Last week, we got to time-outs and affirmations. And I realized that my biggest enemy is and will continue to be time. Adding something to my regular schedule has proven to be a challenge. Taking the time every morning for my three pages and affirmations, every week for the time-outs… and the reading and other assignments… this is what I’m finding the hardest.

In addition, there’s a sense of feeling a little bit silly. A few of the assignments and tools are making me uncomfortable. I gather that that’s just going to increase.

The ongoing tools continue: daily morning pages, affirmations and time-outs.

The Second Transformation: Soaring

Chapter Three makes us look at our biases about leadership as well as our secret desires and wants. The tools make us take a look at the things in our work lives to see clearly what is making us happy and unhappy.

TOOL: Secrets

List three secrets that you are holding close to you, that you want to protect from prying eyes. These may be feelings, desires, goals. Be truthful.

TOOL: Watching the Rapids

Take 30 minutes to fill in the blanks “If I weren’t so crazy, I’d say ________________________________.” The assignment has you doing two different answers, then repeat five times.

TOOL: Wish List

On a piece of paper list 1-20 and complete the statement “I wish _______________________________________.” The idea is to do this often.

TOOL: Leadership Quiz

You’re going to need the book for this. The book has a list of statements and you’re asked to fill in the blanks fast. The tool is supposed to help you identify the negative models in your mind about leadership.

TOOL: Explore a Sacred Space

Take 15-60 minutes to go to a sacred space (a museum, park, library, church, etc.) and just sit and absorb the environment.

TOOL: Secretly I’d Like To…

This is another fill in the blanks assignment. Take a sheet of paper; list 1-20 and finish the statement “Secretly I’d Like To…” Try to be truthful about the things you’d secretly like to do.

TOOL: Watch the picture without the sound

Photograph your day. Document the people and places in your work world, taking notice of what is positive and what is negative.

TOOL: Filling the Form

You will once again need the book. List three small changes you’d make in each of several different areas.

* * *

My “The Artist’s Way at Work” journey:

• A new year, a new project: navigating The Artist’s Way
• The Artist’s Way: Week 1 — Week One summary and assignments
• The Artist’s Way: Week 2 — Week Two summary and assignments, and review of Week One
• The Artist’s Way: Week 3 — Week Three summary and assignments, and review of Week Two
• The Artist’s Way: Week 4 — Week Four summary and assignments, and review of Week Three
• The Artist’s Way: Week 5 — Week Five summary and assignments, and review of Week Four
• The Artist’s Way: Week 6 — Week Six summary and assignments, and review of Week Five
• The Artist’s Way: Week 7 — Week Seven summary and assignments, and review of Week Six
• The Artist’s Way: Week 8 — Week Eight summary and assignments, and review of Week Seven
• The Artist’s Way: Week 9 — Week Nine summary and assignments, and review of Week Eight
• The Artist’s Way: Week 10 — Week Ten summary and assignments, and review of Week Nine
• The Artist’s Way: Week 11 — Week Eleven summary and assignments, and review of Week Ten
• The Artist’s Way: Week 12 — Week Twelve summary and assignments, and review of Week Eleven
• The Artist’s Way: the last week — review of Week Twelve

Additional Links and References:
(Some links are affiliate):

• Book — “The Artist’s Way at Work: Riding the Dragon“