Suggestions for Future 30-Day Trials (Blog)

[inverse Paranoid]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I'd like to find something that would be more of a stretch for me, something that takes me further outside my comfort zone and pushes me into a new realm of experience, something that's more of a sharp turn as opposed to an extension of what I'm already doing.

Perhaps you could share with us examples of what's currently out of your comfort zone. Even if it's something impractical it could lead to an idea that meets the criteria above.

The only time I recall you really being flustered by anything is in your Ask Steve - Astral Projection post. You seem to overcome challenges in the physical realm with relative ease.

[Fortune]

Fashion lessons? Ha ha.

[Dive Bomb]

What if Steve and Erin switched blogs for 30 days? Erin would have to do personal development while Steve would have to do spiritual development. I think it would be interesting.

[ian]

A few people have made suggestions along these lines but I haven't seen a response from Steve.

Steve, why not use a 30-day trial to demonstrate the process and results of radically changing one of your belief systems? See if you can convince yourself that cheeseburgers, onion rings, donuts, etc. contain the same vibrant energy that you once saw in produce. Change your reality so that you can eat foods you currently consider bad for you without any ill effects. I'm not being at all sarcastic - I think that would be a powerful demonstration of one of the key ideas you frequently return to in your posts.

So, my proposal is that you:

1. Outline a diet that is the "opposite" of a raw food diet. Forget organic, eat meat, have desserts with preservatives, drink stuff sweetened with corn syrup... you get the picture.
2. Spend time changing your belief system about what you consume such that the above diet should produce the same result as your current 30-day trial - calmness, even energy levels, feelings of euphoria and health.
3. Spend 30 days following this diet and see whether you're able to successfully change such a core belief.

The reason I'm suggesting this trial is that the trials you've done seem to follow the pattern of changing something external to your mind (diet, sleep pattern) to see what effect it has on your mind. But you often talk about your mind being responsible for the reality you live in. So it seems like a "mind over matter" experiment would be more relevant (I could always be missing something).

It might be more challenging than a "change my behavior to observe the effects on my mind" kind of trial, but it might also be more rewarding and enlightening. And if anyone is capable of doing it, it's gotta be you.

In any case, I would at least like to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks.

[RedFoxBot]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I'd like to find something that would be more of a stretch for me, something that takes me further outside my comfort zone and pushes me into a new realm of experience, something that's more of a sharp turn as opposed to an extension of what I'm already doing.

Alrighty....how far out of your comfort zone do you want to be?

30 day killing spree? lol
30 days of fascism?
30 days as a pimp?
...30 day darkworker? ....

probably not gonna go for those

30 days in polotics (perfect timing, you could campaign for one of them)
30 days as a nudist
30 days as a transvestite

hmmmm

30 days of islam (that could be interesting!)
30 days as a samarton (not sure you have it in the US, but we have volunteer phone lines for people to call if suicidal etc called the samaraton (sp?)....)
30 days at military camp


30 days of non intervention! (observation)....you could do this in several different ways...complete non intervention....or only do anything if asked...the rest of the time is spent observing...its a bit like the vow of silence

30 days as erin (I know someone already suggested it...hehe)

30 days as a child/pensioner

30 days as a headonist

...well without much definition of your own comfort zone..maybe one is outside of yours and will appeal
can't wait to see what you finally come up with

[Elizabeth]

How about a 30-day Subjective Reality trial? This wouldn't be as limited as "eating anything you want - it's all subjective" but rather committing to a particular "practice" that requires a commitment to 100% responsibility for whatever arises in your awareness. This would be very different from trying to change anything externally, but rather a trial focused completely on working the subjective reality perspective.

One approach I particularly like and recommend is Ho'oponopono. The most-known version refers to the work of Dr. Hew Len (popularized by Joe Vitale). The story goes that he helped to cure an entire ward of inmates diagnosed as criminally insane through this method. Rather than trying to cure the inmates, he did a practice on himself. He would say 4 things to anyone or anything that came into his awareness (particularly the prisoners where he worked):

1. I'm sorry
2. Please forgive me
3. Thank you
4. I love you

I notice that although this practice has worked for me, I haven't committed to 30 days, and might well do my own trial. I would also be inspired to join in during a 30-day public trial.

[Yynatago]

Hi Steve,

I'm interested in seeing a 30 day trial of being completely open and (brutally?) honest with everyone you interact with. I have no doubt you're already very open and honest person, but have you ever found yourself holding your tongue or saying the opposite of what you're really thinking?

Conducting this trial would contribute greatly to understand what it truly means to maintain strong integrity with yourself and others.

However, you may need to set some ground rules for the sake of your family life on what questions Erin and your kids can ask...

From Yynatago

[Erin Pavlina]

I like the idea of switching blogs. That would be fun. Maybe mine would have a big boost in traffic

[theknightwhosaysni-NI]

30 days living in another country which has a very different social environment that where you live?

[Dan.Linehan]

30 days of research and analysis about the American prison system.

[Calculusaurus]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

30 days of research and analysis about the American prison system.

Better yet, 30 days of being a prisoner. Weren't you supposed to spend a longer time in jail anyway? :P

Not sure if you're allowed to volunteer yourself as a prisoner. Although, Tobias from the show Arrested Development did.

[PringlesAreVegan]

Putting the concept of EGO-DEATH into illustration on a day to day basis would be fascinating. Could you put yourself in a state with others where every word and action came from a higher place that wasn't 'me-centric' and either was the response? Think of the lessons and tools the rest of us could take from this directly into our own lives.

If this is too abstract, then take it apart and try something a little more simple (yet difficult for most of us) by NOT TAKING ANYTHING PERSONALLY. Document how you would put yourself in this state. How you would think before responding and vanquish any feelings of anger, resentment, sarcasm...assuming you normally might take something personal at least once a day - whether it be an email or a passing comment. Might have to put yourself in a 'stranger' situation where a personal remark would be more easily thrown at you. Could then practice the art of dis-empowering someone...sorry I think I'm pushing you towards a bar fight with this. But at the least you might end up a better human being than you already are!

Finally, You could probably double the traffic to your site the following month by doing a 30 trial of TAKING EVERYTHING PERSONALLY!

[maserin]

Steve,

I'm curious about the effectiveness of hypnosis as a method of changing sub-conscious beliefs. It would be very interesting to me if you picked any area where you felt a belief change would help you to personally grow and then start a hypnosis regimen and blog on the day-by-day effects. If you did this, your normal day-to-day life wouldn't have to change in any significant way (i.e. you could still take business calls, use your computer, eat the foods you're used to, etc). You could listen to subliminal message tapes while you sleep, but I'd really like to see you work with a hypnotist (choosing one of the more well known ones who took the practice seriously, of course). I've always been a bit of a skeptic when it came to hypnosis, but if such an honest, objective person saw some merit to it (and practical benefits) I would reconsider. Picking a long-term phobia to change would be interesting.

I have something to add here. At the risk of sounding like his mother, Steve does all of us a great service by challenging us to grow in new and interesting ways everyday, and it's not very nice to ask him to do something which would compromise his health or well being merely for our own amusement. We have to keep our suggestions limited to things which would not endanger him or his important relationships in any way. I was shocked when I read the suggestions for Steve to take up drugs or eat totally lousy or become sexually "loose." Come on. Yes, he does want to try something totally new but I'm sure I can speak for him (and his wife!) and say that he doesn't want to do something that is well known to be a hazard to his health or morally base. He's smart enough to not do any of those things anyway, but for the few of you who have suggested such crazy things, I'm just saying... let's show a little more caring for a guy who shows us so much! Jeesh!

--Erin

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Calculusaurus

Better yet, 30 days of being a prisoner. Weren't you supposed to spend a longer time in jail anyway? :P

Not sure if you're allowed to volunteer yourself as a prisoner. Although, Tobias from the show Arrested Development did.

No thanks! I definitely wouldn't want to do that again. I was lucky to get off for grand theft with 60 hours community service when it should have been 2 years in jail. The court made a gross processing error, treating a third offense like a first offense.

Spending time in jail can serve as a powerful reference experience if you've never done it, but it's dreadfully boring. It's a great feeling to get out though.

[klokkasju]

I'd like to find something that would be more of a stretch for me, something that takes me further outside my comfort zone and pushes me into a new realm of experience, something that's more of a sharp turn as opposed to an extension of what I'm already doing.

Visit one(!) foreign country for 30 days. Go away from the tourist-stuff and live with the normal people (hitchhiking or couchsurfing is a nice way to get in touch with the every-day-people). I did it once (for 28 days) and it was a real eye-opener for me. I learned so much about my own country/life, I would have never known otherwise.
I see this is a hard challenge while you have two kids at home, but i would definitely love to read your experiences in a lets say 30-days-Russia trial And it for sure takes you out of your comfort zone.

[Angela]

Instead of going to jail, why don't you just for 30 days wear shoes that are a size too small, just for the pleasure of taking them off at night? Maybe tk427's shoes?

[minusman]

One personal development skill that I find very useful, and that most people don't use enough, is empathy. I don't believe I can truly have a strong conviction or opinion about something until I can fully understand all aspects of the situation. This doesn't only involve recognizing opposing viewpoints, but feeling, rationalizing, reasoning, and understanding them.

Also, empathy, to me, involves recognizing that there is an actual person involved with the opposing viewpoint -- a thinking, loving, feeling person. So, no matter how strongly I feel about something, people that feel the opposite, or differently, are usually doing it for what they believe are good and just reasons. They believe in their viewpoint just as strongly as I do.

But, with that all said, empathy is very hard to consistently put into practice. When discussing tough issues, it is too easy to get emotional and judge. It is too easy to vilify the other person. I find this happening a lot recently with the political primaries happening. Political views are some of the strongest and most passionate views most people have -- things like abortion, gun control, freedoms, privacy, and morality. When discussing these things it's so easy to see everything as black or white, right or wrong.

I think a great 30-day trial would be 'switching teams', if you will, in the political arena. Take all your strongest political leanings, and lean the other way. Go to rallies and canvass with the 'other side.' Hold up signs on the corner or up signs in your yard.

So, let's say you're a Democrat, and fairly liberal, pro-choice and an atheist. Pick Mike Huckabee and support him for a month. Join his meetup.com groups. Meet locally with his supporters. Research his viewpoints and really try to relate to him as a rational caring person. Go door-to-door canvassing for him. Work the phone lines at one of his offices. Try to really believe in him. And don't tell your neighbors or friends (the ones that don't read your website). Let them think you have really switched.

Is it possible to fully understand opposing political views in 30 days? I don't know. It would be fascinating to read about how your thoughts on different subjects change throughout the month. Would your neighbors and friends start treating you differently with a Mike Huckabee sign in your front yard as opposed to an Obama one, for example. Would you change your viewpoint on certain things? Would you feel less strong, or stronger, about certain things?

I didn't read any of the other comments, so I apologize if this idea has already been suggested.

[minusman]

Also, even if your state has already had primaries, there is plenty of work to be done online and up through the actual election. I've been writing letters and calling for my candidate in early east coast primary states and I live in California.

[RedFoxBot]

Minusman, I like the idea (especially the empathy)....but just wanted to add my 2 cents to it.

Also, empathy, to me, involves recognizing that there is an actual person involved with the opposing viewpoint -- a thinking, loving, feeling person.

Until recently I would have agreed 100% with you....now its only 96%...why?
Apparently not everyone on the planet is a loving feeling person...there are a few who are devoid of all conscience. Psychopaths.

Why bring it up?

Imagine - if you can - not having a conscience, none at all, no feelings of guilt or remorse no matter what you do, no limiting sense of concern for the well-being of strangers, friends, or even family members. Imagine no struggles with shame, not a single one in your whole life, no matter what kind of selfish, lazy, harmful, or immoral action you had taken.

And pretend that the concept of responsibility is unknown to you, except as a burden others seem to accept without question, like gullible fools.

Now add to this strange fantasy the ability to conceal from other people that your psychological makeup is radically different from theirs. Since everyone simply assumes that conscience is universal among human beings, hiding the fact that you are conscience-free is nearly effortless.

Assumption is the mother of all m'ukups...lol....
Try taking the assumption out of empathy

My apologies for getting this thread off topic

[villaman]

Hi Steve,

I'd like to propose 30 days of CrossFit. Read their free PDF file, "What is Fitness?" if you are interested in really changing your health for the better. I really enjoy your blog but I have to say, I feel you are fooling yourself when it comes to your diet and health.

The free PDF download is here...
What is Fitness?

You can see their nutritional recommendations here...
CrossFit: Nutrition

[inverse Paranoid]

Originally Posted by RedFoxBot

Until recently I would have agreed 100% with you....now its only 96%...why?
Apparently not everyone on the planet is a loving feeling person...there are a few who are devoid of all conscience. Psychopaths.

Even people without a conscience may be loving feeling people. They just might have a drastically different viewpoint on love.

the only real feelings they seem to have - the thing that drives them and causes them to act out different dramas for effect - is a sort of "predatorial hunger" for what they want. That is to say, they "feel" need/want as love, and not having their needs/wants met is described as "not being loved" by them.

Imagine loving something so much that it blocks out every other feeling for every other thing. (That may be how much a Psychopath loves his or her needs and wants.) Could that be true love? And do you have to go crazy (with empathy) to know it?

[kat]

Why not become fluent in a second language in a month? Pick any language that interests you: Spanish, Japanese, Swedish, ....

There are a few ways you could do this.

The mundane way: immersion, with daily lessons.

The interesting way: test-drive "Listening-Reading", as discussed at Language Learning Forum: Listening-Reading system

It would be fascinating to hear what your sticking points were, and see how much progress you made.

Bonus: if the trial goes well, you'll no longer be monolingual. This -will- change your perspective. Secondarily, it will open you to authors, people, cultural experiences, and viewpoints that you would otherwise be much less exposed to.

[evanlenz]

Read one book from the Bible each day for 30 days.

When it comes to blogging, you could mix it up and experiment with different attitudes every day: skeptical, worshipful, irreverent, curious, dogmatic.

You decide how you want to pick them: set schedule; randomly; spontaneously; by length of the book; according to genre (wisdom, prophecy, history, poetry, letters); chronologically but spaced out; etc.

See what childhood memories come up, confront them, and transcend them.

It would be challenging, you'd get a lot of variety, and you'd have plenty of stuff to write, rant, or reflect about.

I think it would also have broad appeal, regardless of religious or philosophical preference. And to whatever extent you announce your plans, people could follow along.

[MasterD]

This is not very comfort zone stretching, but you might want to the 5 tibetan rites for 30 days in a row; here is a sales pitch The Five Tibetan Rites: Chet Day's Annotated Version of Peter Kelder's Classic Tibetan Rejuvenation Rites, but you can also find them here LifeEvents.org: 5 Tibetans Energy Rejuvenation Exercises . Really awesome exercises.

The other thing that may be cool is to learn to speak a new language (shoot for fluently) in 30 days. Great resource for this may be Welcome to Michel Thomas , but for the rest you may want to investigate some ways to get the language down really fast (like getting the basics down through Michel Thomas, then listening to audio tapes you are really interested in that language, then finding people to communicate with, writing on internet forums in that language, learning a new simple skill that you are interested in that language, etc..).

Edit: I see that 'kat' did the same suggestion

[LeahWhitehorse]

I'm also seconding the suggestions above for learning a language in 30 days (see how much could be learned) and living in a foreign country for 30 days.


I watched a program on English television about a vicar who spent 3 weeks living in a cave in a remote mountain range in Egypt and it was fascinating.

[samzy]

A practice I've been playing with for some time that I think would make an excellent 30 day trial is playing the game "Everyone is Secretly a Genius."
No matter how messed-up, bizarre, or infuriating the decisions people around you are making, force yourself to go through the exercise of understanding their decision from the perspective that they are serving not only their own needs, but their growth and the growth of humanity as a whole.

So some jerk cuts you off? Force yourself to see that jerk as a living human being who is moved by the same grace that moves saints. How? See the opportunity he gave you to practice detachment from your environment and from stimuli. Your mother was abusive? See her handing you the opportunity to heal the trauma from her past that she was unable to heal. See her putting you through a painful initiation ritual to allow you to grow more massively and expansively than most people have the opportunity for.
Why?
It really doesn't matter, within your experience, if the fantasy you're making up about the other person is true or not. If you can leverage your experience for your own growth and happiness, you will grow and be happier.

It takes a lot of practice, but it's an incredibly powerful technique for getting over your ego and into your compassion.

---
Sam Zoranovich
Unapologetic Genius
Anadi Holistics :: Life Coaching & Body Wellness
Unapologetic Genius

[Developer]

30 days as a level 5 vegan...

[mburu]

Steve,
Your articles are great. This is my first post

How about a 30-day trial on showering with cold water every morning. I have already began it myself after I read that this is supposed to make one’s day energetic

I have noted some good changes in my skin competition, and shinny hair too!
Am continuing

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by mburu

How about a 30-day trial on showering with cold water every morning.

No daily picture please!

[Jugga J]

being blind for a month. The changes in the dominance of your senses would be strange. Might not be that quicker changes though, resulting in not a lot to write about. Plus you'd have to be careful when taking it off. Be dangerous too. Aswell it may degenerate perfectly good eyesight. So it's a bit of a stupid thing to do. Be very intresting insights though.