
‘Throw your hat in the ring’ – Meaning: Make or take up a challenge, or demonstrate one’s willingness to join an enterprise.
This week we’re getting serious about creating change, with my Throw your hat in the ring challenge!
When we’re inviting change into our lives it’s important to think about the sorts of changes we want, and to spend time visualising and exploring these changes and aligning ourselves with that energy.
But you know what? Eventually we’re going to have to take some form of action. We have to throw our hat in the ring.
Ask that person out for coffee. Ring the number on the piece of paper from the band flyer looking for a bass player. Send your enrolment forms in for that course. Apply for that job. Run your first workshop. Submit your novel. Have the hard discussion about your promotion. Join the gym and take your first class. Book that holiday. Start that craft project. Visit the place you can’t stop thinking about.
Amazing things happen when we begin to put ourselves out there.
And no, it doesn’t always turn out the way we’d planned it in our head….
The date is a disaster, but we meet the sweetest guy in the bus on the way home. The job we apply for doesn’t come off, but our resume is ready and so we bravely fire it off to three other positions and one of them works out and we land a fulfilling new role.
When we begin to take risks things we hadn’t even considered come into play, and whole new vistas can open up in front of us.
Throwing your hat in the ring is about sending a message to the Universe; I’m ready for this.
Are you ready for this? Great! Let’s go.

Count Your Blessings!
One of the benefits of your Blessings Book is that when you read over it you’ll be able to begin identifying the sorts of moments and activities that give you peace, joy or comfort. When we can knowingly identify these things we can include more of them in our day and we develop understanding of what truly makes us happy. Often there will be surprises in there, or things we’d long forgotten about. Our Blessings Book starts returning us to ourselves.
Recording the small and simple blessings and the peak moments in our day reminds us of the positive energy already present in our lives. As we focus on this positive feel-good energy, we attract more of these moments and blessings into our lives.
Once again, this week write down three blessings in your life every day – three simple things for which you are grateful. Counting our blessings puts us into a more receptive and abundant state of mind.
Write them like this: Today I am thankful for (the blessing) because (write down a simple reason). eg: Today I am thankful for my mentoring students, because they are putting their many diverse gifts out into the world and sharing love, energy, wisdom, healing and care with others. And that rocks!

Affirm the Positive!
Take your rock from Week Six and thank it. Write the Affirmation you used in your Blessings Book. You can now place the sixth rock beside your bed or somewhere where you’ll see it often.
Select the seventh rock from the eight you selected at the start of this course. This is your seventh Affirmation Stone. Carry it around with you, or place it somewhere where you can see and hold it every day.
Hold this seventh stone in your hands. Now think of something else in your life where you want to create change. This week we’re focusing on what we are READY TO DO. Affirm that as a statement of declaration to the Universe.
When we state that we are ready to do something, we’re saying to the Universe ‘Hey! Bring on that delivery. I’m here and I’m primed for action. My sleeves are rolled up. I’m eager to engage. Let’s do it!’
State it like this: I’m ready to ______.
Get excited about having this new energy in your life. As you affirm it, really see yourself doing it, having it, being it.
Throw your hat in the ring!

Using your Gratitude Rock
This little rock is well and truly charged up now. Even simply holding it will be tuning you in to this good energy. As you hold your stone tonight say to yourself I am richly Blessed. I have an Abundance of Good in my life. Then hold in your mind one or more image of a thing you have been grateful for today. It doesn’t matter if you review your Blessings from your Blessing Book, or add in something new. Swell that positive energy up in your heart like a beautiful golden light, and give a heart-felt Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to the Universe. Visualise a tiny shower of golden light travelling from your heart into your Gratitude Rock.
Now imagine all of the other people who are taking part in this Positive Change Program with us – people from all over the world, just like you. Once again build up a strong positive energy in your heart, and then imagine shooting a stream of golden light out into the Universe to those people. Each of us benefits for the love and support we share, and we grow stronger and more open and connected.
Say Thank you. I Bless You. I intend for you Positive Change, Love, Miracles and Abundance. Know that as you are saying this for them, they are also saying this for you. Feel that connection and gratitude and know that there is real love and support for you here. Place your rock back beside your bed, and close your eyes, cocooned in this good energy. Know that you ARE making positive change in the world, and in your life, and helping others to do the same.

Homework:
It’s already sitting inside you. The awareness of this thing you need to do…
This week take half an hour, sit down with your journal and get comfy.
Review the shortlist of changes you want to create that you wrote down in week five, and the helpful people and tools you already have from week six.
Now ask yourself: What’s the next step?
You’ll know it. Just thinking about it will make you feel a little excited. And probably a little sick. It’s a risk, putting yourself out there, but without risks and challenges we never grow.
So, jot down the action steps. There might be a few. There might only be one.
And then…
DO the thing.
Apply for the job.
Ask that person out.
Fill in the form and click send.
Set the wheels in motion.
Wishing you an action-packed week. There is such tremendous energy here right now for making changes. You can do it. Don’t hold back!
Lots of love, Nicole xx

PS: If you’d like to review any aspect of this course, or start back at the beginning click here.
Thank you for being in my life Nicole and providing me with wise instructions. Love. xxx
Gah! I hope it’s ok…I am still working thru week 5!! Life has got really mad busy & I’m way behind with this program and I really want to do it…can’t believe week 8 is right around the corner! Some things I’ve had trouble thinking of so I think I gotta put a time limit on it & if nothing comes up for me, maybe there is nothing there that relates to that bit. Anyway happy Sunday biglove yo you – thanks Heaps x
I did it! I asked someone out. I do feel a little sick to my stomach. In that kind of good way. 🙂 Thank you, Nicole, and all of you who are connected in.
Great post on creating positive changes in our lives…:-) thank you for sharing your creative ideas and bringing that inspiration …
Sue
I made this last night, and since you help so many people, I thought of you. I promise I’m not spamming, I’m only posting this because I think you will truly enjoy it.
This is so beautiful and inspiring – you truly will reach back and helped many with this insight and wisdom.
Thank you very much 🙂 I really enjoy creating things that bring joy and inspiration to people. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it, as it is encouragement for me to do more 🙂
Have a beautiful day!
Thanks Nicole….Actually threw myself out there week and half ago revamping my resume and saying now is the time. The job I had saw as my dream job advertised at the same time so applied – and just got a call for an interview on Thursday! Application was left of centre to what I would normally submit totally putting myself out there for all to see … and I guess they liked what they saw on paper! Can’t stop doing my happy dance – Imagine if I bring it home on Thursday!!!! Keep me in your prayers while I keep affirming my dreams & blessings!! Positive change here I come……Blessxx
Hmmmm, I keep coming back to, bum glue o.O
Ask that person out … hmmmmmmm 😉
woke up today after an intense dream feeling very content and liberated, in my dream i resigned from work. Today’s post reminds me of this wonderful blog post by james clear. http://jamesclear.com/taking-action Thanks for your inspiration nicole, for that i am grateful. sx
Thank you xx
Althea
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks Nicole, i am off to meditate and then journal on I am ready for………. I have a few things I keep holding back on so this is ideal
namaste
sening you love and light
Suzie xx