The Sane & Satisfied Checklist

The other day I saw something (doesn't matter what it was) and I automatically thought to myself, "That's Sane & Satisfied". And it occurred to me that I've never really laid down a set of criteria for something being Sane & Satisfied but somehow I just knew it was.

It's been difficult for me to put into words what exactly I mean by Sane & Satisfied but I thought it might be helpful for a newbie if I wrote a Sane & Satisfied Checklist. I envision this checklist being most helpful when you have to make a decision about something. That decision doesn't have to be life or death and can be as mundane as, "Should I say yes to helping out with the PTA this year?" Every choice we make takes up more of our time, energy and resources. So each choice can make us either more relaxed and happy or more stressed and unhappy. I find I'm most unhappy when I do things that go against my current path. Likewise, I'm most happy when I'm doing something in my element.

Saturday Smorgasbord: Creative Exercises

What is Saturday Smorgasbord?

Gurus and leading experts act like there's only one way to succeed. I believe there are so many ways to accomplish things that it's silly to narrow yourself to just one path.

So every Saturday I will list all the options, techniques and ways to accomplish various things from marketing your business to losing weight.

There is a Smorgasbord of tools at your disposal, why pick just one?

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This Week's Saturday Smorgasbord: Creative Exercises

Learning how to be more creative is far from an exact science in my opinion. I don't believe that creative people were simply "born creative". Creativity is a skill like any other and creativity doesn't only exist in one area of study, skill or industry. Some people might be naturally inclined toward creative thought but no matter what your core talents, skills or abilities are you can make creative leaps, solve a problem creatively or think of your work in a different way; all of which are creative skills.

Skill of the Month: Free Drawing

Every month I will showcase a skill that I think will help you become Sane & Satisfied. I believe acquiring new skills is the best (maybe even the only) way of improving your life, increasing confidence and basically feeling happier.

This month's skill is Free Drawing.

Free drawing is kind of an ephemeral or intangible skill but it can help you let go of preconceived notions, trust your instinct and release judgement. So really free drawing is just a means to an end. Those three skills will help you in many other aspects of life.

The Pros & Cons of A Pros & Cons List

When I first got the idea for this post I figured I was either going to be the only one who had ever thought of it or the topic would be exhausted. I have noticed (probably not a new revelation) that many bloggers and article writers tend to just copy what others have written so the internet is inundated with a bunch of the same regurgitated information. I did not want to add to the regurgitation. And I was pleasantly surprised that only a couple bloggers on the first page of a Google search wrote about this topic. Awesome.

Anywho... Here's my take on a Pros and Cons list.

"Secrets to success" aren't really secrets.

I get so annoyed when I see an article or book that has the phrase "Secrets to success" in the title. Please, don't get suckered in by one of these books. They aren't secrets! They are either things that people have been saying for years or they are the personal journey of ONE man or woman.

I've read a lot of self help books and I can categorically say that none of them have really shared anything life-alteringly different. Yes, they may have a unique flavor or the book may be organized in a more pleasing manner but the substance stays the same.

The "secrets" that keep popping up tend to be the following:
Be consistent.
Keep your eyes open for opportunity.
Don't be scared to make mistakes.

Sunday Pages

I started a new task management/scheduling system this week. It was actually inspired by my dad. I was upset one day that I felt overwhelmed but that nothing was getting done. He suggested that I clear out my current schedule and just take things week by week.

So that's what I did! And now when I look at my schedule I see a bunch of "free time" to do with how I choose.

Who Are You Today?

I read about Julia Cameron's Morning Pages about a year ago and I kept telling myself I should start doing them but I never got in the hang of it. I told myself to do a Morning Page again last night and miraculously got up this morning and did one while I ate breakfast.

I call my Morning Pages "I Am..." pages because I'm trying to focus on today and what I need to do today rather than worry about the future. I was also inspired by the subtitle of Bene Brown's, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let go of who you think you are supposed to be and embrace who you are. That sentence has been going through my head ever since I read it. It's become a mantra for me.

Writing Prompts & Journaling

I've planned a Writing Vacation today and I thought I would share some writing prompts I found online in case you want to jumpstart your own Writing or Journaling Vacation.

From A Writer's Workbook:
Describe the following in a short a paragraph.
1. a circle
2. a spiral staircase
3. the color red
4. the smell of a barbecue

Entrepreneur Games & a New To Do List

Entrepreneur Games

I just started playing a game on my iPad called Fiona's Flowers. It's a time management/simulation/entrepreneur game where you run a flower shop. You start off with a few tasks like watering, planting and pruning your flowers. You also sell them out of your shed. The goal is to make enough money to advance through different garden contests.

As you earn money you can buy more equipment like an oven and fruit dryer so you can increase your products by selling raisins and cakes.

4 Hours, Rules & Getting Off Your Butt

On my other blog, 210 Unread Books I reviewed Timothy Ferriss's, The 4 Hour Workweek. I read it again recently for the 2 1/2 time and realized that Tim's philosophy about work and life gel pretty well with Sane & Satisfied. Tim teaches uber-productivity skills and doesn't put much stock in the term "expert".

The main thing I learned from Tim is to not let rules have so much power over my life and actions. We all have real and imagined rules that dictate our actions and beliefs and most of the time these rules keep us from doing things we really want to do or live a life we really want to live. These rules are imposed on us by others, by tradition, and by ourselves. After reading The 4 Hour Workweek I recognized many rules I made up about myself and my life and tricked myself into thinking they couldn't be broken.