Tag Archives: 40 Days to Change For Good

I have a music tracking form that I use to remind myself what’s most important to work on for me musically and to track what I persist at and what falls by the wayside. Every time I do a topic (ear training for example) I put a checkmark in the box for that day, or a little smily face, whatever. I’ve been doing this for a few years now and I find it really helpful. I update what I’m working on with a new form every two weeks. One thing doesn’t change: the words on the top of the sheet: Even five minutes counts! This (probably grammatically incorrect) statement has really helped me play way more music and practice way more things I’ve wanted to practice than anything else. Here’s an excerpt from Day 38 of this year’s 40 Days of Change for Good journal: “Didn’t think I had time for it today, on my way out the door to play a gig – isn’t that enough – but taking that 5 minutes (there’s always 5 minutes) to play harmonica really calmed me – just did one song, I’m Old Fashioned, the melody over and over. I feel literally grounded and a frantic feeling lifted off my heart.” That’s the power of five minutes. If you don’t think you have time to do your 40 Days to Change for Good practice today, you’re wrong. You have five minutes. Everyone does. Even five minutes counts! This post is part of Quixote Consulting’s 40 Days to Change For Good training activity that creates a successful forty-day blueprint to lead a change that lasts.

Here are some change ritual topics for 40 Days to Good from readers. I find these to be tremendously inspiring to have all of us together on this same quest. “To keep my inbox cleared … every day (or at least within 48hrs).” “I’m working on forgiving my sister-in-law for withholding contact with my brother, and now retreating from the family altogether, which I know is my work.  In tandem, I will not allow any of it to hurt my neck (as in “pain in the”…), but to encourage healing (arthritic changes, stenosis, disc issues, whatever).  By nature I am generally, generously positive, encouraging and content.” “When family or I are negative, to respond in a lighter, more empathetic,  and positive manner (vs. sad, upset, or worst case angry); really BE that lighter way.  So focus on myself, and practicing-being lighter by stepping away, turning and coming back hopefully in a lighter state.” The challenge next is to figure out a concrete way to ground these lofty hopes. Something small, specific, tangible, actionable. Here’s an example of my advice for the last topic above: “That one has real depth to it and may be harder to track – perhaps you might want to set aside a small amount of time each day practicing/preparing for interactions in this way. Or take three breaths before you enter a room where a loved one is and think of the word “empathy” before you head into whatever happens. Great!” What’s your change ritual topic? This post is part of Quixote Consulting’s 40 Days to Change For Good training activity that creates a successful forty-day blueprint to lead a change that lasts.

A Moment of Space Just For You Pick something that creates a feeling of quiet and space inside you (your breath, your heartbeat, nature, music, loved ones, a special place). Pause for a moment before doing your next task. Quietly bring to mind that ‘something’ you picked. Take a few long, slow breaths. Repeat after your task is complete. Create moments of space between every task…just for you. This post is part of Quixote Consulting’s 40 Days to Change For Good training activity that creates a successful forty-day blueprint to lead a change that lasts.

“A new moon teaches gradualness and deliberation.” – Rumi Gradualness. Deliberation. These two words don’t get much press in the modern world. Or usually in my world either. But I’m finding them living in the center of the room during my 40 Days to Change For Good retreat. When there’s so much that needs to be done AND so much we want to do, it can be daunting to say the least. My unconscious impulse is to hurl myself against the wall of the undone, to speed up, to try to catch up. But the truth is, there is no catching up, no completion – not if we’re alive. So, how to address all that needs to be done and all that I want to do? I’m trying gradualness and deliberation. Client calls, proposals, songs to learn, wood shed to fill, arpeggios to play, blog posts to write, programs to design, desktops to organize, errands to run…all can be addressed with gradualness and deliberation. When I can do that, I feel calm, quiet, often even relaxed. And I have the possibility of enjoying something I normally might hate, feel “behind” on or just feel stressed about my lack of progress. The truth is, most of the beauty we see in nature comes from gradualness and deliberation. That’s how real change happens. Sudden changes in nature are almost never enjoyable things to experience. If you would like reinforcement to recognize the power of gradualness and deliberation to change, spend some time with the picture of the Grand Canyon at the beginning of this post. Here’s the complete poem (posted a few years back in this blog) that the Rumi quote is from. Here’s to you enriching your day with gradualness and deliberation. A new moon teaches gradualness and deliberation, and how one gives birth to oneself slowly. Patience with small details makes perfect a large work, like the universe. What nine months of attention does for an embryo forty early mornings alone will do for your gradually growing wholeness. This post is part of Quixote Consulting’s 40 Days to Change For Good training activity that creates a successful forty-day blueprint to lead a change that lasts.