May you finish 2017 with clarity, peace, and vision
for your future as well as those in your life.

I am offering you the chance to engage in a seven week journey.

Over the past four or five years I have developed a model for growth. My journey started with a review of student success literature to help my students stretch. I eventually expanded beyond the classroom to the workplace, teams, and more personal intimate relations. Seven interrelated areas for personal growth took shape.  (My most recent book uses The Seven Rs as its foundation.)

I have come to view these seven principles as more than just a clever and clichéd mnemonic. The more I connected with audiences, event planners, friends, neighbors, and family I came to view these as core values—the seven areas that guide my life’s focus.

Seven Core Values for Purpose and Growth

• Surround yourself with RELATIONSHIPS that will help you grow as a person.
• Discover and use RESOURCES of RELEVANCE for your journey toward your RAINBOWS—your dreams and aspirations.
• Set aside time for frequent REFLECTION about what you do, why you do it, an adjustments you need to make. Remain curious!
• Act with RESPONSIBILITY toward others and yourself.
• Pay attention and foster self-care and RESILIENCE.

Since each core value deserves its own attention and care, let me offer a seven week challenge.

As of today, Sunday, November 12, we have seven weeks remaining in 2017. Choose one “R” each week. Examine it as it relates to your fitness, family, friends, faith, function (career), or finances. Use each week to see what sustains and nourishes you and what does not.  For instance, you might consider this format:

• Week 1: RELATIONSHIPS. Which relationship(s) do I need to focus on this week? Which do I need to pay more attention to, strengthen, renew, establish, or minimize? How do I know? Who might be able to help me? What would I like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will I start?
• Week 2: RESOURCES. What assets do I have to help me grow my purpose? What assets do I need? Who might be able to help me? Where do I need to look? How do I know? What would I like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will I start?
• Week 3: RELEVANCE. What can I do this week to expose myself to experiences, people, and places that are relevant to my growth as a person? Who might be able to help me? How do I know? What would I like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will I start?
• Week 4: RAINBOWS. What steps will I take this week to move me closer to my dreams? Do I need clarity regarding my dreams? How do I know? Who might be able to help me? What is pulling me toward this dream? How does it make me feel? What would I like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will I start?

• Week 5: REFLECTION. When will I sit and be still so that I can de-clutter my thoughts about my journey? How can I create regular (even if short in duration) moments for me to breathe and disconnect from the world of distractions and noise. Who might be able to help me? How do I know? What would I like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will I start?
• Week 6: RESPONSIBILITY. What gentle act of integrity can I commit this week to demonstrate my care and concern for another being? What gentle act of integrity can I commit this week to demonstrate my care and concern for myself?  How can I make or continue to make this a part of my daily work? Who might be able to help me? How do I know? What would I like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will I start?
• Week 7: RESILIENCE. What small step can I take this week to help myself adapt to, learn from, and grow due to adversity? Who might be able to help me? How do I know? What would I like to accomplish in this area by the end of this week? When will I start?

Whatever format you consider, make it work for your growth and your developing purpose. Stay curious. Stay focused.

May you finish 2017 with clarity, peace, and vision for your future as well as those in your life.

Video recommendation for the week:

Perhaps this short video (185 seconds) will help you decompress and begin your first week of the challenge.

Make it an inspiring week and H.T.R.B. as needed.

For information about and to order my new book, Stories About Teaching, Learning, and Resilience: No Need to be an Island, click here.

My podcasts: The Growth and Resilience Network® (http://stevepiscitelli.com/media-broadcast/podcast).

My programs and webinars: website  (http://stevepiscitelli.com/programs/what-i-do) and http://stevepiscitelli.com/media-broadcast/podcast(http://stevepiscitelli.com/programs/webinars).

Pearson Education publishes my student textbooks for life success—Choices for College Success (3^rd edition) and Study Skills: Do I Really Need This Stuff? (3^rd edition).

(c) 2017. Steve Piscitelli. All rights reserved.