Day 1:: The {21} Challenge

Welcome 21ers! ....totally looking forward to this journey with you all! To some it's a welcome back. To others it's a welcome to the journey! Either way....let's enjoy the ride!

A bit of background of The {21} Challenge.

In February of 2006, I had some goals in my mind that I really wanted to work on, but they were difficult ones. Things I wanted to change, but I knew it would not be easy. I was reminded that it takes 21 days to create a habit. I had some good habits I wanted to create; along with some bad habits I wanted to leave behind. But, I needed some kind of push, some kind of motivation that would really help me in this journey. I thought about it for a few days.

One morning, I woke up from a dream with this idea in my head:
combine 3 things:

1. The 21 days of habit with
2. Art journaling I love and
3. Have daily motivational quotes that will kick me in gear.

THEN, I thought: Why not push it a little further & include those people/friends on my blog…the ones I’ve met from all over the world!
This was IT! This was one of those moments that I got goosebumps when this idea flashed in my mind… I was so excited.
So, I searched through all of my favorite quotes & came across this one by Marianne Williamson:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
from 'A Return To Love'

This was just what I needed to kick me in the pants! I loved it! It spoke to me & I immediately sat down & started to formulate The {21} Challenge. I started creating art combined with these quotes & each day as I did, the ‘change’ I wanted to see in myself was happening. It was so encouraging!

As I shared it with others on my blog, amazing things started to happen. I started getting emails from people all over the word who were feeling the same uplifting courage and seeing wonderful things happen inside of them. Their art was speaking to them. Their creative juices were flowing WHILE they were creating new habits or breaking old ones.

Each day, I would look forward to the time I had to create & really let go with my art & creativity. The art journaling helped all of us move beyond words & encouraged our own daily creative ‘play’, ‘practice’ & ‘exploration’. And I was able to develop a whole slew of creativity exercises that I do faithfully everyday to help keep things flowing!

As we create the next round of The {21} Challenge together, remember; it's an incredible creative journey. It will be difficult and it will be rewarding. But, it will kick your creativity up to a level that will surprise you! Each day I will have a quote & word for each of us to creatively play, practice & explore. Our art will help us as we take this challenge together...and we will succeed in our goals!

Day one:



"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside. You are a great power for good. You will make the world a better place. Lift up your chin; walk tall. God loves you."
D.F. Uchtdorf
21 days will go by no matter what. So, why not take that 1 habit you want to make or break & do it. Change. Be that power for good that you have the potential of being as you change for the better. You will make your world a better place. By the end of the 21 days you will have succeeded!

Take each minute, each hour at a time....do NOT give in to your old habits. This is worth it, trust me. You can do it. I believe in you!
R

**Note: I have changed this a bit. I am offering a colored quote art each day. And a black & white word that goes with the day's motivational quote. You are free to download these & use them in your personal journey, but please no selling, sharing or claiming it is your art. This is all copyrighted material. Fortunately, most rounds I've done everyone has played nicely.

Colored word art: print out on cardstock, photo paper, ink jet transparency, or the Avery sticker papers. This will use more ink, but it will look fab!
Black/white word art: print out on all of the above OR colored patterned papers. This will not take as much ink.
(House of 3 can answer a lot of questions about printing, etc.)
& here's a blog button/gadget you can add to your sidebars!