BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD
Posted by Juan Quien | February 02, 2018 | Blog
21 DAY SEE CHANGE DO CHALLENGE
I was sick of feeling helpless. I was tired of hearing that there is nothing we can do. I am a woman of action! I love to teach…and my favorite way to do that is not by talking, but by showing. Walking my talk so to speak. So when I’m told there’s nothing I can do, the Taurean, born in the year of the Ox, stubborn Preemie in me rises up and says HELL NO! I can do something!
I wanted to honor of the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in a meaningful way. I wanted to DO something right away. It’s important to vote for policies and systems, yet I know that those changes don’t happen fast. But I knew I could look at myself, and make a real effort - today. I know you can too. You can rewire your brain, and you can start that now!
It takes 21 days to create a new brain pathway. Just 21 days of SEEING really what is happening right in front of you, CHANGING the way you think about it and DOING something about it. So, I decided to go on Social Media (which is already not in my DNA) and post a different thing that I SEE that I know I should CHANGE the way I think about it so I can DO something that gives me a better result. I have encouraged all the teenagers in my life because I told them, those kids who died will never have a chance to change another thing, but you can, so you better! I asked everyone else I know to join me in this process so that we could stop feeling helpless and we can make a real change, in ourselves and in the world.
Many of the people that participated in the Social Media-based See. Change. Do. 21-Day challenge experienced significant, positive changes in their lives as a result.
Since I started posting for this challenge on Facebook and Instagram, I’ve had a lot of questions come up. I’ve summarized them here and I hope you can find them helpful as you join us in creating YOUR new pathways:
- You’ve already started your 21-day challenge, is it too late to join?
- It’s never too late to join! These are your 21 days. You can begin whenever you want.
- What do you mean by SEEING?
- I say it all the time “you can’t change, what you can’t see.” Seeing is really a simple word for awareness. Take some time in the morning, during the day, at the end of your day and notice is there anything I didn’t like? Is there anything I want to do different or could do different? For example, this morning I noticed I reached for my phone to check on Instagram, I NEVER do that. I usually get my phone to meditate. In that moment I saw that I was obsessing over this challenge and whether people were doing it or not, following me, liking it…it was me SEEING me.
- A friend texted me, she said her seeing was noticing how bothered she was by the mess in her house. Another one said, I noticed that I was comparing my post to other people’s post. Seeing is all about checking yourself out and recognizing your behavior or recognizing what you don’t like or don’t want. Once you SEE, then you can decide if you want to change or not.
- What is the difference between Change and Do?
- So change is the step that happens after you see. I decided to change how I was interacting with Instagram. How I wanted to spend my time. How controlling I would be about this challenge. NOTICE- my CHANGE is about deciding what I want based on what I SEE. Do I want to keep doing this or NOT?
- My friend who saw how the imperfections in her house bothered her, decided that she did not want to be a neat freak. She decided to change the way she handled that situation. The other comparing friend saw it and decided that comparison was making her miserable and stressed and so she wanted to leave it alone.
- Once you CHANGE how you are seeing things, then you can DO. That’s the action part. I DO by not touching the phone. My friend DOES by walking away from the mess. My other friend DOES by not looking at other people’s post and just posting her own. The Do is how you honor what you saw and decided to change. I can SEE that I need to lose some weight. I can CHANGE my mind and decide that it is time for me to stop eating carbs late at night. My DO happens when its 11:00 pm and I decide to stay away from the chips!
- Do I have to post online every day for 21 days?
- I recommend posting online because for some people, this makes you feel accountable to something. In this case, the Social Media “gods” know you are doing your challenge and I may be able to take a look and comment (no promises!).
- However, if posting online causes anxiety or for you it is “one more thing” to worry about, then DON’T do it. The point of the challenge is that you are consistent, and you make an effort to See. Change. Do. Every day for 21 days. I want you Doing the challenge more than posting about the challenge. If you can’t post at least take a look at my example as a guide. But if you do post…don’t worry it doesn’t have to be perfect, keep it light and fun and brag…you are DOING!
- How do I know if I am doing the challenge right?
- You can visit my Facebook and Instagram accounts to see how I am doing my challenge and use them as examples. Also if you go to #seechangedo you will see examples of others doing the same challenge. Be sure to include these #s so we can find your posts as well:
- #21daysofseechangedo #seechangedo #juliaharper_phd #msdstrong
- You can visit my Facebook and Instagram accounts to see how I am doing my challenge and use them as examples. Also if you go to #seechangedo you will see examples of others doing the same challenge. Be sure to include these #s so we can find your posts as well:
This is an opportunity for you to start to be the change you want to see in the world. It starts with small steps. Little things, everyday for 21 days. Good luck!