Week 8: Transform Your World + Day 1: Journal & Set Intentions

For the first four weeks of this challenge, you deep-dived into your reasons for living, made a map of your path forward, and a plan for how to give full effort to your priorities. And for the last three weeks you centered your living in love by giving open-hearted attention to your daily interactions with the people in your life, to your personality style, and to generosity, equanimity, and other virtues and social skills.

The only thing remaining to do is to go out and transform your world. That's the gift we have - to see what needs to change and do the work to change it. No matter our limitations, we CAN make the world better, one smile, kind word, or conversation at a time. 

When I say "transform your world" I am suggesting a shift towards a better life: It could be mostly an inner renovation, or lifestyle alteration; it could be an adjustment in your relationships; it could be a new project or area of growth; or it could be a move into activism or service. You might already have an inkling of where you are being nudged. 

The work of transforming your world has several steps. This week you will take time to hear your truth, and get clearer on your various missions in life; learn how to test your leadings; and how to open the door to the uncertainty of life, take creative risks, and find the courage to act on your leadings. 

We will go through the steps of discernment - the process of making deeply important decisions in your life - that I set out at the beginning of this book. You will:

-Use your practical wisdom, collect information, reflect on your values, and weigh all the possibilities for action. 

-Seek a leading of the spirit (God or Inner Guide) with an open mind and heart. 

-Seek clearness by inviting thoughtful questioning (not advise) from some people you trust.

A note about your Inner Guide

I've mentioned your Inner Guide throughout this book, but what is it, really? Some people call it intuition, or a gut feeling; others feel it in their heart; and some might call it a leading of the spirit. It's that flash of insight, or creative impulse, or sudden clarity you get when you've been working out a problem; or it might be a leading or itch to act on something you never thought of before. It's sometimes quiet and subtle, and sometimes loud and clear.

And when your Inner Guide speaks to you with a message that seems foreign to how you normally think (maybe a rush of new hopefulness, or an urging to action), then it's hard to not credit it to a something outside yourself. 

Who's to say?

We have infinite ways to connect to our Inner Guides; I do it in my journal, or in silence, or on a walk. You might do it with meditation or prayer. It gets easier with practice, and when you have developed a true friendship with yourself you will begin to connect to and trust the voice of your Inner Guide.

But remember that no matter how compelling the voice and urging of your Inner Guide, it is only part of the process of discernment, and should be tested before you take action.

Day 1: Journal & Set Intentions

Get out your (old) journal notebook and write "Transform my world" or some other heading. (Remember that you can use any journaling technique that suits you: A written dialogue with yourself, a collection of lists, drawings, or mind-maps.) This exercise has three parts again, so allot 5 -10 minutes for each part:

• Part One - collect information. Back on Week 1, Day 1, I asked you to make some lists of goals, dreams, and exciting ideas in broad categories. Today I want you to review all the ideas you have listed over the course of the last 7-weeks and circle those that are on your growing edge - those ideas and goals that might help you to transform your world (think inner world, relationship world, community, or universe- any sphere you want to transform).

And brainstorm some new goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for your future that could lead you to change your world for the better. Just write whatever you think of, without judgement; put down everything you really want to do, and everything you only dream of doing, and include at least a few crazy, improbable ideas. 

And also include any foggy areas or vague yearnings - an itch to transform something that is not clear yet.  

• Part 2 - reflect. Write about what you want your life to stand for - how you wish your world could change, and what would make it better for everyone. Write about big and little problems in your life and in the world that you would like to see solved. 

Ask yourself, If I could change anything in the world, what would it be? 

If there were no barriers to what I could do in life, what job, work, or activity would I undertake that would bring me personal fulfillment?

At old age, what do I want my family, friends, and community to say about my life?

• Part 3 - weigh the possibilities. Take a break for a few minutes. Get a fresh cup of tea or go outside to look at the sky, then come back and read what you wrote. Write a list of the choices and options you have for transformation now and in the future.

Set intentions for the week:

• Write about your top priorities in the next week, including your small daily disciplines, and any big projects or tasks that lead you in the direction of your dreams. List the strongest, most compelling reasons you want to do them.

• List potential challenges- parts you don’t enjoy, things you don’t know how to do, or feel blocked on.

• Set intentions for this week to follow through with each one of your priorities, being sure to include your deepest reasons. Give special attention to any "low-status" priorities.