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What's Your Tutu? This week's exercise is inspired by Bob and Linda Carey's Tutu Project. When confronted with his wife's cancer diagnosis Bob Carey put himself out there (literally, in a pink tutu) in order to connect with his wife and other women battling cancer. Photo Credit: @ Bob Carey Why is vulnerability so powerful?  University of Houston Social Work Professor, Brené Brown, who focuses on the power of vulnerability, would argue that "in order for [human] connection to happen we have to allow ourselves to be really seen [by others]."  Essentially, vulnerability is the precursor to our ability to deeply connect. Introducing Your Tutu Exercise What It Is A 10 minute opportunity to explore your vulnerability. Why We Love It  As we become more and more seasoned at what we do and how we do it, our ability to succeed can overshadow the fundamental human quality of vulnerability. This exercise creates space to open up and make room for the uncertain parts of our life.  How It Works 1. Take a moment to be inspired by this video about Bob Carey's Tutu project.  2. Ask yourself: What's my tutu and how will I wear it?  We're not saying you really need to wear a tutu (unless, of course, you want to). We are asking you to think about the things that make you feel vulnerable. Once you have identified those things, pick one that you want to explore further and create a situation to try on that vulnerability. For some that might be about signing up for a public speaking course or for others it might be about finding time to talk to your partner about your feelings. 3. After your tutu moment, ask yourself: How do I feel? What kind of connection was I able to make with myself or others? How can I create more space for vulnerability in my life? Here are some on-topic threads to go deeper: To learn more about the incredible success of the Tutu Project, check out its platform that raises awareness and funds for flighting cancer. To learn more about the intimate interplay between vulnerability, courage, connection and compassion watch Brown's TED talk. For a little more inspiration on the power of vulnerability check out this Brain Pickings piece on the brilliant work of Audre Lorde. Shout. It. Out. To Kenny Lao and Lauren Mobyed for their next-level exercise crafting skills! Shout. It. Back. To treks@lifetrekkers.me if you have praise, gripes or random thoughts about this trek. Here's what your fellow trekkers have to say about past treks: "Last week's creative recovery exercise was one of my favorites. This exercise helped me push past my creative blocks. I love using it to clear my mind and reflect by rereading it at the end of the week." - Dama Dipayana, Founder of Be Frank "The mindful meals trek was one of my favorites. It started with one meal, but I've found myself focusing more intently on almost everything I've eaten since." - Ev Boyle, Director @ LA-Tech.org Tweet Tweet Email Us Learn More Copyright © 2018 LifeTrekkers, All rights reserved. Want more information? Drop us a line at info@trekkers.me. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can unsubscribe from this list.

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Ikigai: Value in Living This week's exercise is inspired by a Japanese concept called ikigai, which is about discovering your purpose. Feeling uncertain about what's next?  We often find ourselves so focused on the day-to-day that it can be challenging to take a step back to see how it all relates to a broader purpose.  While it has no direct English translation, ikigai, is thought to be a combination of the Japanese word ikiru, "to live," and kai, "the realization of what one hopes for." This loosely translates to the idea of finding your value or purpose in life.  Your Ikigai Exercise What It Is A 15 minute opportunity to identify what's meaningful to you. Why We Love It  We spend so much time in our own heads with lots of unsubstantiated self-talk about who we are and our purported purpose. That conversation often plays out in our minds without resolve. This activity breaks those thought patterns by taking a systematic approach to imagining all of life’s possible directions.  How It Works Take 15 minutes to answer each of the following questions and a second 15 minutes to play with the potential overlap between them. 1. What do you love? 2. What are you good at? 3. What does the world need from you? 4. What can you get paid for? Image Credit: Toronto Star Want to learn more? To learn more about how ikigai is way bigger than a framework, check this out.  To explore the cultural nuance of ikigai, check this out from an anthropologist who focuses on Japanese culture. To go deeper on the philosophy and five pillars behind ikigai, check out Ken Mogi's book. Whaddaya Think? If you have praise, gripes or random thoughts about this trek, drop us a line at treks@lifetrekkers.me. Here is what one trekker had to say about the Mindful Meals trek:   "The 'mindful meals' trek was one of my favorites. It started with one meal, but I've found myself focusing more intently on almost everything I've eaten since." - Ev Boyle, Director @ LA-Tech.org Follow Us Send Feedback Learn More Copyright © 2018 LifeTrekkers, All rights reserved. Want more information? Drop us a line at info@trekkers.me. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can unsubscribe from this list.

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Your Creative Recovery This week's exercise comes to us from creativity guru, Julia Cameron. In her book, The Artist's Way, she swears by Morning Pages as a must-have "creative recovery" staple for every artistic endeavor.  Feeling creatively stuck? Cameron would argue that you have to clear your mind to unlock new creative energy. She refers to “[Morning Pages] as the daily broom that clears my consciousness and readies it for the day’s inflow of fresh thought.” Welcome to Your Creative Recovery Exercise What It Is A daily exploration of all the things, big or small, on your mind, written by you for your eyes only. Why We Love It  This is essentially writing meditation. By just writing out what you think and feel, you'll uncover new ideas for projects as well as realizations about yourself and others. How It Works Reserve a spot in your calendar to be completely alone for a moment of reflection on 2-3 specific days this week. Consider the morning when you first wake up, a quiet time during lunch, or in the evening.  When you get to your reflection point each day, spend 10-30 minutes writing whatever is on your mind. This isn't about getting it right or following one storyline. It is about embracing stream of consciousness and letting your thoughts flow onto the paper.  At the end of the week, consider how this daily practice felt. Did your daily pages clear away mental space for something new? Did your pages help you uncover a new idea or source of inspiration?  Need a little more? Here are some kindred threads for further exploration: To learn more about the routines of some of history's greatest minds, check this out. To understand the science of creativity, check this out from LifeHacker. For more on how to exercise your idea muscles, check this out from James Altucher. Whaddaya Think? If you have praise, gripes or random thoughts about this trek, drop us a line at treks@lifetrekkers.me. Here are some highlights from past treks, courtesy of your fellow trekkers.   "The 'mindful meals' trek was one of my favorites. It started with one meal, but I've found myself focusing more intently on almost everything I've eaten since." - Ev Boyle, Director @ LA-Tech.org Follow Us Send Feedback Learn More Copyright © 2018 LifeTrekkers, All rights reserved. Want more information? Drop us a line at info@trekkers.me. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can unsubscribe from this list.