Quest 2015
Theme Day 1
Gritty Compassion
Recently, Jon Mertz , creator and author of the Thin Difference leadership website and blog, wrote a post that caught my attention called, ‘Your Life Quest: Create. Curate. Conflict.’ After leaving a comment, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more. So I checked out the links that led me to Tracking Wonder, (the art and science of capturing creativity) which is a website created by Jeffrey Davis. On the Quest 2015 introductory page, I watched a brief video and signed up to take an active part in creating a vision for myself for the year 2015.
One of the main reasons why I was interested in this quest was because it was so different than the stale old bread routine of creating another list of well-intended New Year’s resolutions. While most of us love (or perhaps feel compelled) to make but wind up feeling guilty about if we don’t complete them all.
That’s what this post is all about. I’m a week behind the writing prompts, having joined up late so I have plenty of catching up to do. I’m excited by the questions I read on Jon’s blog post and I’m interested in finding out what will come up for me when I answer them for myself. Feel free to sign up and join in the fun if this sounds interesting to you.
Meanwhile, here is the writing prompt for Theme Day 1: Gritty Compassion by Jen Louden.
‘Grit without compassion is just grind. What would be most fun to create this year? How can self-compassionate grit support you in that creating?’
This is what came up for me.
Connections. Deeper connections. More importantly….LIVING connections.
Connected living.
And I want this to be connected to a more profound joy than I’ve known before, even when I have to be serious.
The creation of this website, Tweet Connection, originally stemmed from my love and desire to connect with thoughts, ideas, people, and resources…and a deep desire to want to share these ideas and connections with others when I write. Yet in my efforts to reach out and connect with others, I know that I can’t neglect an even deeper and more profound connection with myself; knowing this is the most important relationship that I will ever have. More specifically, with my health and my own needs, goals, and priorities.
All of our lives are intricately woven and bound together in a never ending web of living connections. We are connected by breath to our atmosphere, to one another, to the earth beneath our feet, to the life force in the plants and animals we eat. Our collective consciousness is a shared connection pulsating throughout our various cultures and societies. And with it, a living, breathing connected hope and need for life filled with real love, purpose, and meaning.
Part of my purpose is to learn (and share) to be more conscious of my connection to this life, this vessel my spirit dwells in, my connection to this earth, and to all living things I come in contact with. I want to fully breathe in and live these connections on a more conscious level as I go about each day.
Connected living.
A living connection with a more joy filled presence.
I want my life, work, and service, no matter what that is, to reflect a deep connection to my core values, with the clarity and wisdom to align with my unique gifts and talents.
I want to have the tenacity and will to do what I need to do to meet the demands of each day, with enough grace to know how to be self-compassionate. I want to live enough grit to do one without ever letting go of the other.
A graceful journey between responsbilities and merciful mistakes.
The courage to face my fears and the tenderness to know when I’m not yet strong enough.
The tenacity and will to press on and the loving wisdom to know when to let go.
More sun. Less rain.
More life. Less shame.
More love. Less blame.
‘My destiny is to create more consciousness.
The sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.’
~ Carl Jung
Now it’s your turn. Feeling inspired?
Sign up and join us on this Quest 2015 adventure for the rest of the month of December. If you do, I’d love to hear about it!
Also, if you happen to write a blog post as I did, feel free to send me a link to it and I will list as an additional resource down below!
********************
For Further Reflection:
1. In what ways do you feel you need deeper connection in your life? Your health? Relationships? Life purpose?
2. In what ways do you currently feel disconnected and out of alignment in life?
3. What is one thing you can begin doing right now to feel more connected to your own heart and soul?
********************
Additional Related Resources:
Your Life Quest: Create. Curate. Conflict by Jon Mertz
I Want This by Nic Askew
Well said, Samantha! You are off to a wonderful start with your #Quest2015! Jon
Thanks Jon! Happy to take part and gratitude to you for being the one who inspired me to join in with your latest post!
Samantha,
I hope your Journey through 2015 brings you all the happiness for which you are looking. A quest is quite an adventure. Hopefully while fighting windmills you will find those connections than bring value to your life. I look forward to reading about journey a long the way.
Tom
As always Tom, I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Yes! A quest is quite an adventure because we don’t really know what’s going to happen along the way! : )
I know you have started your new job, however, if you still have some free time to write, it would be great if you joined us on the Quest 2015 journey this month! There are 3 writing prompts per week and instead of writing a post for each one, you could always do what Jon did on his post. He combined all 3 writing prompts from last week into one post.
No pressure! Just a thought and an invitation!
Thanks again for ‘dropping by’ my friend!
Inspiring post Samantha. I really like the Connected Living map at the top of the post. Great way to visualize your intention. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Scott! Nice to ‘see’ you here today. It’s been awhile! : )
Thanks Scott. Yes, I whipped the visual up on the fly using Omnigraffle. They have a brainstorming feature that makes those easy to create for the quick thought doodle! : )
[…] « Living Connections […]
[…] Quest 2015 Theme Day 1: Living Connections by Samantha Hall […]
[…] Quest 2015 Theme Day 1: Living Connections by Samantha Hall […]
[…] Quest 2015 Theme Day 1: Living Connections by Samantha Hall […]
[…] Quest 2015 Theme Day 1: Living Connections by Samantha Hall […]