Holding Intent - Part II
Structures #8 ©2002 39"x 86"
Stop Complaining
Late last year I committed to going 21 days complaint free, in a row. I’ve succeeded in this task a few single days and I’m now very aware of my behavior. It’s been a humbling and eye opening experience but also a very positive one and I’m sure I will be successful as it is a priority.
I find letting go of the negativity is a huge help in holding intent in all areas of my life. I just do stuff, instead of making up excuses and complaining about why I can’t.
Along those lines I find this Nike video to be very powerful. I don’t like it when I sound like this:
Structures #8
I’ve been reprocessing some older images, this one included. I decided to flip the image and show it horizontal in this post as that was how it was originally designed. It can be hung either horizontal or vertical. I wrote about making this piece a while back in this article. Short story is that it was the result of living in New Zealand for 5 months.
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Posted by Lisa in: Intent
Tagged: 21 day challenge, goals, Intent, Structures Series, YouTube
Tina Mammoser said,
January 29, 2008 @ 2:01 am
Love it! Kept laughing at all the little phrases *I* say. And the fact that I was going to go visit a client in my running gear today so I could run home but was thinking it’s too cold. Well, can’t say that now can I? ;)
I agree about the shift in attitude with the complain free days. I think I found the idea through you through Alyson Stanfield? I haven’t been wearing a bracelet or anything (I went about 4 days and then forgot about that aspect) but just trying to make an effort overall to be and speak positive. It’s quite interesting. I’ve had to tell people a couple times that I didn’t want to discuss something, but found that I actually could predict who those people would be. I have faltered in the task I admit, but it’s quite liberating to focus on the positive as much as I can! Best of luck to you with it too!
I’m really enjoying the old images you’re showing too. (I like this one horizontal.)
jafabrit said,
January 29, 2008 @ 7:04 am
That is a good video.
This quilt is lovely and I really like it horizontal.
As far as being negative/positive, it is just finding that right balance isn’t it? I find it difficult to relate to people who are so positive they exclude any possibility of discussion about the more serious issues in life (too depressing), or accept that it is okay to be negative now and again.
Laure said,
January 29, 2008 @ 7:31 am
Lisa, I love your more monochromatic pieces, but this one with all the color speaks to me! I love it - horizontal or vertical. Thanks for posting the reminder about negativity. Right now I am in a fierce battle with my inner voices to stop the negative thinking - thereby putting a stop to a lot of the negative speaking. It is interesting how quickly we fall back into the negativity trap when someone else starts the ball rolling though. . . .
As to the video - AWESOME! I don’t remember who said it . . . “the only real disability is a bad attitude!” How often we keep ourselves from flying because of the words, “I can’t”!
Okay, then, I’m off to find a tall building to leap or a speeding train to pass up!!
Thanks for a wonderful start to my day! ~ Laure
Laura Tyler said,
January 29, 2008 @ 8:45 am
It feels great to hang out with energetic, can-do people, doesn’t it? Wishing you good luck with your goal today!
Much care,
Laura
sarah said,
January 29, 2008 @ 9:36 am
wow. that video gave me some chills. thanks for including it - it gives me some real perspective.
Tracy said,
January 29, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
I’m so tired; I’ve got an early day tomorrow; I’m freezing; My lips are chapped; I should put up another post; I don’t have enough time; there’s something cool on TV; I’m not feeling very well; my back hurts; I should eat something; what will I wear tomorrow?; I should do the dishes; my stomach hurts; I should read that magazine; I need to wrap my mom’s birthday book; I’m so cold; I must be getting sick; I need a blanket; the heater needs to go downstairs, I better rest up; the dog needs brushing; dishes need to be washed; I’m still hungry….all these and I’m sure more used by my pathetic self in the last 48 hrs. Ack! I’m a slug. Thanks for clearing the lens! No excuses! No fear!
I’m off to the studio. Thank you!!!!!
cynthia said,
January 30, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
Great video - I was waiting for the “…and so”
I agree with Jafabrit though too - there should be a balance, life isn’t all sunshine and puppies. Excuses are another issue all together.
Love all the color too!
Lisa Call said,
January 30, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Tina - A big congrats to you for making it 4 days complaint free. That’s wonderful - it feels great doesn’t it!
Tracy - that was excellent!
Laure - thank you! I hope you found a good high building and leaped completely over it!
Laura - I agree - I love being surrounded by positive people. Good wishes for your week also.
Sarah - glad you enjoyed the video!
Jafabrit and Cynthia - I can see your point of view and I think many share it. I’ve never seen the footage of the twin towers coming down on 9-11. About 7 or 8 years ago I decided to not watch or pay attention to the news anymore. My intention - to qualify for any jury because I’m so out of touch with "reality". To be one of those people everyone says "where did they find someone that didn’t know about that!"
I can’t say I never read the news on the internet but I don’t watch it on TV and I rarely listen to the radio. What I find is that if something so amazingly big happens (like 9-11) I’ll hear about it and then I might do a bit of reading.
I find that focusing on all that negative stuff does not serve me and now I’m working on getting my own words in alignment with this aspiration. I don’t think this means I can’t have a serious discussion but I do believe the Law of Attraction saying that Energy Flows Where Focus Goes.
Leslie said,
February 2, 2008 @ 10:36 am
That video is very powerful and startling. Thanks for posting it.
I think the idea of committing to some complaint-free days is a good one. For me, the hardest are the internal complaints, the ones I run in my head like a mantra sometimes, about how things are so messed up and life’s so unfair — to me… I’m working on noticing those and not believing them.
I just recently discovered your blog, Lisa, and love it.
Thanks,
Leslie