Alexia Petrakos

Not your average eclectic…

Posts Tagged excitement

The Obligatory End of the Year Post

Dec 28

Posted by Alexia in dreams | 5 Comments

AthenaAround this time last year was the very first theme I’ve ever claimed for the new year.

In 2009, I decided on “Learning.”

I wanted to learn about things I thought I wanted to do.

I took an intro to Art Therapy class from SCAD.

I wanted to learn more about myself and what it was that I was meant to do. And I think I may have finally got it (at least for now ;) ).

I wanted to learn as much as I could about marketing and business. So I listened and read and signed up for a 6-month-long course.

I could be completely satisfied learning in one setting or another for the rest of my life. But I also learned that there is a time for action.

Out of all this learning came quite a few really good things:

Read the rest of this entry »

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Someone who shares my views on Passion…

Oct 16

Posted by Alexia in Musings | No Comments

Finally!

I found someone who articulates my views on passion. After floundering with my last few posts on passion and seemingly getting nowhere, Derek Sivers of CD Baby fame comes along and says exactly what I want to say:

It’s dangerous to think in terms of “passion” and “purpose” because they sound like such huge overwhelming things.  If you think love needs to look like “Romeo and Juliet”, you’ll overlook a great relationship that grows slowly.

He goes on to say instead of doing something as big as finding your “passion,” notice what excites you.

Notice what scares but intrigues you.

There is where your “passion” lies.

Then go for it.

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Reclaim Your Dreams: A Review

Sep 19

Posted by Alexia in Reviews | No Comments

ryd-book-smallI recently got a copy of Johnathan Mead’s Reclaim Your Dreams: An Uncommon Guide to Living on Your Own Terms. It’s an eBook I’ve been eyeing lately and was ecstatic when I finally got my copy.

The premise is this: You CAN go after your dreams. You just have to undo a few things that may be in your way and do some exploring. The answers are already there – inside your very own head.

The first part is called Unbrainwashing or Creating Room for Your Dreams to Grow. This part lays the groundwork for getting rid of old patterns and ways of thinking that prevent you from even considering going after your dreams.

One thing that I’ve realized lately is that I was made for a purpose. That purpose is related to the things love to do. And if I don’t do what I’m meant to do, I’m wasting my gifts.

Those of us who’ve gone through traditional schooling have more than likely had dreams squashed and gifts go unnoticed or even ridiculed. My dreams were squashed before I even realized what they were! We’ve been domesticated to be compliant drones in the corporate world where dreams really don’t have any place.

The first part of Reclaim Your Dreams is difficult and can get rather uncomfortable. You have to blast away the habits and clutter in your life to make room for the new stuff – your dreams. I admit I’m not quite proficient and not caring what others think and reclaiming my own mind (my mind battles itself constantly) but I’m getting there.

The second part of Reclaim Your Dreams helps you define your dreams through a series of exercises and gives you some practical ways to move towards them. If you’ve done ANY self-development work, these exercises may not be anything new, but together with the first part of the eBook, they seem a bit more potent than when I’ve done them before.

I admit I’m writing this review before completing the entire eBook but I’m excited about the possibilities. I’m working through the Personal Manifesto exercise at the moment and can’t wait to finish the rest.

I’ll post an update after I complete the book.

In the meantime, check it out for yourself. Jonathan offers a free sample chapter so you know what you’re getting into before you plunk down the cash. And really – it’s not a lot of cash. Skip lunch out for the next week.

Your dreams will thank you.

And if you’ve done the Personal Manifesto exercise, I’d love to read it! Post it in the comments (I’ll post mine next time).

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In where I get really transparent…

Sep 4

Posted by Alexia in Musings | No Comments

invisible ipodI recently took on a huge project that drained me of my energy within two days.

This is a recurring thing. I usually end up wondering how I could fail so miserably at something that excited me just two days ago.

I think part of the problem is that I let the excitement get the better of me and don’t think things through.

I’m most definitely not a planner, but I’m working on that.

I find that although I really enjoy thinking up really cool stuff, I have a hard time with actually finishing.

After I get a really cool idea I rush headlong into it.

When my energy dies and I start sucking, instead of just pulling back and re-evaluating my projects, I just stop.

I end up with lots of UFO’s that way (un-finished objects).

So I’ve identified a pattern. Thanks Havi for introducing this concept to me.

And this pattern really gets me stuck, depressed, angry and frustrated.

Maybe instead of rushing headlong into things without a solid plan, I need to feel the excitement, the fluttery-ness in my stomach when I think about the new project, but then instead of going ahead and DOING it, maybe I need to slow down and write it down.

I need to honor my idea with the care and respect it deserves and plan out a way to make it happen.

Write all the details, where I want the project to go, what I hope to accomplish, how to get there and how to put it all into action.

Only then should I go do it.

Or maybe I should just find a way to keep generating really cool ideas and let someone else take care of the implementation. Do people get paid for that? And how can I get in on it?

Creative Commons License photo credit: timsnell

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