Failure/Chasing Pavements - Lay It Out!

Whew!  Where did October go?!  Kai, here, zooming on by to toss out one of our challenges to anyone out there willing to take it on.  How about laying it out for Achievement, or ... rather... lack of achievement?  Here's what we're tossing out, throwing the gauntlet down, so to speak...

Failure: Is there such a thing as failing, or are you a believer that every failure is just a step on your path to a different success? Is failure a sign that you’ve actually tried difficult things? Are you quick to rebound after a failure or are you slower to recover. Has there ever been a time when you’ve closed your ears to the voices of others telling you that your failures meant it was time to stop trying? Have you ever looked back at a past failure and seen the meaning in it from the long view? What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Please create a layout about a past failure that taught you an important lesson - either about your limits or perseverance.

For the design twist, let's explore the song by Adele: Chasing Pavements. Use anything from the song OR song imagery in your LO:

http://youtu.be/Wdtz0GRqKng

I've made up my mind, don't need to think it over
If I'm wrong I am right, don't need to look no further
This ain't lust, I know this is love

But if I tell the world, I'll never say enough
'Cause it was not said to you
And that's exactly what I need to do if I'd end up with you

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?

I build myself up and fly around in circles
Wait then as my heart drops and my back begins to tingle
Finally could this be it?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep on chasing pavements
Should I just keep on chasing pavements?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere? 

Are you willing to take up this challenge?  If so, let's see your result!  Post it in our challenges gallery.  While you're over there, check out our other challenges and see what tickles your creative bones.   Hey, you might even win some goodies for your effort!

Lay It Out: Breakthrough and Change!

Can you recall a true breakthrough where you had a change of heart or change of mind? Was there ever, or is there now, a part of your life where you see a barrier that seems impenetrable?

What did you need to change in order to break through the wall? Once you got through, did you find out that the wall was real, or in your mind? Have you experienced what first felt like a breakdown but ended up being a breakthrough? Has an obstacle ever become an opportunity, by your hand or by another?

Create a layout about a breakthrough you created or experienced, or one you'd like to make happen.

For the design twist, please create a unique wall that separates you from where you are to where you eventually got to, or would to be.

C'mon, Lay It Out with us!  Try this challenge on for size!  Please come back and share it with us on your blog (link us up in the comments) or at our gallery.  Visit our community for more challenges on Growth.

Lay It Out - Charting Growth/Measuring Tool

Ooooh, we've looked at a lot of inspiration the last few days, let's do another lay it out challenge!  C'mon... let's put our creative hats on and Lay It Out!  Here's your prompt:


Growth Chart - How do you measure your own growth and progress in different areas? Do you measure yourself against others or against your own past level of accomplishment? If you could create a chart to map your progress in an important area in which you want to grow, what would the markers be? How would you know if you reached the top of your chart? Is there a top? Does the top of the chart move because of your changing expectations or self-criticism?

"All the evidence that we have indicates that it is reasonable to assume in practically every human being, and certainly in almost every newborn baby, that there is an active will toward health, an impulse towards growth, or towards the actualization."  ~Abraham Maslow

Okay, now I challenge you to Lay It Out!  How do you map or measure your growth? What are the markers?

For the design twist, please use a ruler, a map, a chart or some other measurement tool...

When you've finished, please share with us by linking it up here or join our community and post it in our gallery!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Lay It Out - Outgrowing

Have you ever outgrown something?  I'm not talking about those jeans that are too-tight because you just ate a half of a pint of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream (oops, that was me!), but suddenly (or not so suddenly) realized that you are no longer "within" something that once was important to you?  Or perhaps still is important, but it just doesn't fit anymore?  Like the goldfish in the picture above... he's outgrown his home, possibly the only home he's ever known.  I wonder what he's thinking... feeling.

Have you experienced something like that?  Or is it just me? I'll bet you've experienced outgrowing something.  Let's look at this a little more closely.  Here are some questions and thoughts for you about outgrowing:

Outgrowing - how do you know if you've outgrown a friend or a relationship? Is outgrowing about growing beyond or growing apart? How did you handle the separation? Have you been able to separate amicably, or with rancor? Has someone ended a relationship with you because they believed they had outgrown you? what about moving beyond or outgrowing family members? What part of separating from family is, for you, a natural or normal part of the maturation process? Create a LO about outgrowing a friend or family member, or a love interest.

What do you say?  Let's Lay It Out! 

I had a very close friend when I was young.  We were BFF's before BFF was a popular "term".  We began outgrowing each other in 7th and 8th grade.  I denied it for a long time... ignored it... cried.  It was complete when we entered high school and finally went our separate ways.  I was very bitter for a very long time.  You can bet I'm going to lay this out... it's time to let it free. 

How about you? 

Oh!  While you're working on laying it out, here's a design twist to challenge you:

Use floral or vine images to demonstrate a connection that veers away and separates.

C'mon, get crafty!  Then come on over to the Inside Out gallery and share your layout with us.   That's where mine will be when it's done!

Lay It Out! Money, Money, Money, Muh-ney!

Hi Friends!

I gave you a few tidbits of inspiration the last time I visited, now let's give you a boost into creating your own layout about Independence.  Hmmmm... let's focus on money and independence.

Money: Are you self-supporting? Do you struggle with your financial condition? How has your relationship with money changed over the years? Is there such a thing as 'enough' money? Does your income define who you are in any way, or your profession? Has anyone ever held you 'hostage' over finances, or has it been a dividing line in an intimate relationship?

That should get your journaling and creative juices flowing.  But I just can't leave without a little more inspiration. How about this quote?

"Every woman should have a purse of her own."  ~ Susan B. Anthony

Okay, so let's get to it.  Give it a try!  Create a LO about your relationship to money and then head on over to Inside Out and share it with us in your own personal gallery.  Or, blog about it and link us up here. 

Oh, and one more thing... try a design twist.  Try using a pocket or purse image or design in some way to illuminate your point...

That's it from me for today.  Ready?  Set.... Go!

Lay It Out - Find Your Optimism Inspiration

Hi Friends!

I'm back to share more Optimism from Inside Out.  If you like what you see here, make sure you visit the full Inspiration page for more journaling prompts, quotes, music and images. It's all there to help give you a "boost" while you're crafting your Optimism!

How about this for thought:

Rose Colored Glasses: Have you ever been accused of seeing things through rose-colored glasses, or being a cockeyed optimist or Pollyanna? Where do you keep blinders on about the present or future in order to feel better? When faced with the truth about something that you previously saw in a kinder light, how did you react?

Lots of insight there to help you come up with journaling for your pages.  Write out your answers to the questions,  then pick it  apart and come up with the very essence, then make that your journaling for your layout.

Want a quick focal statement? Try one of these quotes:

Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.
William James

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
Mark Twain

I have had dreams and I have had nightmares, but I have conquered my nightmares because of my dreams.
Jonas Salk

The world is full of cactus, but we don't have to sit on it.
Will Foley

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.
Zig Ziglar

Surrounded by people who love life, you love it too; surrounded by people who don't, you don't.
Mignon McLaughlin

Ooooh, I love that last one!  Powerful thought.  I have a few people I could scrapbook (from both sides of this quote) and use this on the page.  The moral of this quote?  Seek out and be with those people who love life!  None of these speaking to you?  Please... there are so many more on Inside Out's Inspiration page!

What else...oooh, how about these pictures?

I could use any one of those to make a layout!  How about you? 

Okay, I'll leave you with THE most Optimistic song ever written:




Sadly, this talented man (Bobby McFerrin) felt this song was so overplayed, HE can't stand it and refuses to ever sing/play it again. Me? I'm thankful he created it in the first place...it never fails to bring a smile to my face!

Now, get out there and create! Use some (or all) of these bits of inspiration to LAY IT OUT - an Optimism layout of your own. Share it on your blog and post back here so we can see it, or join our community and share it in our gallery!

Hope to see what you come up with! This is some serious inspiration, friends! :)

Lay It Out! Idealist...

What is an idealist?  An idealist is:

1. a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.

2. a visionary or impractical person.

3. a person who represents things as they might or should be rather than as they are.

4. a writer or artist who treats subjects imaginatively.

5. a person who views the world in terms of how it could be changed for the better. 

Hmmmm... sounds  like this would be a great topic for a layout!  Here's some more food for thought:

Who is the most idealistic person you know, and how does he or she demonstrate their belief in people's essential goodness? Are you an idealist? Were you one in your youth, but became more cynical over time? 

Hey, how about a design twist to challenge you while you lay it out?  How about using a halo image in some way...

Alright, all you explorers of your inner world...let's see what you've done!  Show us your layout over in the gallery at Inside Out or post it on your blog and then leave a comment to let us know here! 

Lay It Out! Talking to Yourself...

I have voices in my head.  Do you?  They talk to me all the time.  When I have a decision to make, when I have things to remember, when I need to solve a problem... oh my, the chatter is always there.  I got to thinking about these "voices" (my, that sounds like I'm a tad off my rocker).  I started to realize that sometimes these voices are very helpful, and sometimes... not so much.

This month at Inside Out we're exploring Optimism.  What a great opportunity to lay out my "voices" and explore how they affect me.  Let's think about this:

Is the chatter in your head more positive or negative?  Why do you think that is?  What tools, techniques, words and images do you use to remind yourself how strong you can be?

For me, I have a fall-back phrase that I borrowed from an old Nike advertisement, "Just Do It!"  When I don't feel like cleaning up the kitchen after a large dinner was cooked, often that voice says to me, "just do it!".  When I am hemming and hawing about working out, that phrase will pop up.  When I need to approach someone about a difficult topic, after much hesitation, that phrase screams out at me.  I think this is a good start for me...I'm totally going to make this a layout!

Hey, how about a design twist to challenge you while you lay it out?  How about incorporating a thought bubble?

C'mon, get crafty!  Then come on over to the Inside Out gallery and share your layout with us!

And please, someone... someone...tell  me you have voices in your head too!