A challenge – ask a friend
This is The Highwire’s 150th post. Woot! I often get very invested in the ‘doing’ (Leo Babauta @ Zen habits would be very proud of me) that I forget to take my own advice and celebrate the little things. In this case – letting it all hang out for the world to see 150 times!!! And perhaps the ways that is has changed me for the better.
In the spirit of living at full throttle, of putting ourselves out there and celebrating ourselves for the simple things we do every day I have a challenge for you. Yup! You heard me right. I challenge you my wonderful, articulate, strong and liberated readers (see I too can employ the subtle art of buttering you up) to take the ask a friend survey. (After the jump)
Have in introduced you to Danielle LaPorte yet? No? Go. Find. Her. Like, seriously, I have read a million self-help & spirituality books, done the courses, (even taught them), been to the circles, led the circles, done the practice and after a while it all begins to sound the same. Until I stumbled upon the White Hot Truth. Her questions (like those she posed in this challenge) pierce through to the heart of the matter.
But I digress. On to the challenge! I challenge you to copy the bullet points below into an email and do what I am about to do – send it to my very best girlfriends. I guarantee those girlfriends are staring daggers at the screen at this moment because, despite being amazing, super intimidatingly intelligent and accomplished, they both hate confrontation and are diplomatic almost to a fault. Pick your best girlfriends because they are people whose opinions you respect and because they make you feel like you can drop the masks and [be loved for being] you. You want feedback – not a roasting.
- What do you think is my greatest strength?
- How would you describe my style?
- What do you think I should let go of?
- When do you feel that I am at my best?
- What do you wish I were less of, for my sake?
- When have you seen me looking my most fabulous?
- What do you think I could give myself more credit for or celebrate more?
The thing about putting your self, your words, your perspective out into the world is that you can’t take it back. Creating anything is a process of breathing life an idea and then releasing it to a journey all of its own. A little piece of you running around outside your body. We often are scared of getting feedback on our creations; our projects, our lives. Ironically, feedback is invariably far less caustic than we imagine. Case in point the post I was most afraid to publish got nothing but personal emails of thanks. People who live balls-out (tits-out?) embrace feedback.
The aim of this challenge is to see yourself as others see you. To balance the inner critic with healthy feedback. To take a moment to celebrate the pretty-fucking-awesome parts of you, that you probably overlook on any given day.
Happy 150th post to me and a pat on the back to us all for having the balls to ask for, and hear, the truth.
I’d love to hear how the survey went for you in the comments – I might just post the responses I get, depending on what they are 
4 comments
Ah! Congratulations on the 150th post!
I love Danielle as well – I link to her a lot and read her daily.
Thanks for also including me as part of ‘embracing feedback’ – it has been really gratifying and interesting to hear what people REALLY think about my writing, me and my blog. Just as you say, it’s good to welcome that in your life. I would love to hear what you think about my blog, you’ve always been such a supportive reader with great things to say!
I also love the bullet points you’ve included here, amazing idea. I’ve done something similar before but I want to do this too. Thanks for writing this
Well done on the 150th post Rae! An excellent achievement!!!
I have been contemplating your blog since I read your post, I will comment, I would just like to let it ferment a little first
I want to make sure what I say is useful.
The bullet points are Danielle’s, I thought they were so piercing and the best idea ever. Also, what better way to celebrate a contemplative and personal blog than asking for heartfelt feedback? Thanks for stopping by, I’d love to hear your experience of the feedback in a comment. So far I have found it enlightening.
CONGRATS Rae – wow 150 posts have come & gone so quickly. May you have many many more!
Thank you for setting this challenge, I too have taken a deep breath & sent it out to the world. Lets see what it will reap