Read this quote a week ago and haven't been able to get it out of my mind.

"If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem wonderful at all." MICHELANGELO-Renaissance sculptor and painter who spent 4 years lying on his back painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

This TED talk is only 3 minutes long

I am all over what this guy is saying here! Its easier said than done though (and that’s why its called a challenge I suppose). Currently I am on day 16 of a personal 30 day challenge of my own and it feels amazing on a whole bunch of different levels (including spiritual.) At first it was a little uncomfortable but now it feels incredible, and in some ways I don’t want it to end. Its priming me for my next challenge I am sure!

I have to challenge myself out of fear that I will go through my entire life without shaking things up too much because I could (that I know about myself.) I have become much more cautious in my life as the years roll on, and could very easily easily have the same routine day after day. For me its important to shake things up on a regular basis, and it really could be the smallest little thing.

Nobody even needs to know (its nobody's business really).

It could be something as simple as taking a different route home from work each day! The simplest things can open us up in a whole new way I find.

I read a study recently that suggests we fear an unknown outcome even more than we do a known bad one and I believe that. Push past the fear and learn all you can about yourself. Its scary but I'm with Matt on this one. It is well worth it and tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. Namaste.

One little gadget has helped me in unforseeable ways.

Yeah, it's a cheap-o dollar store kitchen timer.

I have just been truly amazed at how much more I have been getting done and how much lower my stress level has been the past couple of months since I put my little timer to work.

At first I thought it may add to my stress (knowing it is ticking away somewhere in the background timing me while I do some of my favourite time-wasting/enjoyable things I like to do). But the truth is I have found the opposite to be true!

I started off using it for laundry and cooking, then naps, then facebook and surfing the web. (The facebook part really scared me as I am someone who who would happily pay for facebook I love it so much!)

I could (and have) easily spent WAY too much time on that thing. But I love it!

I haven't removed any fun & enjoyable things from my life (and have no interest in that). I just wanted to free up more time to enjoy as many other of my interests as I could each day. And I have!

And it cost me a buck. The best investment I have ever made.

If you are like me and could use a little help better distributing your time you might just enjoy having a timer as much as I do.

More time=way more fun♥

Just thought I'd share