The Think Different Challenge
Image by Noah Bulgaria.
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. And if you need some suggestions for who to tag, head over to Priscilla Palmer’s Personal Development List.
Think Different Articles (this list will be regularly updated)
7 Effective Ways to Implement Positive Thinking - We The Change
Body Image Baggage - Goddess
Wake Up and Go to Work, Think Differently Today - Juice of Champions
The Think Different Challenge - Synergy Institute
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: At Home in the Universe - Sui Generis
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
Thinking Differently About Self-Revelation - Sublime Passage
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
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61 Comments
October 29th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
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.
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October 29th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
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.
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October 29th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
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!
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October 29th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
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.
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Thank you for sending people to the personal development for tag idea’s!
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October 29th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
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.
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October 30th, 2007 at 1:08 am
Thanks for the great comments everyone. Southern California hey… maybe I should pack my bags and move south of the border
.
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October 30th, 2007 at 2:30 am
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.
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October 30th, 2007 at 4:29 am
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”.
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October 30th, 2007 at 8:07 am
[...] post is part of the Think Different Challenge from Peter at I will change your [...]
October 30th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Nice idea Peter. I’m in.
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October 30th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
bluskygirl: excellent
. I had you specifically in mind for this challenge given the events of last week.
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October 30th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Open to websites? Deadline?
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October 30th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
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
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October 30th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
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.
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October 30th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
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).
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October 30th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
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.
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October 31st, 2007 at 7:08 am
Who wants to live forever? I do….
This article was written for the I Will Change Your Life Think Different Challenge. It may just change your thinking on something which affects all of us - aging. When I was about 10 I’d visit a local newsagent’s on……
October 31st, 2007 at 8:10 am
[...] post is part of the Think Different Challenge from Peter at I will change your [...]
November 1st, 2007 at 12:13 am
[...] author Peter. Peter, author of I will change your life, recently wrote an article “The Think Different Challenge”. The challenge is to write about something that we think negatively of in our life and [...]
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:55 am
[...] article is in response to the Think Different Challenge, posed by Peter from the excellent personal development website I Will Change Your Life .com. As [...]
November 2nd, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Heya, I participated in your meme as well:
http://www.urbanmonk.net/150/p.....lf-esteem/
Thanks!
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November 2nd, 2007 at 4:15 pm
[...] It was started by Peter, over at I will change your life. [...]
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
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!
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November 3rd, 2007 at 6:53 am
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
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November 3rd, 2007 at 8:37 am
[...] Tristan Loo at SynergyInstitute. Go check out his orginal post regarding this challenge here. [...]
November 3rd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
[...] The Think different challenge by Peter at ‘I will change your life’. I like this simple but significant post. [...]
November 4th, 2007 at 3:10 am
[...] post is part of Peter’s Think Different Challenge. Everyone is welcome to join. Just link back to this post and to Peter. I’m especially [...]
November 4th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
[...] challenge is the brainchild of Peter, the writer at the Iwillchangeyourlife blog. The Think Different Challenge is all about finding something in your life you currently [...]
November 5th, 2007 at 5:44 am
[...] at I will change your life . com posted The Think Different Challenge, and I have been tagged by Jean at Stress To Power . com in her post, Living More Fully, to join [...]
November 5th, 2007 at 11:07 am
[...] from Tristan at the synergy institute about the Think Different Challenge. A friend of his from I will change your life.com started the idea a few days ago. The rules of the challenge can be found here. In short I have to [...]
November 6th, 2007 at 4:59 am
[...] If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Daylle Deanna Schwartz of Lessons from a Recovering DoorMat Blog Has tagged me for Think Different Challenge created by Peter at http://www.thechangeblog.com/2.....challenge/ [...]
November 8th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Hi Peter,
I really enjoyed participating in this challenge. This was a great idea.
Eric
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November 8th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
[...] was tagged for this challenge by Jean Browman at Transforming Stress. I read the original post at I Will Change Your Life, and was intrigued and excited. I practice this particular exercise often and have found it [...]
November 9th, 2007 at 10:52 am
[...] A Seemingly Negative Move Has Brought Me FREEDOM ! [...]
November 10th, 2007 at 7:14 am
[...] by fellow vancouverite peter, so maybe i’ll tag a few more people from here. please read the guidelines for participating here. i’m tagging carol, paul and maggie. addthis_url = [...]
November 10th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
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
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November 11th, 2007 at 2:04 am
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.
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November 11th, 2007 at 4:06 am
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.
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November 11th, 2007 at 4:24 am
[...] I was sifting through my email today and I got a paper back that I have been working on with a colleague. I felt inside that familiar sinking feeling. This all began when I started looking for the ‘Think Different‘ Challenge sent to me by the synergy institute and I will change your life. [...]
November 11th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
[...] Loo, and Daylle Deanna Schwartz (boy I feel so included. Thanks!) to participate in a meme called, The Think Different Challenge created by Peter. While my post might be a slight deviation, I think it will fit. I also invite you to read my post [...]
November 15th, 2007 at 1:37 am
[...] well prepared and written. I was instantly turned on to Peter’s site after reading his Think Different Challenge and knew that I had to write my own article to contribute to the challenge. I have read [...]
November 15th, 2007 at 5:57 am
[...] charmed. And when Tristan from Synergy Institute invited me to join in my friend Peter’s Think Different Challenge, this incident immediately came into my mind. Yes, Tristan, this is my [...]
November 15th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
[...] at Synergy Institute blog and my inspirational blogging pal Lorraine Cohen to take part in the Think Different challenge. The Think Different challenge is a meme where paticipants are encouraged to write about looking [...]
November 17th, 2007 at 1:39 am
[...] According to Peter, we are free to write whatever comes to mind as long as it has something to do with thinking differently. We are also left with the freedom of either tagging specific people to participate or making a blank statement of invitation to those who wish to join us. I choose the latter. For more information, check out Peter’s Think Different Challenge. [...]
November 17th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
[...] and negative circumstances? This post is inspired by the Think Different Challenge hosted at I will change your life! I wasn’t tagged for it, but I loved the idea. If you would like to join and write about what [...]
November 18th, 2007 at 1:31 am
[...] Differently About Self-Revelation The Think Different Challenge is about thinking differently about something in your life that you view [...]
November 18th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
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/
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November 19th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
[...] tagged me for a really great project, The Think Different Challenge. It was started by Peter from I will change your life.com. Here is an excerpt from the original call from Peter. The Think Different Challenge is all about [...]
November 21st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
[...] I go again, I am tagged the 3rd time for The Think Different Challenge created by Peter, now by Dr Lorraine Cohen of PowerFull Living to continue with the [...]
November 21st, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Here’s mine:
http://divinepurposeunleashed......challenge/
Somehow the trackback didn’t work. Thanks for the challenge!
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November 26th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
[...] I will change your life . com » Blog Archive » The Think Different Challenge // Nov 21, 2007 at 11:34 [...]
November 27th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
[...] About a week or two ago, I was browsing the blogosphere, being entertained and informed by various pearls of wisdom when I came across a post called the Think Differently Challenge. [...]
December 7th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
[...] Think Different Challenge is about taking something in your life that you have negative feelings about and seeing how you can [...]
December 15th, 2007 at 10:20 am
[...] at Thinking differently about self revelation from Sublime Passage and at the meme starter of the Think Differently challenge, Peter at I will change your [...]
December 16th, 2007 at 3:59 am
[...] The Think Different Challenge – Wake up and go to work, Think Differently Today! [...]
December 16th, 2007 at 3:59 am
[...] The Think Different Challenge – Wake up and go to work, Think Differently Today! [...]
December 18th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Thinking differently about blog tags…
Have you ever felt burdened by the weight of unanswered blog tags? Niggled by those challenges people threw your way that you never got round to thinking about? Noticed twinges of guilt when you see link-lists with your name on…
December 18th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
My Think Different Challenge…Or Confessions Of A Perfectionist…
I’ve been tagged for the Think Differently Challenge meme by Jamie Notter and it’s one that I’ve been giving some of my best mental energy. It’s a good challenge. Like Jamie, I fully believe that “if you do what you alway…
December 31st, 2007 at 12:36 am
I love the idea of the think different challenge!
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July 9th, 2008 at 8:51 am
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
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