It’s the fifth day of my experiment and I have to say it’s going well! The only thing I have not been consistent with is the getting up at the same time each day. After some consideration I’ve decided to exclude it for now. I’m on a very ‘late’ sleeping schedule for now. It seems no matter what time I go to bed, I’ll toss and turn until 3 or 4am. Getting up at 8 or 9am after such little sleep is sort of agonizing for me. So, until my sleep patterns improve (which they will – I go through these ‘late’ cycles from time to time and they always pass) I’m going to give myself a break.

The checklists, positive talk and affirmations have been going fabulously! Each day I’ll include a couple of things on my list that I really don’t want to do but would be for the best. I’ve done everything on all of my lists except one thing on Monday.

As for the gossip, I am happy to say that I haven’t been perfect in this area, but much improved. By the way, I consider ‘gossip’ to be something said about a person that you wouldn’t say to their face. I believe I’ve said maybe one or two things in these past five days that would fall into this category.

Best of all, I’m seeing some of these positive changes mirrored in people around me. Yes, already – even after just five days! However, my experiment isn’t over. I am going to finish out this week and extend it for another week. In fact, I’m going to make this a way of life for me.

I’ll update again with more specific information in the next several days. I will also post about my current diet, which is vegetarian and not vegan.

I hope everyone enjoys their Thursday!

Unity Consciousness is taking place and a lot of interesting revelations and realizations are occurring as a result! Did you know that everything you think, say and do is reflected outwards to those around you – more so now than ever before?

I’ve been in a pattern lately: I’ll have a few days where things seem to go really well. Then suddenly, I’ll go through a crisis, where nothing makes sense and everything seems to go wrong. I’ll run in circles questioning everything and myself. Then suddenly I’ll break through to the other side and have new understandings. This has happened to me again in recent days, and as always I’ve broken through the muck and mire of confusion to the other side.

As I’ve mentioned a few times on this blog already, everything we do and say is projected outwards and that the people in our lives are basically a rough sketch of who we ourselves are. Well, in the past couple of days I’ve been able to see clearly – almost too clearly – the exact kinds of behaviors I am mirroring in those around me.

Don’t get me wrong – I am not in any way saying I’m responsible for their behavior or vice versa. It doesn’t work that way. However, it’s become obvious that anytime I succumb to certain kinds of unproductive behavior, I will see it reflected in some way (not always the exact way) in those around me. The same goes for productive and ‘positive’ behaviors.

So, being that I am currently proactive about improving myself and also wanting to teach through example, I’ve decided to conduct an experiment. For the next week, I am going to make certain positive and productive changes in some of my own behavior with the intent that it will also spread outwards to those around me. Here are the things I’m planning to do: 1. Get out of bed at an exact time every morning. 2. Set myself a checklist of five things to do every day, and stick to it no matter what. 3. Say at least 2 positive affirmations 100X each per day. 4. No gossiping – anytime gossip is present I will remove myself from the situation or sit silently without contributing. 5. Be constantly aware of the things I say at all times and keep my talk productive and positive.

The first two activities on the list are will-building; the last three are ways to set in motion more powerfully positive vibrations around me.

The things on my checklist above might sound easy to some of you out there, but most have proved to be a bit challenging for me to do consistently. For instance, I have found it nearly impossible to get up at a set time, especially given that I sometimes have trouble falling asleep at night [especially lately]. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like to trade juicy gossip! Also, I usually tell people about any and all ailments I’m experiencing.

So, this may be quite the challenge, but I am up for it! In the past when sticking to new vows like these, it seems at first I’m bombarded with temptations to do the old behavior. For example, every time I make a vow not to gossip or complain, I’ll literally get people calling me all day wanting to gossip or complain. Usually it drives me insane and I give up almost immediately. But I’ve found it’s normal – there is almost always resistance to any kind of change at first! I shall once and for all learn how to persevere through it without giving up. Keep in mind that I will not give up this time, even if I give into temptation. As Mother Teresa said, “saints are sinners who never gave up.”

I am visualizing that a week of doing the above productive things will set a new standard for my own behavior and thinking. And I have no doubt that I’ll see it positively reflected in my lovely friends, acquaintances and family around me. I’ll keep you all informed of how it’s going!

I challenge all of you out there who are reading this: why not do the same? Pick one behavior that you see in yourself and those around you – something that you can start working on immediately. Don’t tell anyone that you are changing it. Just DO it. After a week, look at those around you and how it is affecting them. If anyone tries this, I’d love to here how your experiment went – post your results in the comments section!