Welcome back to the SHIFT Challenge, where we’re shifting our lives to more accurately reflect what’s truly most important.
Our first shift this month is to Find the Quiet.
It’s Noisy Out There!
“The good and the wise lead quiet lives.” – Euripides
There’s no doubt that we live in a noisy world.
Our smart phones are constantly beeping or buzzing, televisions are on for hours a day in almost every home and everywhere we go we hear noise whether it’s from traffic, elevator music or construction.
And it’s not just physical noise. The news stories of world events, the pressures of work, the emotional drain of difficult relationships — all create “noise” in our minds.
We have to be intentional about finding quiet.
As Benedictine monk Peter Minard says,
Not merely an absence of noise, Real Silence begins when a reasonable being withdraws from the noise in order to find peace and order in his inner sanctuary.
We need to find peace and order in all of the areas of our lives for the sake of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Shifting to Quiet
This week I encourage you to choose one (or more, if you’re adventurous!) of these tiny shifts to make your life quieter.
SAVINGS
Let’s quiet our spending by finding one tiny shift we can make in order to add some money to savings — even if it’s only $5.
Skip buying the fancy cheese, plan some cheap meals, make your coffee at home or avoid Target. (The Dollar Spot gets me every. single. time.)
HOME
Let’s quiet the clutter and mess in our homes by creating a haven of beauty and rest in one small area.
It could be your nightstand, your coffee table or your kitchen counter. Focus on keeping that one area clean and clutter free this week and maybe even buy some flowers to pretty it up.
IDENTITY
Let’s quiet the inner critic who tells us we’re not doing enough, that we’re failing.
Think about the words you would say to a friend who needs encouragement and say those positive and affirming words to yourself throughout the day: “I’m a good mother.”; “I am wise and can make good choices.”; “I’m freakin’ awesome!”
FAMILY
Let’s quiet our critical speech and focus on saying positive words to our loved ones. Start the day by telling your spouse and children what you really love about them. Throughout the day, tell your child what he is doing right rather than focusing on what is wrong.
TIME
Let’s quiet our calendars by removing one obligation or activity to make time for family. Postpone volunteering, delegate a task or move an appointment so that you can create space in your schedule.
Remember, SHIFT is about refocusing on our top priorities and realigning ourselves with our values, not about stress.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, choose ONE tiny shift to make this week in the area that needs the most attention, and trust that you will be able to make more positive changes in the weeks and months to come. Rome wasn’t built in a day, right?
My Shifts
I’m a notorious fault-finder so I’ll be focusing on saying positive words to myself and my family. I’ll also be working on keeping my kitchen table clean as it has become a staging area as I continue to declutter my office. My family should be able to eat dinner without moving piles of stuff out of the way!
I would love to hear which SHIFTs you will be making so leave a comment.
And be sure to leave a comment on THIS POST to enter to win $50 Pay Pal cash — yay!
Finding Quiet!
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Been needing to do some major SHIFTing in my life & this is just the push I need to get on the ball. Very much needed, thank you!!! I will be working on all the shifts.
Yay! Glad you’re joining us Stacy!
I was diagnosed with cancer this summer and I have found that the noise in my head is quite loud. My first shift is to quiet that noise for 15 minutes every day. I also use my kitchen table as a staging area. So the other shift I will work on this week is keeping that cleaned off! Thank you for sharing your difficulties with us! Makes me feel better about myself to know is not alone!
Oh Wendy! I’m so sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with cancer. I pray for complete and total healing for you. I’m so glad that I could encourage you with my own challenges. 🙂
I’m a week behind (UGH, story of my life) and I’m hoping I can work on that in the next 31 days. I’m going to start small by trying to build up my savings. In theory, I’d love to be able to put in ten a week, but some weeks, it might have to be just a few bucks. Small steps lead to big change, right? 🙂
You are not behind Lisa! You can start wherever you like and do what’s most important for right now. (You could bookmark or pin the posts for later if you like.) I love the idea of just putting aside whatever small amount of money you can. Great job!
My computer desk/bookshelf! What a mess! I’ll start in 10 minutes!
Yay! You can do this Bobbie!
I’ve decided to say, “Great!” when people ask how things are going, instead of being even slightly depressed because things aren’t perfect. It’s funny how surprised (and relieved?) they seem when I respond that way!
I love this Gigi!
Hi,
I am going to start by keeping my kitchen clean and decluttered. I love to cook and it relaxes me. I am also going to try to spend less with meals and try you $60 weekly budget. I really have to start cooking better meals so we have more family time. Now that my daughter is home from college (till she gets married next year) we have family meals again and I love it. I so enjoy sitting down with the family for an evening meal. It was something we did all the time when she was little.
Great plan Lisa!
Making the shift from spending idle time daydreaming, scrolling aimlessly through Facebook, etc. to a more purposeful rest, including journaling, reading a book I enjoy, or taking in a movie. In other words, balancing time at rest with a time to get things done. I tend to lean too far one way or to far to the other, obsessing about everything that I need to do, or wasting a whole evening sitting around. Ready to find that restful happy medium!
Sounds like an awesome plan Heather!
I would like to find a quiet spot in my kitchen. It seems my counter tops have been taken over by “STUFF”. My kitchen is one of the places that I like to have order and space. Thank you for all your help. Prayer for you and your family during this difficult time.
Yes, kitchen counters tend to collect stuff. Thanks so much for your prayers. 🙂
I AM “SHIFTING” paperwork and files from a counter in my Kitchen to the file cabinets in my office/library Room. the files have been an eyesore and stresses me when I am in the kitchen..I spent one day over Labor day weekend tossing old taxes and miscellaneous papers to make room for more important files… then onto the dining table paper clutter….GAME ON >> thanks Kimberlee for encouragement.
Yay Bonnie! Great job purging papers you don’t need!
So much to shift, and evolving day by day. This month I am brand new to school Mom role. My August intention was to become a boss of my morning to make the rest of the day flow. I’ve been following the 5 Second Rule from Mel Robbins and harnessing intuitive action that quickly, to either start what I need to (unload dishwasher before bed, make lunches, clean, and getting out of bed tomorrow immediately…no snooze allowed!) So far a 5:30 wake up has not been daunting. Using this trick and leaving my phone out of our bedroom at night has done wonders for me and my husband. We are both online too much. 21 days to create a new habit, know I can do this! It’s encouraging to read all the goals you awesome Moms have for Sept and beyond!
Leaving the phone out of your bedroom is such a great idea. It makes going to sleep so much easier, doesn’t it?
Before I knew about the SHIFT challenge, a friend and I challenged ourselves to go 30 days without yelling/raging at our kids. This is a definite shift around here.
That’s an AWESOME shift! Good for you.
Hi
I need to say positive words to me this week
Me too!
The shift I made was to quiet my spending on coffee. I make at home now!
Great job Dena!
These are all great suggestions! I actually backed out of a volunteer position I had overbooked myself for this morning (after debating and over thinking it and feeling guilty) and as soon as I did I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I know I could have “made it work” but not committing to it will free up time and reduce stress for me too. I’m also working to be more positive with my words, as well as putting myself on a mini spending freeze…it all adds up! So grateful for all of these shifts!
It’s so hard to say “no” sometimes, but I am really proud of you for doing that Jessica!
This week I am working on a scrapbook for my daughter. She has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and will start her radiation treatments on the 18th of this month. I have asked her friends and family to send me a positive note for her and then I am putting everything into a scrapbook for her and then will give to her on the first day of her radiation treatment. I need to have a quiet space to work on this as well as a clean area. I am also working to keep my kitchen table clean and to all put the dishes away after I was them instead of just letting them dry. Baby steps!
Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this Karie! I pray that she will heal quickly.
I don’t think this could have come at a better time! Let’s get to SHIFTing – it’s WAY past time for this girl!
Yay! Glad you’re in D’ana!
I work from home and I just refinished a table to use as a desk in my office…sadly, it has already become the dumping ground for every scrap of paper that enters my home….so I want to SHIFT to making my desk a calm, uncluttered, cute, organized space for me to work.
Fantastic goal Michelle!
I am going to try to keep the dresser and nightstand uncluttered in our bedroom. It is so peaceful to walk into the bedroom and see things neatly arranged and uncluttered. Thanks for all the ideas.
Fantastic, do-able goal Linda!
Thanks for this. I’ll be removing the clutter so I can enjoy and unwind in a quiet, peaceful space.
Awesome Beth!
I am going to pay cash for groceries. I accidentally started this when I went shopping on Sunday, so I am already on my way!
I love it when “accidents” work out that way! ?
I am going to make our bedroom a haven of peace and calm! We got back from holiday a week ago and everything got dumped in there, waiting to be put away. Doesn’t make for a very restful night’s sleep when surrounded by clutter.
That is an excellent idea Nicki — so important!
I love quiet time. I walk with the youngest to school and there’s a stretch where there is a lot of traffic and noise. But the rest is serene. I enjoy it before the winter arrives.
Clutter is my arch nemesis and I’ve done a lot of decluttering. I’m hoping to clean a bit in the winter and hopefully, get DH to put up shelves in the garage so I can use it as a pantry. Right now, the garage has a refrigerator, filing cabinet and table that holds tons of stuff on their flat surfaces.
The tv is located in the basement. Anyone can watch in peace and those who prefer to not watch can stay on the upper floors and do something else. It works out well.
That’s so smart to keep the t.v. in an isolated area so it doesn’t disturb the peace in your home. Thanks for sharing Lisa!
As a teacher I have started notebook for each of the children I teach and I’m going to write something positive about them each day. it’s a shift in my mentality from looking at what’s negative in their lives to what they do that’s positive. I am also planning to meals better to eat at home instead of picking up something and spending the money.
I love the idea of writing a positive note to the kids Dmilie!
I wish you were my grandchildrens teacher. Thank You for helping our children.
I decided after many years to shift back to a paper calendar. I previously went totally paperless on my phone and iPad, but invariably, something would disappear from my electronic calendar. I am hoping writing it down and seeing it visually will assist my organization.
The shift is happening!
I am totally a paper planner girl, so I’m glad to know I’m not alone. Thanks for joining us Elaine!
I’ve tried electronic planning and have gone back to paper, too. There’s just something about seeing it in my own writing that helps me better visualize what I have going on when.
I need to SHIFT in all areas but Id like to challenge myself to say positive words this week. My fall back phrase is “hurry up, we’ll be late”. I need to be kinder these first few weeks as we get back to the school routine.
Sounds like a great plan Cindy!
I am so going to try and keep my basement clean. I had to clean it to make room for a new furnace. the treasures are gone, now to just keep it that way… along with that the savings are at rock bottom so here we go again, but I was able to make this upgrade a bit easier with what I have learned from reading these posts.
I also practiced relaxing this weekend, I definitely want to keep that habit!
So glad to hear that the site has been helpful Peggy. You can do this!