Y    HOW TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF

You are your own biggest critic.  Therefore you are also your biggest cheerleader!  In order to make a big racket, you have to ask yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone.

For me, that would be no more than a mathematical equation.  And yet, I note that when I do step aerobics, I dissect each step into a distinctive pattern that makes it easy to follow.  So I wonder if our comfort comes with what we like to do instead of how hard it is.

However, since we are S.O.B.’s , we have fire, don’t ever quit and get immense joy and pleasure out of everything we do.  One of the very best ways to challenge yourself is to write your own obituary.  What does it say?  Do you have things in it that you haven’t done yet?  What’s stopping you?

What characters would be in your story if you could write it and who would play them?  What changes do you need to make and who do you need to meet to make your story happen?  What are the steps you need to take on a daily basis to have it happen?

S.O.B.’s are a great bunch.  So I know that you can solve this problem on your own, but here are some suggestions to break the mold:

            1.   Try going to the zoo or another amusement area by yourself.

            2.   Go to a sports event or an opera (quite diverse, wouldn’t you say) and see who

                  else shows up.

3.      Write a short story or poetry.

4.      Use a journal to write down your inspirations.

5.      Write down names of people you’d like to meet or invite to lunch.

6.      Try waterskiing, ice skating or horseback riding.

7.      Take a course in something brand new and different.

It may not be possible to have a life of complete joy but if you know at the end of the day you’ve helped someone, laughed out loud, been present in your own life and contributed a positive energy force toward the situations and people you’ve encountered, you’ll know that day has been a success.

I always ask myself four questions at the end of each day.

            1.  Was my spirit alive today?

            2.  How many times did I laugh out loud?

            3.  What did I do toward my goals?

            4.  How can I improve what I did by 1%.

S.O.B.’s always practice the good while continually improving and learning.  When that stops, you’re no long an S.O.B.  Or at least not one who can kick butt!