How I'm the Anti-Me

This is a great post by Jonathan Mead.

I've given up on a lot things that I thought I'd really enjoy and this post gave me some great insight into how to overcome the feeling of 'must'.

A great example for me is my guitar playing.  I have been at the same skill level for a very long time, for some reason practicing and progressing became less of a hobby for me started to feel like something I was forcing myself to do, so I quit trying.  I now just fumble around with the same stuff that I have been doing for years.  But the problem is, I really WANT to get better and really want to progress... it's just frustrating because it feels like it's without purpose.

However, I think that by doing what Jonanthan recommends, I might be able to overcome the obstacles that have set me back.

I'll be working through the "What would happen if I did?" and "What would happen if I didn't?" questions and I'll post the results here next week. 

In the mean time, do you have anything that this might help you with? 

Resources

I added a list of blogs that I will be using as resources during this project.  This list will change, but ultimately I don't expect it to expand much as far as numbers go, I want to keep it clean and focused.

I will be reading a selection of works by the people included in that list and reviewing them as I go as well.  

Also, keep up with the Twitter feed because as I converse with people, you can follow the conversations there.

As far as other resources go.  I purchased a simple journal at Office Depot to keep notes, written projects, etc. in.  I plan on scanning pages that are important to this project to document the process.  

Lack of Activity

I need apologize for the lack of activity.  I spent the past three days in a regional meeting for work.  Needless to say, it nearly sucked my soul from my body, but I survived and will be posting more here soon.

Have a good weekend.

Where this project originated.

Roughly a month ago I started actively using Twitter. A good friend of mine has a very deep network of 'Tweeps' that have established blogs, ebooks, manifestos and other writings designed to help people stretch themselves and grow into leading more meaningful and productove lives.

At first, I was extremely intimidated by these people, and wasn't really sure what to make of them. I found myself avoiding reading much into their Tweets, or their blog posts but soon started questioning 'What do they have that I don't?'

Pretty soon the answer dawned on me: They have experience, they have initiative, and most importantly, they have something to share... and I can learn from them.

So I came up with an idea. I truly need to 'unstick' myself. On recent episode of my favorite podcast by Steelehouse Productions, Mark Steele and Jeff Huston were discussing a theme from the TV show 'Madmen'. The theme was how the show explored the characters' needs to change their situations, but rather the real need is to change themselves... and the situations will change as they grow.

So that's my goal. I want to change myself. I want to take active steps toward moving out of where I am now to where I am supposed to be.

That destination isn't yet important. I feel like as I learn and grow, I'll discover new purpose and a new direction and as those things happens, I'll ultimately become happier.

Keep up to date with me to see how I do.

What is this 'Life Project'?

It's simple.  

I am going to start taking active steps in utilizing other peoples' expertise to better my life.

I am going to challenge myself to think more deeply, converse more philosphically and live my life actively.

This blog is my journal.  

As I read, contemplate and converse, this is where my progress will be archived. 

My next post will outline my plan and be the launching point for this project.