Day 30 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

CELEBRATE!



Celebrate the completion of the challenge! Take yourself to dinner at your favorite restaurant or treat yourself to a massage. Whatever it is, do something special for yourself as a reward for completing this challenge.

You did it! You made it to the end of the 30 day Inspired Living Challenge. While some parts of the challenge were a breeze, you probably felt stretched in other parts. Nevertheless, here we are at the end. What will you do now? You have the opportunity to continue down this path of inspired living by incorporating parts of this challenge into your life on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. Don't slip back into old habits...use the momentum of this daily challenge to catapult you to new levels of personal and professional success.

Thank you for joining me on this wonderful journey!

As a special reward, I'm giving away prizes to the people who email me at letterstolisa@adivinebook.com with reflections of their experience on the challenge. Whether it was easy or hard, whether you skipped or day or 2 and made them up, whether you loved or hated it, share your thoughts with me. What was it like? Did you enjoy it? What did you do when you were challenged? What will you do now that it's over?

Every entry will WIN!

Thank you again and may God richly bless you as you continue living your Inspired Life!

Day 29 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

MAKE TIME FOR SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF



Procrastination is the enemy of the inspired life! Do something today that you've been putting off.

Here's the scoop:
What? - Carve out time in your schedule today for something you've been putting off.

Why? - One day easily turns into 1 week when it comes to procrastination. Even with the best of intentions, we easily find ourselves with a high pile of unfiled papers, unsent emails, trips not taken, and more. You deserve to get things done in an orderly fashion. Taking the time out to do the things you've been meaning to do can put you on the track to higher levels of productivity.

How? - Set aside an hour today for this task. Make a list of the things you haven't gotten around to doing and get started on the list today. Continue to set aside an hour each day or every other day until you finish the list. No procrastinating!

Ready, set, GROW!

Day 28 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

CALL A FRIEND TO CATCH UP!



With our lives jam packed, it's easy to drift out of touch with friends and family. Call a friend today!

Here's the scoop:
What? - Call a friend or family member to catch up on life.

Why? - It's often tempting to vegetate at home in front of the TV or computer screen. But consider what doctors say is key to staying happy and healthy: socializing.

Research shows that not staying connected poses similar risks to your health as high blood pressure, obesity and even smoking. As staggering as that is, a trend toward smaller social networks and fewer close confidants is growing.

"More Americans in the last 20 years say that they have fewer close friends or people in their lives with whom they can discuss important matters," says Duke University sociologist Lynn Smith-Lovin. "What ties to a close-knit group of people does is create a safety net."

Doctors agree, and say that a good chat or a regular girls' or guys' night out can do even more.

"Feeling cared for and supported within a social network is particularly important for women in fostering self-care," says Todd Jackson, PhD, author of a 2006 study linking high levels of social support and community involvement with healthier diet, exercise and sleep habits, among other positive effects.

Think of it as a new kind of "friends with benefits" -- health benefits.

How? - Set aside some time today to call a friend or family member. If you don't get an answer, try again in a couple of days.

Ready, set, GROW!

Day 27 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

OFFER TO HELP SOMEONE



Extend a helping hand to someone who may need help.

Here's the scoop:
What? - Help a person in need.

Why? - Giving is a powerful way to improve our own mental and emotional health. What we give to others comes back to us. In the spirit of being the change we wish to see in the world, giving is a great way to set positive energy in motion.

How? - Whether it's helping an overloaded coworker or helping an elderly person across the street, look for an opportunity to help someone who needs you!

Ready, set, GROW!

Day 26 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

WATCH A COMEDY OR ATTEND A COMEDY SHOW



Laughter is good for the soul! Enjoy some jokes today!

Here's the scoop:
What? - Laugh! Watch a funny movie or watch your favorite comedy on television. Or go out and see a live comedy show.

Why? - Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.

Laughter makes you feel good. And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.

More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh–or even simply a smile–can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in on the fun.

How? - You can get more laughter in your life with the following strategies:

* T.V. and Movies: There's no shortage of laughter opportunities from the entertainment, both at the theater and in the aisles of the video stores, as well as at home with T.V. comedies. While wasting your time watching something marginally funny may actually frustrate you, watching truly hilarious movies and shows is an easy way to get laughter into your life whenever you need it.

* Laugh With Friends: Going to a movie or comedy club with friends is a great way to get more laughter in your life. The contagious effects of laughter may mean you'll laugh more than you otherwise would have during the show, plus you'll have jokes to reference at later times. Having friends over for a party or game night is also a great setup for laughter and other good feelings.

* Find Humor In Your Life: Instead of complaining about life's frustrations, try to laugh about them. If something is so frustrating or depressing it's ridiculous, realize that you could 'look back on it and laugh.' Think of how it will sound as a story you could tell to your friends, and then see if you can laugh about it now. With this attitude, you may also find yourself being more lighthearted and silly, giving yourself and those around you more to laugh about. Approach life in a more mirthful way and you'll find you're less stressed about negative events, and you'll achieve the health benefits of laughter. (See this article on maintaining a sense of humor.

* 'Fake It Until You Make It': Just as studies show the positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real, faked laughter also provides the benefits mentioned above. So smile more, and fake laughter; you'll still achieve positive effects, and the fake merriment may lead to real smiles and laughter.

Ready, set, GROW!

Day 25 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

FIX THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN



Think about the things in your life that need to be repaired. Make a list and start repairing things today!

Here's the scoop:
What? - Fix things that need to be broken. Whether a watch, a bookshelf, or a relationship, fix the things that need to be fixed and discard those that can't be repaired.

Why? - Your life can only be as functional and healthy as the things in it. Things that are broken cannot serve you the way they should. Being in the habit of fixing broken things reminds you that you are a whole being who should enjoy the fullness of life. Broken things don't operate at 100%! Abundance is at its highest when all the pieces of our lives are working together.

How? - Survey your home, office, car, relationships, wardrobe and more. Repair things that need your healing touch!

Ready, set, GROW!

Day 24 of the 30 Day Inspired Living Challenge

HUG 5 PEOPLE!



Offer your hug to 5 people today.

Here's the scoop:
What? - Hug 5 people today. They can be good friends, family members, or even total strangers.

Why? - Hugging is a miracle medicine that can relieve many physical and emotional problems. Physicians often tell their patients to use hugging as part of their treatment for pain. To be held can be enormously therapeutic.

Researchers have discovered that hugging can help you live longer, protect against illness, cure depression and stress, strengthen family relationships, and even help you sleep without pills. They have discovered that when a person is touched, the amount of hemoglobin in their blood increases significantly. Hemoglobin is the part of the blood that carries vital supplies of oxygen to all organs of the body, including the heart and the brain. An increase in hemoglobin tones up the whole body, helps prevent disease, and speeds recovery from illness.

Many psychiatrists are convinced that the tender embrace can prevent or cure a host of different problems. Hugs can have an astonishing therapeutic effect by providing a sense of companionship and happiness. Studies have shown that people who are mentally run-down and depressed are far more prone to sickness than those who are not. Hugging can lift depression, enabling the body's immune system to become "tuned up." Hugging breathes fresh life into a tired body and makes you feel younger and more vibrant.

How? - Ask for permission & then give genuine, loving hugs! Hug your spouse, your children, friends, and relatives. You'll both feel great!

Ready, set, GROW!