Before we kick off my exciting plans, I want you to take 3 minutes and do an activity. I’m stealing this from Emily Aborn at She Built This, and I’ve found it to be pretty powerful and something I keep thinking about.

Choose one word to frame your 2021 (please pause and do this).

Some of the choices include Soar, Growth, Expand, Accept. I chose RELAX. Relax because it will happen when it happens, be what it will be. But if I had a second choice it would be DISCOVER.

I decided to spend a lot of time in 2021 reading and sinking into self-development books. But I don’t like the word Development. Many of us go to therapists and a therapist’s favorite saying is “It’s a process”. I hate that. I have many many virtues – patience is not one of them. Process is a cousin of Develop. It implies there is something that “needs work”.  

But you know what, I’m perfectly imperfectly developed!

Yet there are always corners of myself I haven’t discovered. My 2021 will be dedicated to shining the light on some of those places.

I am filled with excitement and trepidation. When I start to dig, there is no end to what I might uncover. But you know what, I’m ready. I’m brave.

So are you. I’m hoping you’ll join me. You can read along and be quiet. Or you can read along and share. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a group of people discovering together!?!?!? There is safety in numbers. If we get enough interest, I’ll create a private Facebook group.

Let’s make 2021 something better than 2020.

How I Plan To Discover Self

I asked a group of ladies I respect to recommend their favorite self and professional development books. That gave me 42 titles (provided to you in an attachment). I took off any I’d already read or were purely business/entrepreneurial because I’m not in a business building mode. That got me to 22. I asked a trusted friend to help and we narrowed it down to ten. I sent the ten out for a vote. I did it this way so I was sure to get books I wouldn’t consider either because I didn’t know about them or because they frightened me. I trusted the process and am trusting the Godiverse.

While I read these books, I will be sharing what I discover – the good, the bad, the joyful, the painful, the surprising. I promise, you will get my authentic vulnerability. Yes, that’s very frightening. Leaping into the unknown is always a wild adventure. Adventure is risk and reward. Adventure is life changing.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE …

• February – The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Ruiz
• February/March – A Return to Love by Williamson
• April/May – Streaking: The Simple Practice of Conscious, Consistent Actions That Create Life-Changing Results by Downs and Downs
• June/July – Atomic Habits by Clear
• August/September – Untethered Soul by Singer
• October/November – Playing Big by Mohr
• December – The Places That Scare You by Chodron
• All year project – Fleeing The Beast: How To Find Your Authentic Self by Houde

I wish we were sitting together. I’d love to know your first reaction. Which of these is new to you? Which would you be leery about reading? Which would excite you? Which do you think is a waste of time?

I’m excited about all of them because I believe everything we read (fiction or non-fiction) has something worthwhile to share – chapters of wisdom or maybe simply one sentence that resonates. Even if I hate one, it will be interesting to discover why I feel that way.

February

We will be starting with The Four Agreements by Ruiz. I have heard of this book for years but for some reason, it’s always made me nervous. I have no idea why. I truly have no idea what it’s about or who Ruiz is. Part of the title includes: A Toltec Wisdom book. What the heck is that? It turns out there are lots and lots of books on Toltec Wisdom.

The Toltec tradition is an [ancient] philosophy or way of life that taught me how to make choices that result in happiness. This philosophy is based on the key concept that we don’t really see life at all; what we actually see is our filter system, which is composed of our beliefs, expectations, agreements, and assumptions. https://www.susangregg.com/toltec-tradition-ancient-wisdom/

Well, that sounds perfect!

February/March

Because The Four Agreements is short, I will also start A Return to Love by Williamson. The subtitle on this one is: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. This is interesting because of my beliefs around miracles (which I’ll share in a few weeks). I’m going to have to be very open-minded for this one. Open-minded is always good!

Woo-Woo

For those of you who follow me, you know woo-woo and I are not on great terms and both of these sound woo-woo. I promised myself to trust the process and the Godiverse. Tomorrow, I crack open The Four Agreements. Woo-woo, here I come! I hope at least one of you will embrace woo-woo with me.

Did I mention I am excited and anxious?