27 Jun Goodness challenge. You up for it?
One of the great ways that I stay sane, create meaning, and keep pointing my heart toward goodness is by snapping a photo or two during my day.
It happened this week when I was traveling to Austin to do some intensive work with a group of people. Jack and I took a day off to see this part of the world which included a fantastic BBQ place and a yoga temple (yeah, amazing to find right in the heart of Texas!)
Things that make me revel in the mystery and beauty of the world. Like when I turned around on the beautiful grounds of the yoga temple and saw this peacock strutting. Ahhhhh.
What about you? What makes you feel connected to the important things in life?
My colleague, Stan Steindl, sent around this practice from the UC Greater Good Science Center on a way to create happiness and create meaning. Totally right up my alley.
It made me think about setting up a challenge for all of us. What if we used their idea and used it to create more meaning, more compassion, more kindness, more goodness, more connection?
Time Required
15 minutes per day for one week to take photos. One hour to do the writing exercise. While it is not necessary to take a photograph every day, assume that the photography will take you a total of 90 minutes over the course of a week, with an additional hour for the writing.
How to Do It
1. Over the next week, take photographs of things that make your life feel meaningful or full of purpose. These can be people, places, objects, pets, etc. If you are not able to take photos of these things—like if they’re not nearby—you can take photos of souvenirs, reminders, websites, or even other photos. Try to take at least nine photographs.
2. At the end of the week: If you used a digital camera, upload your photos to a computer. If you used a non-digital camera, have your photos developed.
3. Then, once you have collected all of your photos and items, take time to look at and reflect on each one. For each photo or item, write down a response to the following question: “What does this photo represent, and why is it meaningful?”
4. Post here or if you’re comfortable, on your social media. If you do post on your social, be sure to tag me and use the hashtag #safelyembodied!
May goodness surprise you today and every day.