks over the next couple of weeks.
  • I will be posting updates for The Next Chapter: Wreck This Journal on my tumblr account in the meantime. I have made a lot of wrecking progress recently!

–> The Day to Day Stuff

As usual, I am behind with my emails. If you’ve sent me an email recently (recently = within the last month — I know really bad!), I will be responding sometime later this week.

However, I am on twitter so you can say hi :). You can follow me @clrsimple2

And just a reminder that I am a full time graduate student — so that is why it’s a bit difficult for me to stay on top of everything. Summer means no classes, but major research time – it’s a bit different from most graduate programs (e.g., business or law school). Thank you to Aby for reminding me to mention that! I don’t get the old-fashioned summer vacation!

***

Have a wonderful end of June! I will be back with a fresh post and a fresh look in July!

Do you have any fun plans for the Fourth of July?

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Posted in: Announcement, Perseverance, Personal

Carolyn Rubenstein

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