How Will You Stretch Your Mind This Year?

Daily | January 9th, 2009 by Carrie McCarthy

“For a mind stretched to a new position never returns to the same place”

Carrie says: I am going to take an acting class at Lyric School of Acting “We believe acting requires a fierce commitment to tell the truth, to open your heart and mind“.

Jessica says: I’m going to get back into two areas that I’ve desperately missed - fine art and music. Oil painting lessons, singing lessons (you can’t do something for 8 years and never do it again!)…I also want to connect much more closely with my spirituality.

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Connie 01/09/2009 01:55 AM 1 point
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I am going to write an astrology book and illustrate it too; I'm going to do this along with my eldest
daughter. I've been saying I'm going to do this for over a decade; this year's the year. Yes, we can!

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Carrie 01/09/2009 01:25 PM 1 point
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love to read it Connie!

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alligator_kate 01/09/2009 02:10 AM 1 point
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Deepening my meditative path I am sure will stretch my mind, as well as everything else! Besides that... I hope to travel to places I have never been, and stick around long enough to really learn what it is like to live there.

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prettygirl 01/09/2009 04:09 AM 1 point
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In 2008 I took a creative writing class on-line. Writing is something I have wanted to do for a long time. This year I am going to take a first aid course, some cooking classes for fun and I would also like to take a Spanish speaking course. I have also decided that being truly organized would be a great gift to myself.l

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Carrie 01/09/2009 12:54 PM 1 point
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Check out David Allen's web site http://www.davidco.com/, great tips on how to get organized!

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textimage 01/09/2009 06:45 AM 1 point
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I am going to get more comfortable when other people speak about God/god G-d. Specifically in a non-yoga context. My knee jerk reaction is to recoil when someone says that 3 letter word, even though I am spiritual?! I am going to stretch my mind and release the cob webs that surround the word and reach for the essence of what is being communicated.

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Gail Larsen 01/10/2009 12:07 AM 1 point
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Here's how I handle the G word. I realized it triggers me so I asked the Mystery to support me with a new realization or definition. Right away I heard - G - O - D is Great Open Door! An instant shapeshift!

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http://www.realspeaking.net

textimage 01/10/2009 06:53 AM 1 point
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love this! thanks.

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Cindy - Creative Classic 01/13/2009 08:31 AM 1 point
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I understand your reaction to the word God because the way that people use the term is quite limiting. I always change it to "the Universe" whether I am rethinking about it in my head or speaking about it. The Universe encompasses everything, and that is what God is to me - unlimited, unbounded, unconditionally loving.

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textimage 01/13/2009 07:07 PM 1 point
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thanks for this. i too feel comfortable with "the universe" "the universal".

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Wazzy 01/09/2009 07:00 AM 1 point
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I was going to say learning something new but what I really think will happen this year is I will EXPAND what is possible for me, in terms of creating, figuring out, building. Working with my hands and with my mind.

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CristinaCC 01/09/2009 07:09 AM 1 point
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I'm trying to work on my patience & relaxation this year. I am going to learn the play the flute, start knitting again, and learn to cultivate beautiful orchids.

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emily 01/09/2009 08:19 AM 1 point
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At 41, with an art teacher for a mother (and a father who forbid me taking classes), I am finally getting to art school. yeaaa, me!

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Traci 01/09/2009 08:29 AM 1 point
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Write, write, write, and write. And when I think I'm ridiculous, keep writing. And when I have nothing to write, write some more.

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Cindy - Creative Classic 01/13/2009 08:35 AM 1 point
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Yes, absolutely! I am going to make this my #1 priority this year as well.

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colleenoverman 01/09/2009 11:32 AM 1 point
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Finish my first book. Finish another. Really stretch into being an author.

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Laura 01/09/2009 11:39 AM 1 point
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I'm going to take a workshop on Contemplative Dialogue: Overcoming Division in Our Lives and Our World. I work in a field - sexual and reproductive health - that is often fraught with controversy. I look forward to learning a new skill to help me share my thoughts and ideas in ways that foster mutual understanding and respect.

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Kate 01/09/2009 12:23 PM 1 point
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I will be learning enough French to be comfortable on our trip to Paris in April, and I will use it as much as possible when I am there!!

I want to take some cooking classes with friends or my husband once every few months, and make an evening of them.

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debbierodgers 01/09/2009 12:24 PM 1 point
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By using the concept of neuroplasticity to change the way my mind listens to the chronic pain signals that my body insists on sending.

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Carrie 01/09/2009 01:26 PM 1 point
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May this ease your pain Debbie.

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Meredith 01/09/2009 02:47 PM 1 point
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I'm a bout 3 weeks off from my 29th birthday and I am in the last stages of fine-tuning my 30-b4-30 list. It will be a year to challenge myself to take risks, go on adventures and learn. A few I've got so far: learn a new language (I'd love to learn Italian), go skinny-dipping and not feel self-conscious, finally master budgeting and personal finance, learn the tango, sleep under the stars, write a stand up act...just as few for starters. Looking forward to expanding mind & spirit (not body, at the moment).

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Cobby 01/11/2009 08:29 AM 1 point
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What a brilliant idea. I'm 35 right now. You just inspired me to challenge myself this year by making a forty-before-forty list to start on this year!

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Ellen 01/09/2009 06:37 PM 1 point
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I'm going to continue learning more about my area of specialty in my profession. I'm also going to practice attracting money. THAT stretches my brain.

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http://didtherapy.vpweb.com

Christopher 01/09/2009 07:45 PM 1 point
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I'm going to purposely sign up for more things slightly out of my comfort zone - ie: improv classes, etc.

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marn 01/09/2009 09:05 PM 1 point
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I am upgrading my Math, Biology, and English & presently have an appointment with an advisor at UBC to get my Bachelors of Nursing. A dream that I have had since I was a little girl... and allowed 'life' to get in the way! Not anymore! This will be interesting for me, a 37 year old woman with 2 boys that are 3.5 and 5 years old!! :-)
Oh, and I am also starting Theatre Sports in a few weeks!

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Ross 01/09/2009 09:39 PM 1 point
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With superglue, a pair of tongs, and two slippers.

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http://www.willitchangeyou.com

Alison 01/09/2009 11:15 PM 1 point
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I'm pursuing a career in Creative Writing. My ultimate goal is to become an author, hopefully writing for Children and Young Adults. I've always been someone people expected to become a Doctor/Professor of some description, so this is a big step for me. I'm heading back into study after a period of debilitating illness, so this year is going to involve a lot of change. I'm changing my mind about what classifies as a worthwhile career, stretching myself in areas I actually find challenging and even difficult, and defying expectation, which is a huge deal for me. I've always met people's expectations of me. It no longer works.

Last of all, I'm going to connect more with my spirituality, at the risk of ridicule and many other "scary" things. I'm hoping to live my life and conduct myself differently in my relationships, especially the one I have with myself.

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shannon 01/10/2009 04:29 PM 1 point
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Although I am not sure of ALL the things that I will do to stretch my mind this year, I am starting with a university philosophy course called, "The Examined Life in the Information Age". I've made a committment to read more this year. So far so good.

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Jennywren 01/10/2009 07:01 PM 1 point
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I'm going to read and reread books that attract me and find someone sympatico to talk personal development with. I'm going to focus more on myself and the things that I enjoy even if it means going it alone sometimes. I will write poetry again, something that I love to do but never give myself the time to commit to.

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Arl 01/11/2009 08:46 PM 1 point
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I'm definitely set out to read as many personal development books as I can and apply what I learned in my personal life! Isn't it great to be the best you can be?

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