Image by Noah Bulgaria.
By Peter Clemens
I love Vancouver, but there is one thing that is taking awhile to adjust to: the rain. Vancouver receives A LOT of rain and this is very different from my experience growing up in Australia, where one of the major problems is the very lack of rain. Because I love the sun and the outdoors so much, I often get a bit down when it rains.
So yesterday, during another rainy day, I had a thought: “what is the point of letting the weather affect my mood? It’s not like I can control it.” At that point I resolved to think differently about the rain. In fact, I even made a list for myself as to why the rain is alright:
- There is a good chance it is snowing on the mountains (= skiiing).
- It keeps everything green and fresh.
- There are many people who need this rain (eg farmers).
- I don’t have to wash the car as often.
- It doesn’t have to stop me from my normal activities, eg I can still go for a run in the rain (some people may argue that running, itself, is not normal).
The Challenge
The Think Different Challenge is all about finding something in your life you currently have negative thoughts or feelings toward (eg work or your mother-in-law), and deciding to look at it differently. It is about realizing that some things are just a part of life, so we may as well try to find the positives in them.
The rules for this writing project are:
- Write a new blog post in which you “think different”. Follow my suggestions above, or be a bit different and interpret the challenge the way you want :) .
- State that the post is a part of the Think Different Challenge and include a link and/ or trackback to this post so that readers know the rules of the challenge. Feel free to use the above banner (inspired, of course, by Seth Godin).
- Include a link and/ or trackback to the blogger who tagged you.
- At the end of your post, go ahead and tag some fellow bloggers. Don’t forget to email them to let them know they have been tagged.
- That’s it! Just sit back and enjoy reading peoples’ responses to the challenge.
I Tag
The below bloggers are tagged as a part of this challenge:
Aaron Potts – Today Is That Day
Alex – The Universe As
Alex Blackwell – The Next 45 Years
Angeleen – Goddess
Derrick – Sui Generis
Jason Ivers – A Miracle A Day
Jean – Cheerful Monk
Jenny – Jenny and Erin
Jon – Smart Wealthy Rich
Scott – Scott Andrew Bird
Stephanie – Think of Prosperity
Todd Goldfarb – We The Change
Tristan Loo – The Synergy Institute
If you weren’t tagged, but would like to participate, please go ahead and write a post that fits in with the challenge.
Think Different Articles (this list will be regularly updated)
7 Effective Ways to Implement Positive Thinking – We The Change
Body Image Baggage – Goddess
Psychology’s Unique Contribution to Your Compassion and Self-Esteem – Urban Monk
Tag, I’m It – Soup or Nuts
Think Different Challenge – Aspirations Plus
Living More Fully – Stress to Power
Learning to Love Your Boss – The Life Problems Blog
Think Different – Be Inspired Every Day
Turning a Negative to a Positive With Just a Thought – Lessons From a Recovering Doormat
A Group Writing Project in Reverse – A Miracle A Day
Think Different – And Make Friends With What Bothers You – Technology For Living
Think Different Challenge – Brainwavers
Thinking Differently About Politics – Holistic Personal Development
I Love the Think Different Challenge – Brighter Days for You and Me
Ask For A Little Help – Heal Pain Naturally
Thinking Differently About Success, Failure And Learning – Change Therapy
Letting It Go & Going With The Flow! – Powerfull Living
Letting Go of Expectations – Perspectives
I’m Calling You Out – Design Your Writing Life
Thinking Differently About Giving Advice – Brain Based Biz
How to Turn Adversity Into Opportunity – Goal Setting College
Think Differently….. About Fear – Real World Spiritual and Personal Development
Think Different Challenge – Adversity University Blog
Think Different and Overcome Negativity – Interesting Observations
Gratitude and Surrender – Live The Power
Thinking Differently… A Challenge – Rethinking
7 Questions to Ask When You’re Sick – Divine Purpose Unleashed!
How Can Having a Cold Help You “Think Different”? - Never the Same River Twice
Think Different, Be Different – Monk At Work
The Value of Independence – Seeing Is Believing: Believing Is Achieving
Thinking Different About Being Right – Shards of Consciousness
Think Different Challenge – Flooring the Consumer
* * *
The Blogging Blog
A couple weeks ago I visited Seattle for the first time. It rained literally the entire time I was there, yet the weather didn’t bother me at all. I’ve read a lot of self-improvement books like ‘Never Eat Alone’ and ’7 Habits’, so I was already familiar with the idea that your mood and attitude is something you choose. What happened on this trip, though, helped reiterate that thinking, specifically in regards to the weather.
As my plane took off out of Ohio, it happened to be very rainy and gloomy. The plane rose up through the clouds, then suddenly popped out above them and we were showered, not with rain, but with sunlight. It was then that I realized that, no matter what the weather seems like on the ground, it is always sunny and beautiful above the clouds.
Our mood/attitude is much the same way… only with one significant difference. While we can’t control the weather clouds, we can control our ‘emotional clouds’. We can choose to let those clouds blow in and block out our inner sunlight, or we can push them on through and enjoy every single day as if it were 75 and sunny.
Funny, you aren’t a big rain fan and I love the rain. My favorite part of the year living in South Florida is summer into fall because that is the rainy season. I suppose the thing I like most about rain is that I don’t feel compelled to go out and do anything when it is raining. I have an excuse to just curl up in my nice dry cozy home and chill out.
And thanks for tagging me in the Think Different challenge, I’ll certainly be taking it.
Eep, I’m it!
Well, I suppose I’m up for it, though it will be a bit before it comes out. Glad to see you’re thinking of me!
By the way, in contrast to Alex, I moved from a part of the country where it rains a lot to my current location, southern California, and one of the best changes for me is that it’s nice and sunny nearly every day of the year. Because of that, it makes the days that it DOES rain more enjoyable.
I like my sunny weather, though.
Thank you for sending people to the personal development for tag idea’s! :)
Southern California right now could use A LOT of rain! I’m sick of smelling smoke in the air.
On the bright side, I like my sunny weather too! No pun intended.
Thanks for the great comments everyone. Southern California hey… maybe I should pack my bags and move south of the border :) .
Great Idea Peter!
I will let you know when my post is done! Have not been around for awhile – have been overwhelmed with a new challenge but I promise I am back!
On the thought of weather which seems to be the theme here today – I for one never look forward to the long winter months of Ontario. But then when it arrives I open my mind to the changes that it brings for me. Waking up one morning and seeing the season’s first snowfall. Gathering wood for my wood stove so I am able to stay warm. I look forward to those early morning walks in the crisp air with my dogs hearing the snow crunch under my feet. Coming home to a warm inviting fire …….. it’s just all those clothes we have to put on to go outside!!
Adapting to change – grab hold of it like a new born and you will enjoy. Those negative thoughts will change and disappear.
Good to have you back Stephanie :) . I love your description of winter…. I think the only thing you missed was the hot chocolate.
Ps – I have edited the article so that you are “tagged”.
Nice idea Peter. I’m in. :)
bluskygirl: excellent :) . I had you specifically in mind for this challenge given the events of last week.
Open to websites? Deadline?
Peter– I’m on it! In fact, I didnt get around to reading this post until today (Tuesday) and posted an article this morning about the art of positive thinking…..hmmm, maybe I should edit it a bit and add this wonderful challenge (its just so relevent). OR, I could just post another one later this week and include it. I will let you know….but either way, Im IN! Todd
The challenge is open to anyone and everyone. The more people who are involved the better. There is no deadline – most people once tagged will take 1-3 days to write an article on the topic, but if you need 1-2 weeks that’s fine.
I take longer than most because I’m trying to keep my articles written for a week in advance, so even if I write it the same day I get tagged, it doesn’t show up for about a week. My article is done, for instance… but not published yet (it’s coming Monday).
Peter, take it from me, when you live in a rain forest, expect rain.
Good thing you weren’t here LAST Winter. We had several storms, power outages, snow, as cold as -7C, and a 10 day water-boil advisory.
And then it got worse.
If you really hate the rain, and don’t mind a small commute, I can tell you a few micro-climates on your next house hunting trip.
Heya, I participated in your meme as well:
http://www.urbanmonk.net/150/p.....lf-esteem/
Thanks!
Wow – thanks everyone who has contributed. I have loved reading everyone’s articles, and have been particularly interested to see how people have interpreted the challenge. Keep them coming!
Hi everyone! I got back from visiting my dad in hospital and found I had been tagged! Lots of topics immediately went through my head and I know I will settle on one. It certainly won’t be the weather — I’m in Australia and it is absolutely magnificent at the moment!
It’s a great idea and I’m honoured to be included.
Best wishes
Jeanne
http://www.aspirationsplus.com
Hi Peter,
I really enjoyed participating in this challenge. This was a great idea.
Eric
Hi Peter, I had lots of fun participating in your Think Different Challenge. My post is: http://healpain.blogspot.com/2.....k-for.html
It definitely woke me up thinking about this! GREAT idea for a topic. Gratefully, Jenny
Hello, Peter. The Think Different Challenge led me to look at giving advice. Here’s my post at Brain Based Biz:
http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot......iving.html
It really helped me get to the meat of the issue and some of my findings really made me think twice about it even if my intentions may be good.
Wow this challenge is really starting to grow. The response to your challenge just shows how many people are in need of new thinking hats.
I’m in for the Think Different challenge! That is the reason all of us in the personal growth blogosphere are here!
Glad to hear about it through AdversityUniversityblog
My submission is
http://www.personal-growth-wit.....ore-worry/
Here’s mine:
http://divinepurposeunleashed......challenge/
Somehow the trackback didn’t work. Thanks for the challenge!
I love the idea of the think different challenge!
Great article. I like this “Think Different Challenge”. And with so many people interested I can just guess the success of this challange.
Best of luck.
Shreemanis last blog post..ek madesh ek pradesh tukrine cha hamro desh