Many people think “day dreaming” is a useless exercise – they may be right – but I can guarantee that visualization is not a useless exercise. Visualization is the practice of vividly and clearly envisioning something you wish to manifest in your life. The clearer this image in your mind, the more likely you are to see it in reality.
Visualization in terms of our goals is very important. We must have a crystal clear vision of how it will feel to live this goal to get us through the obstacles that will undoubtedly surface. In this Mini we work through the process of creating a Vision Statement for your goal and then illustrating your goal with a goal poster.
Most of us are great at setting goals; in fact, we are goal-setting experts. We have set goals a thousand times or more. What we are not so great at is reaching them. In order to help ourselves reach our goals, we need to concisely state our goal and make sure it is a S.M.A.R.T.Goal.
This Mini takes you through the five components of creating a S.M.A.R.T. goal– Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely; and helps you create a goal that gets the year off to a smart start.
Mini #56
Please note this Mini will not be available until November 7, 2008
My daughter Sammy and I were having an interesting conversation about values and character the other day. (She is thirteen.)
“How would you define character?” I asked.
She paused for a moment and said, “Character is how you define yourself, which in turn defines you.”
I loved this definition and it led me down the path of thinking carefully about character. Character is the real “you”– it is who you are when everyone is looking, and maybe more importantly, who you are when no one is looking.
In this Faith Matters study we look at fifteen important character traits found in the Bible and see how our character does (or doesn’t) embody these traits. This realistic character self-portrait provides a spring board for healthy changes.
Mini #53
Please note this Mini will not be available until November 7
“Gratitude turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie
Developing a thankful attitude, goes a long way toward developing a more resilient, confident, and appreciative self, while also dramatically influencing life joy, contenment and inner peace. In this Mini we work thorugh practices for keeping a Gratitude Journal to increase your attitude of gratitude.
This Mini includes printable Gratitude journal pages, exercises, and prompts to help you discover the magic of this timeless tool.
Study after study has shown how recordig our goals, dreams, aspirations and affirmations improves our ability to manifest our goals in our lives. In this Mini we explore how to build a “Treasure Book” filled with pages and words that inspire and affirm our personal and professional goals.
You’ll learn book-building basics
How this technique helps you
How to use your Treasure Book to maximize life results
Complete four exercises to beginning building a book of your own
One of the many Bible books that I read repeatedly is the book of James. A short five chapters this book offers 54 direct commands, without mincing words on living the Christian life.
The simple and straightforward approach of this Jerusalem church leader and brother of Christ covers a wide range of conflicts, topics, and wisdom with clear guidance and a hallenge to put our faith into action. The writing and topics explored touch on the core of today’s challenges–facing difficulty, doubt, adversity–and are as relevant now as in 50.A.D. (making it one of the earliest books of the New Testament–perhaps even the
first.)
In this study we will explore the five chapters of this book in depth and apply James wisdom to our lives while also exploring the self-reflection prompts through the book.
People create visual journals for all sorts of reasons-namely because the discoveries we find in this process are fresh, offer new perspectives, and provide an insight that is unique to visual journaling.
In my own life, I have used written journaling for years. I found that a written journal became a necessary tool for recording the details of my life, making sense of experience on paper, and reconciling the past. In 2004 I began visual journaling as a structured practice. Within two weeks of the process I made an interesting discovery. While written journaling is vital to help me make sense of the past, visual journaling helps me live in the present.
In this 12 page introductory lesson (adapted from my Visual Journaling course) we will complete three projects and ….
In this Faith Matters Study we explore 15 Proverbs. Each Proverb exploration includes a call to action to put the Scripture into practice in your own life. There are two implementation ideas for each Proverb for a total of 30 ideas to implement over the course of the month. The study is designed as a printable journal to record your experience of practicing the Proverbs.
It was fun to develop this Mini because it emphasizes the part of the Make Today Matter Life System that is most important to me. When I created MTM, it was very important to me that it contained a contingency plan for when “life happens.” I wanted women to know that when life happens and you cannot login as often as you would like or the Toolbox Steps seem a million miles away—it’s okay. You are not behind. You are right where you should be and MTM is ready for you—no matter where you are.
This Mini is designed for two audiences in particular:
1. Women who completed the Toolbox but worked quickly or did not fully implement each Step.
2. Women who have been away from the program because life happened and are looking for some guidance to get “back in the groove.”
During the first seven days we review and focus on the 5 essential practices to build a solid daily foundation. During the second week we walk through how to make the most of your Make Today Matter Membership and use the site to match your goals and priority areas.
Mini-Makeover #43 Includes a printable “Soul Food Set” of images to use on your cards
Includes three printable card “blanks” (Brook’s art with lines for your favorite quotes)
In the MTM Toolbox you learn about Soul Food Cards. This Mini takes us on an adventure for the soul as we learn different ways to use affirmations to realize our full potential, create contentment, and make every day matter. During this Mini we will:
Build our Soul Food decks through three different exercises
Learn techniques for reaping the benefits of Soul Food and affirmations
Save our first Soul Food Card Swap (Optional) (In this swap be all make two cards and then send them in by mail. In return your receive two other member cards)
Mini Makeover #038
Includes a 7-Day Anti Stress Calendar
When we are stressed it is often because we something is pressing, or we are overwhelmed with to-dos and projects, or a relationship needs time we can’t find. When pressure reaches its peak, we carve out time to handle a particular stressor. Any guesses on where we most often carve that time out from?
We tend to pick up the needed time by neglecting healthy habits. While this might seem a solution in the short-term, it is actually a catch-22. By skipping healthy habits, we reduce our physical and emotional energy making it harder to cope with the stressful situation. So what’s a gal to do? While eliminating all stress would be ideal, it isn’t a realistic solution. Since we can’t eliminate it, we need to learn to manage it. Proactively minimizing stress and increasing our coping abilities can drastically reduce the impact of stress on our lives.
Studies have linked stress to headaches, heart disease, intensifying existing asthma, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, and chronic pain.
In this Mini we begin with a quick stress-test to check your current stress-level. Then we uncover your stress-triggers and sources so you can work to stop stress before it starts. A 7-Day Anti-Stress calendar will give you simple activities to do each day to help eliminate stress and create contentment.
You never know what you will learn till you start writing. Then you discover truths you never knew existed. Anita Brookner
Throughout the ages journals have served as powerful tools for women to engage on a voyage of self-discovery, uncovering and defining purpose and meaning in their lives.. Journals offer a safe place for the soul to unwind. When I lived in the Pacific Northwest I taught a journaling workshop at University of Washington. In this Mini-Makeover I’ll share the basics for getting started in journaling and guide you through creating an “Idea Bank” of journal prompts to increase self-awareness and encourage self-discovery.
Mini #025
11 pages
Includes 2 printable verse cards created by Brook Noel
Reconnecting with God
Any relationship can be challenging to maintain in today’s busy life. Ask a woman how many close friends she has and most women can easily count them on one hand. Why? A close relationship requires a resource in tight supply for many–time. Combine that with life’s challenges and upsets and sometimes relationships are shaken or shattered. This study explores what happens when our relationship with God is shaken. How do we reconnect? What does the Bible say?
This study is divided into 12 daily doses of devotion. Topics of exploration include:
Reasons We Lose Touch
Letting Go
Doubt
Searching for God
Regrets and Mistakes
This study includes 15 daily doses of study.
About Faith Matters: Each study includes….
Look-Ups (a.ka. Write it Down): Each study contains scripture references around the monthly theme. Look these up in the Bible you are most comfortable with and write them in the provided space. Reflection Questions: Work through these thoughtfully. Space is provided in the study guide or you can use the private online journal.
Activities: Follow the instructions for the outlined Activities. You may wish to keep a special journal for these Activities.
Key Verses: Build a deck of cards to celebrate key verses that speak to you. Each week add one verse to your deck. You can write it on a colored index card, design it on a computer, or decorate a card by hand.
Discussion Topics: Discussion topics are highlighted throughout the study . Login to the study area and you will see a thread started for each of these.
One or two key verse cards created by Brook Noel
Access to the general Faith Matters area where you can share favorite scripture, your own key verse cards, prayers and more.
Any relationship can be challenging to maintain in today’s busy life. Ask a woman how many close friends she has and most women can easily count them on one hand. Why? A close relationship requires a resource in tight supply for many-time. The purpose of the Faith Matters Mini is to provide a way to study what the Bible says on a specific topic and provide a simple way to stay present with our faith.
A few important notes about Faith Matters Minis:
1. Everyone is welcome, regardless of religious affiliation or current beliefs. If you have never picked up a Bible, aren’t sure what you believe, or even if you are angry at God, you are welcome here.
2. These are explorations not “rules” At no point will I say (or can anyone else say) “You should …”
3. Respect for everyone is mandatory, this is not an area to debate God’s Word, but to live it.
4. Scripture references are taken from both the Old and New Testaments
5. All topics explored are POSITIVE. I have talked with many women who have left their spiritual practice because it was driven by guilt, negativity, and punishment. The Bible is so filled with positive inspiration and examples and these are my focus.
Mini #027
15 pages
includes 2 printable verse cards by Brook Noel
Letting Go of Harmful Emotions: An exploration on releasing worry, anxiety, fear and sadness
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life …” (Matthew 6:25 NKJV)
This study offers a guided exploration through releasing worry, anxiety, fear and sadness by turning them over to God and finding strength in our faith. Verses and stories drawn from the Bible share knowledge and comfort on how to “Let go and Let God.” This study includes 15 daily doses of study.
About Faith Matters: Each study includes….
Look-Ups (a.ka. Write it Down): Each study contains scripture references around the monthly theme. Look these up in the Bible you are most comfortable with and write them in the provided space. Reflection Questions: Work through these thoughtfully. Space is provided in the study guide or you can use the private online journal.
Activities: Follow the instructions for the outlined Activities. You may wish to keep a special journal for these Activities.
Key Verses: Build a deck of cards to celebrate key verses that speak to you. Each week add one verse to your deck. You can write it on a colored index card, design it on a computer, or decorate a card by hand.
Discussion Topics: Discussion topics are highlighted throughout the study . Login to the study area and you will see a thread started for each of these.
One or two key verse cards created by Brook Noel
Access to the general Faith Matters area where you can share favorite scripture, your own key verse cards, prayers and more.
Any relationship can be challenging to maintain in today’s busy life. Ask a woman how many close friends she has and most women can easily count them on one hand. Why? A close relationship requires a resource in tight supply for many-time. The purpose of the Faith Matters Mini is to provide a way to study what the Bible says on a specific topic and provide a simple way to stay present with our faith.
A few important notes about Faith Matters Minis:
1. Everyone is welcome, regardless of religious affiliation or current beliefs. If you have never picked up a Bible, aren’t sure what you believe, or even if you are angry at God, you are welcome here.
2. These are explorations not “rules” At no point will I say (or can anyone else say) “You should …”
3. Respect for everyone is mandatory, this is not an area to debate God’s Word, but to live it.
4. Scripture references are taken from both the Old and New Testaments
5. All topics explored are POSITIVE. I have talked with many women who have left their spiritual practice because it was driven by guilt, negativity, and punishment. The Bible is so filled with positive inspiration and examples and these are my focus.
Mini Number #18
11 pages
Includes 6 activities
Includes card template for displaying final statement
Recommendations: It is recommended that you work through Mini #005- Discovering Your Core Values - before working through this Mini.
“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.
‘Which road do I take?’ she asked.
‘Where do you want to go?’ was his response.
‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered.
‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.’”-Lewis Carroll
Everything worthwhile begins with a vision. Think of a vision as the “big picture” of why you make specific choices and take certain actions. A vision statement is a guiding light allowing us to live each day with purpose and clarity. A clear vision statement will help us choose goals that are right for us. There may be a million things we want to do-but only a few that we actually need to do.
A Vision Statement encompasses the values we hold dear, the overall “theme” we want to live in our life. Without a vision, you are likely to wander aimlessly because there is no uniting purpose between daily actions and a larger vision. A clear vision statement will help us choose daily actions and make decisions that are right for us. There may be a million things we want to do-but only a few that will truly create the life we desire because they align with our vision.
Knowing our core values is the first step in building a life of contentment and joy. But how do we use these values to shape our lives? In this Mini I’ll show you how to add these core values to your Personal Power Deck, journal or your Catch-All Notebook and how to consult them regularly to ensure you are living your life “on purpose” in alignment with these key values. This Mini includes templates for cards and journal pages.
Have you ever felt there must be “something more” but been unable to identify what it is? Have you ever felt your life is a series of to-dos but that you aren’t really living? These feelings are often caused by a disconnection between actions and values. This Mini-Makeover will help you rediscover your personal values–not the values others would like you to have. You’ll work through a values worksheet to deduce your core values.
These core values act as a filter. In times of indecision, we can compare options to our guiding values to make a decision. Values are the seams which shape the fabric of our lives. Without defined values, we have torn seams where the unwanted can sneak in, and our energy can sneak out. Values allow us to advance confidently in a meaningful direction. Without them we will be blown around by the emotions, people, and external events of the day. Recommended for ALL LIFE AREAS.
Related Minis: Creating Value Cards for Your Personal Power Deck #11, Creating a Personal Vision Statement #018 (It is recommend to complete this Mini before working on Mini #018.)
existed. Anita Brookner
