Ever feel like things just aren’t going your way? Feel like that most of the time? I did. It seemed no matter how hard I worked I was always behind. No matter how much I tried to fit in I felt out of place. I figured out how to tame my crazy hair, how to say the right words, how to laugh at the right times, and how to get the work done, but somehow my life just wasn’t coming together. I did not feel as happy, satisfied, or as secure as I wanted to feel. When my third small business failed miserably I was devastated. I spent a month in bed sleeping, eating, and binge watching Netflix. When I finally got out of there I realized I had gained more than 10 pounds, I had gained a new perspective. I knew what I needed to do and learned what was missing in my life. The problem was not everyone else, it was me. I figured out why I felt unfulfilled and what was required for my happiness. Here, I will share those revelations with you so you too can find your own inner peace.
I had spent far too much time working towards a dream which was not my own. I was focusing on what was important to others instead of what was truly important to me. When I refocused my life and energy toward my own goals, and started accepting my strengths and weaknesses, my life turned around. I became less stressed and much happier, as did those around me.
This book contains stories paired with my ideas and suggestions for shaking up your life and deciding where you want to go. Some of these stories are real, some are half-real, and others are completely made up. In all cases, the names have been changed to protect the innocent, the apathetic, and the guilty. Along with each day of stories I have included an activity called a “Shake-Up.” The Shake-Ups are a variety of activities designed to help you practice the strategies being discussed after each story. The goal is to help you change your old routine or try something new. The way I see it, if you don’t do anything different, nothing will change.
Making small changes can help us break out of old habits and create better ones if we choose. I’ve included descriptions and tips; however, the Shake-Ups are open to interpretation. I encourage you to be creative because the point is to shake up your life and consider situations from a different angle, not simply follow along.
The 30 days are broken up into six parts. Each part focuses on one of my core concepts for change: Stand Down, Tune In, Let Go, Look Inside, Do Better, and Stand Up. More about each of those later. At the end of each of the six parts, you will need to write a little. It doesn’t matter if you write by hand or type. Be sure to use a separate sheet of paper or move to the next page in your document for each day’s entry. I like the physical act of writing important things down because it helps me remember, so I will be referring to writing throughout the book. There is a custom PDF form with all the pages you will need. If you would like a free copy you can download it from my website, TheShakeUpBook.com. Once you have it you can print and hand write, or save it to your computer and fill it in there. Feel free to use any format which works for you as long as it’s not the old “I’ll just remember this” format. We both know that method doesn’t work! When you are done, save your lists where you will be able to find them and do not open them until told to do so later on in the book.
If you don’t have time to complete one chapter a day for 30 days straight, no sweat. This is not an ab challenge and the 30 days do not have to be done without breaks. Simply finish one day and go on to the next as soon as you are ready. If you want to stay on a schedule but take a break on weekends, try stretching the program to six weeks by doing one part per week. Each day is meant to give you a concept to consider and a Shake-Up to conquer, so avoid rushing ahead and trying to complete multiple days at once. Enjoy the journey.