Category: Goal setting

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change 2014?

change

Do you struggle to set resolutions at the change of a year?

Do you struggle to keep them?

Do you wish change, rather than see change happen?

One of the main reasons I find that people fail in their commitments to bring change from one year to the next, is that their resolutions are

1) unattainable or

2) based in negative experiences or pain.

Each year for the last decade I have asked myself the following questions before I even attempt to set goals, resolutions or change for the new year. These questions have helped me significantly in the tone and tenure of goals I attempt.

Reflection, hope and contemplation is an amazing gift that this season offers us.

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘it will be happier’

Alfred Tennyson

I have put together a downloadable document, that you can print out and go through the questions I ponder at this time of the year. They have changed and evolved as the years have gone on from my reflection, but they have been so helpful in orientating my thoughts towards the future. (here are a small selection of the questions; click on the link to download all the questions and print out to write in the guided reflection journey).

Download the questions here: change reflection pages

Hope this helps.

I will be making myself a cup of tea and buying a almond croissant and reflecting with you.

Happy Days

Here’s to a brilliant 2014.

Amanda

reflection pagesreflection pages 2reflection pages one

 

 

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discover your brave self!

Brave

Creativity is not for the faint hearted.

I don’t believe creativity is a personality type, a preference, a gift or a disposition.

I believe creativity is a skill, a culture of ones life, where we open our hearts and lives to innovation and inspiration.

The only reason some people are more creative than their neighbours, is they take time to position themselves in a stance to receive and be inspired with creative ideas and opportunities.

Fear so often holds us back from expressing the fullness of our potential.

Fear of being disliked, fear that our produce won’t be good enough.

Afraid of our imperfections.

I love this quote from Alan Ada;

“Be brave enough to live creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You cannot get there by bus, only by hard work, risking and by not quite knowing what you are doing. What you will discover will be wonderful.”

What new opportunity do you need to put your brave undies on for?

What have you always wished to do, but have been paralysed in fear?

Maybe an internship opportunity like this? Creative Internship

internship

 

or maybe committing to a project like this? Inspire 14 is all about committing to something everyday for the year of two thousand and fourteen.

#inspire14

What is it that you are afraid to do?

Conquer it.

Conquer yourself.

Commit!

See you tomorrow

Amanda

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Creative Internship 2014

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I am passionate about volunteerism and mentoring. I always have been.

I remember being a young girl in year 5, running into year 1 in my lunch breaks at school and beg to be the teachers helper.

I was a student teacher at my dancing school as a teenager and I have always volunteered in more than one organisation my whole life. In my previous roles in large organisations I have always brought younger creative people alongside me in the projects I have worked on, and consequently have people all over the world who are now working in the creative and event management fields who have been trained in my departments.

I believe I was afforded many opportunities through out my life by being mentored. Some of my greatest lessons have been learnt in this environment. I believe whole heartedly that volunteers make our community thrive and mentoring is such an important facet of career development.

In this season of my career, most of the projects I  lead and am involved in are voluntary ones in the community. Although they are voluntary they are wide reaching. It is amazing place of experience, growth and challenge.

I was discussing 2014 last week with some friends and I was saying how I am unsure how I can commit to all the opportunities next year because I am unable to sustain their growth, without a team of people working with them. In the midst of this discussion a friend suggested I get an intern.

At first, I dismissed this idea, feeling like it was a little pretentious, but as I began to think about it, I became excited, because I am so passionate about mentoring in the creative fields. I already mentor quite a few people and it is just increasing the responsibility of this forum to a formal role.

I considered hiring a PA, one day a week to help me continue in the momentum of these creative endeavors, but am not in a position yet to do this.  (maybe by the end of the year, this internship will result in a job?)

So here it is. 2014 will be the very first year that I am offering a ‘Creative Internship‘.

I have detailed all the job skills, job description and job opportunities that the intern will be exposed to in this Application Form: Creative Internship

All you need to do is download it and print it out, or answer the questions in your own typed document and apply.

Applications close December 31 and interviews will happen first couple of weeks of January and then the internship will begin at the end of January.

The applicant will need to commit to one year of training, mentoring and coaching as a part of the three main opportunities that I lead;

  • Capture: 30 days
  • Kinwomen
  • SPARC (Perth)

I am so looking forward to meeting people who are interested in the same fields as I work in and mostly I am excited to mentor and train the next generation.

Yours Sincerely

Amanda Viviers

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2014: inspired

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I have been thinking about 2014 already.

I know, don’t be annoyed with me, but I wanted to start something that others could join in with me and unless we prepare it won’t happen. Christmas kinda drains us of all our motivation and then we often limp into a new year. I think the best resolutions are those that are planned.

The banner I am declaring over 2014 next year is this;

2014: inspired

The dictionary describes the word inspired in the following way…

inspired:
  1. of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse.
  2. (of air or another substance) that is breathed in.

These two definitions really impacted me, considering my writings of late. Creative impulse, breathing in, extraordinary quality. All of these words have begun to speak to me about the potential of a new year.

Honestly the last few years have been terribly crazy.

I am ready for an inspired year.

Another dictionary described the word inspired;  ‘imbued with the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence.’

As I have been thinking and praying about this project the reason why I believe I need to get it out there now, is I think it is going to be an amazing time of freedom and inspiration for the people that take part in it.

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Here is what I am going to do…

I am committing to drawing, finding, writing, describing, looking for and visually representing something I have been inspired by everyday.

I have bought the Kikki K Journal 365 above to do it with and then I will take a photo and post it on Instagram and on here each day.

My goal is to capture the inspiration that is awaiting discovery.

your_year

I know there will be hard times, I know somedays it will be difficult with a 2 year old, but I am committing to it.

I want to ask you now, what will you commit to with me?

I will help you with accountability.

Think about it.

Is it write on your blog everyday?

Is it to take a photo everyday and post to Instagram?

Is it to exercise everyday and document it someway?

or do you want to join me by buying a 365 journal and write, drawing, scrapbook, visual journey our way through 2014.

I am asking you to commit by hash-tagging this #inspire14

I am believing that 2014 will be a completely different year for you.

One of inspiration and capturing moments, that fleetingly pass us by.

There is so much on the internet and in our homes that is discouraging, why don’t you email me and commit to something positive together.

Email: amanda@amandaviviers.com

Another way to start the year well, is to use my book Capture 30 days of inspiration to begin your year creatively. It is a 30 day inspiration guide, to living a more creative life.

“I ask not for any crown
But that which all may win;
Nor try to conquer any world
Except the one within.”

Louisa May Alcock

Let’s conquer something together.

Inspired

Amanda
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yestember

One of my friends is having a hard time of late. Especially in the area of being single. I set them this challenge and it is called yestember.

They have to complete all 30 by the end of September. It’s not actually about finding a man, it’s about mixing up their everyday and pushing comfort zones and generally just doing things that they don’t normally do.

Sometimes all it takes is a change of perspective.

I found this quote and I loved it…

“make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty.” Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

So if you are feeling a little glum. It’s spring and join in Yestember with us.

Download the list here: yestember

* say yes to this project.

* Buy a coffee for a stranger.

* Go to the wine bar and talk to anyone whose there, The goal is to get someone to buy you a drink.

* Arrange a BBQ/ party at your house and invite people…

* Arrange a dinner in the city with a group of people.

* Plan a holiday at home (provide evidence i.e itinerary).

* Invite someone out for coffee (guy or girl).

* Talk to 5 guys at church…

* Go on a young adult camp/ retreat/ or organize a weekend away before the end of the year with young adults.

* Go to 3 different churches (and go to church every Sunday of september).

* Write a letter to myself and post it back to myself and open 1 October.

* Start a conversation with a guy in a shopping centre.

* Book a counseling session and talk about disappointments.

* Organize a chicks night at movies with pedicure, wine and chocolate.

* Dance naked around the house with music blasting.

* Start a journal to give to your husband on your wedding day.

* Go and burn any letter from x boyfriends and delete all text messages.

* Book two tickets to an event or movie and put on facebook a week before that you’ve got a spare ticket and see who wants to join you (Guy or Girl).

* At the Gym, ask someone a question about health such as “Protein shakes”, “How to use gym equipment”.

* Try a different sport i.e. Bikram Yoga or Crossfit.

* Cook a recipe that you’ve wanted to try.

* Go to a sports bar to watch a footy finals or the grand final with someone.

* Do a Random Act of Kindness.

* Join a volunteer group or event ie. Man the phones for telethon, Do the soup run, Visit an old peoples home etc.

* Read a new book.

* Be Confident and Open to what the month brings. Say yes to offers and chat to everyone even if they’re not your type.

* Go into a bottle shop and ask the attendant to suggest a wine that will go with your meal.

* Go dancing after your dinner in the city.

* Try a relaxation or meditation CD before you go to bed.

* Write your own positive message for the month and repeat it every day. Put it on your mirror & say it ie. “I will reach out of my comfort zone this month. I am strong. I am confident and I am willing to meet new people and let God lead me where I need to go”.

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