After talking to Keri Smith last week – every month I invite a wise person to have a conversation with us at the Comfort Cafe – I started to dream of a Keri-style book about getting free from this insidious idea there is something to be fixed about you.

It makes my heart beat fast to think about creating something as raw, as honest, as wildly real as Keri does.

You do know her work and her blog, right?

If not, hop on over there and be delighted – but first, here’ s a snippet of our conversation. What Keri said in this part of the Comfort Cafe Wisdomcast blew me away – I want to write more, think more, about how you and I can create from that place of truth.

Listen to the excerpt from Keri’s Wisdomcast (time: 4:39)

Related posts:

1. Freedom from Self-Improvement: Heaven on Earth
2. Freedom from Self-Improvement: The Freedom of Being
3. Freedom From Self-Improvement: What is it?

As you probably know, Freedom from Self-Improvement was last week and I humbly submit it was as blustery of a liberating time as its most excellent inspiration – International Talk like a Pirate Day.

Plus, it spawned a bevvy of freeing blog posts that elucidate most wonderfully how people get free from the tyrants of improvement.

Click on each blog title to read the full post or the last sentence – each post will infuse with enoughness and transport you with love!

Wiry Fankle #1

Polishing what is already smooth and shiny by Cairene MacDonald

It’s Friday. Time for a round-up of the week’s Lessons Learned.

Except, in honor of Jen Louden’s week of Freedom from Self-Improvement, instead of compiling my usual list, I thought I’d clarify what this weekly post is about. And what it’s not about.

[ I'm a bit late to the party in sharing this event with you - today is the last day - but you can still get in on the fun. Jen is giving away fabulous stuff, plus today you could win a whole year at the Comfort Cafe - which, as I've said before, is what stands between me and crazy burnout. ]

I am not flogging myself with a wet noodle (as they say) here.

The phrase “Lessons Learned” has connotations that maybe aren’t so nice.

First, there is perhaps an association with the notion of “teaching someone a lesson” – defined as: to get even with someone for bad behavior; to punish someone so that they will not behave badly again; to show what should not be done.

As though my Lessons Learned are somehow punitive insights into my shortcomings that I beat myself up with. Which is so not the case.

Wiry Fankle #2

Sleep Is More Important Than Self-Improvement by Victoria Brouhard

Prepare to be wowed with some scientific claims of dubious validity. Well, there is some real science, and then some additional thoughts from me. Full disclosure: I am not a scientist.

These thoughts were prompted in part by Jen Louden’s Freedom from Self-Improvement Week.

Last weekend I watched an episode of Nova Science NOW on PBS. There was a segment about sleep, and its connection to memory. (You can watch the full segment here.)

We still don’t know the true purpose of sleep, but nearly all organisms sleep in some form.

Scientists are finding that there is a connection between sleep and memory.

Wiry Fankle #3

Company Girl Coffee by Shawna R. B. Atteberry

This last week was a little rough because I didn’t sleep well. A pattern that finally broke last night, thank goodness. Part of that was my fault: I was staying up too late. I didn’t get a lot of writing done this week, but I did get a lot of thinking done. Thinking about where I want to go, where I want this blog to go, and who in general do I want to be? A lot of this reflection is due to another wonderful blogger and her challenge this week: Jen Louden.

Click here to read more!

Wiry Fankle #4

I’m OK. You’re OK. We’re All OK. Really. by Chris Zydel

Somewhere along the line…. and maybe it’s just because I’ve gotten old…. I got kind of burned out on trying to fix myself. I had spent most of my 20′s, all of my 30′s and half of my 40′s trying to get better. To heal old wounds and improve myself so that I could have a happier and healthier life. In many ways it’s been a very worthwhile journey and I’ve made some powerful and much needed changes in my overall existence.

But at a certain point I also began to realize…

Wiry Fankle #5

No Self Left Behind . . .by Hiro Boga

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about inner wholeness. What makes us who we are? There are many selves inside me. They encompass every age I’ve ever been, or ever will be. They include my most tender, vulnerable, wounded selves as well as my most powerful, radiant, creative selves, and everything in between. Between them, my selves carry all of my life’s experiences, as well as the experiences of my ancestors, my culture, and my species.

One of my daily practices is to call a circle of selves into my heart…

Read on into delight.

Wiry Fankle #6

Today I am just enough by Heather Plett

Yesterday afternoon, I spent a little too much time reading blog posts that were mostly about “reaching toward the better version of me”.

Since I’m in a bit of a transition mode, working on building a consulting business, I’ve been reading a lot of books, articles and blog posts about all of the things I should be doing, could be doing, MUST be doing and would be a fool if I’m NOT doing in order to grow a business, be creative, market myself, blah, blah, blah.

At some point, I reached the breaking point.

Wiry Fankle #7

I can’t tell you how delighted, thrilled, grateful and just plain psyched I am to WIN a truly special life-giving gift from you! The Life Organizer has been sitting in my cart on Amazon for months… maybe years. Wow! I am just to thankful. It’s not just a book. It represents a whole lot more to me!

Last week, I had NO cash in any of my accounts. None. Checks outstanding, two kids to feed, bills to pay. Nada. I chose not to be afraid or lose it. But, I was anxious all weekend. I kept affirming that the Universe provides. It is bountiful. I have ALL that I need.

Peachy heart wild insights, gals, thank you for turning  your wisdom inside out for us.

If I missed anybody’s posts, tell me and I will wiry fankle you next week.

Related posts:

1. Wednesday Wiry Fankle #10
2. Wednesday Wiry Fankle #7
3. Wednesday Wiry Fankle #5

Declaration of Freedom From Self-Improvement

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary to dissolve the emotional, physical and spiritual bonds that have connected us to struggle, self-doubt, self-judgment and lack of self-trust through a pernicious intent to improve upon ourselves.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal and are, at their core, essentially good, and that this goodness is always present and always available to each of us. That we are endowed by Life with certain unalienable Rights, and that among these are the ability to Choose, to Love, and to be Self-Accepting.

We hold these truths to be self-evident.

Thus each under signed does publicly declare that:

One means to access and live from our essential goodness is through an embracing of What Is, right now, just as it is.

That whenever any Form of Self-Improvement becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People (that would be us) to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new philosophies and ways of perceiving and seeing;

But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object (self-improvement with an aim to become finally good enough) devolves into Self-Despotism, it is our right and duty, to throw off such Self-Improvement, and to recognize, and rest, in our essential goodness, our natural wisdom and compassion.

We, the undersigned, do hereby agree that for the month of September and longer if we so choose, we will cease and desist from self-improving behaviors intended to deride, belittle, abuse, or otherwise reject our essential goodness.

When we falter in this effort, we will embrace our missteps with love, gratitude, and compassion, realizing that we are, at our core, absolutely good and lovable – that we are love – exactly as we are in this moment.

Sign Our Declaration of Essential Goodness by leaving a comment below!

Last time we celebrated Freedom From Self-Improvement Day, we had over 500 signatures. How many people can we get to declare freedom this time?

Today’s Giveaway:

To be entered in today’s giveaway for a free copy of my latest book, The Life Organizer, and my famous Mood Changer audio experiences, sign the declaration by leaving a comment below.

The giveaway is now closed… but your comments are still welcome!

For extra good luck points, tell a friend who could use some freedom to come visit and sign it, too!

Tomorrow: Inspiring audios, light hearted coupons you can send to friends, and a chance to win more stuff!

Related posts:

1. Freedom From Self-Improvement
2. Freedom From Self-Improvement
3. Freedom From Self-Improvement