What is Positive X-Ploration?
Mission
My mission is to share ways to start living the life you want right now. Yes, you can start right now by exploring ways to make positive changes in your life little by little, day by day.
Purpose
My purpose is to share my exploration and the difference it has made in my life improvement.
As we get older, we tend to get more cynical and jaded. We don't tend to believe that we can ever really have a life that we can truly enjoy. There are too many responsibilities, insufficient time, and little extra money to chase some dream.
Yes, it's tough, but not impossible. You can do it!
You can start with small changes that your current budget and schedule can handle. Small changes are better than big ones all at once, anyway, because they are more manageable. Small changes are also better than no changes.
Positive changes one step at a time!
About Me
Hello! I'm Christie.
I have been a journalist, a community theater performer, and a human resources professional.
For the last few years, I have been working on creating a life I enjoy and love. Little by little, I have been able to leave behind things that are not for me and not what I want in my life. I have found a job that I enjoy while also being surrounded by people I enjoy.
I am also enjoying my time outside of work, too, with writing and creating videos. And working on this website. These are important creative outlets for me as they contribute to my improved outlook on my life. It all goes together. Making one positive change will lead to another positive change, and so on. I have made these changes and I am almost 50 years old. These changes are not just for younger folks!
I have seen this in my own life and I want to pass this on to other people. I want to encourage people to make life improvements. No, it doesn't have to be "go big or go home!" Changing your life for the better can be done with a "slow and steady wins the race" attitude. Taking a small step will get you further than doing nothing because you are overwhelmed.
I'm excited to begin a new journey with Positive X-Ploration, a personal project that aims to help people explore and make positive changes in their lives.
I’m a firm believer in how crucial it is to prioritize your well-being as you strive to achieve your goals. If you dread it, drop it. My decade-plus in HR and working closely with people cemented the importance of this to me. I have seen too many people live in misery because they have decided it's too late or they are "stuck." You are not stuck! Start moving, keep moving, and don't give up! You can make it to the life you want!
Enjoying Your Work
Enjoying your career
If you don't enjoy your job, where you spend A LOT of time, it is going to be challenging to enjoy your life. If you are one of those people, one major life improvement you need to start with is a job or career change.
If the change is a matter of changing companies, rather than a career, then the issues you will face will be mostly a matter of where to go.
Start with these questions:
- What kind of company do I want to work for?
- Am I willing to relocate and, if so, where?
- If not, what are my options locally? Would I want to do remote work if there are few local options?
- What salary range am I looking for?
Now, if you are looking for a career change, it is going to be more of a challenge. But that's OK. I have some suggestions for you. You will still need to start with the questions above along with several more. Mainly, what career would I like to have?
There will be a lot involved in a career change, whether or not you know what you want to do. One of the signs of a good employer is one who understands transferable skills. You may need to pave your own way, which leads me to the next point on hobbies.
Career counseling may be in order if you don't know or are not sure.
Spending time on hobbies
Spending time on hobbies is a great way to learn and develop additional skills outside of work. It's also a great way to make more connections. Building skills outside of work may be the ticket to demonstrating that you have what it takes to succeed in this new dream career.
But a hobby doesn't have to be a business or become a new career. It can also be for fun—a way to relax and do something you enjoy. For me, my hobbies simply helped improve my mindset and I became an overall happier person.
I started spending time on writing again after a decade and also started doing YouTube videos (I had thought about it for years) after things were not going great in other areas of my life.
This time that I had with a couple of creative outlets, helped my overall well-being by giving me confidence as I developed new skills and shared my stories on a blog. I had never shared those particular stories with an audience before. And putting myself out there has helped me not be afraid to do so.
Taking Care of You
ENJOY YOUR TIME
Of course, when we aren't working, we mainly look to enjoy our time. Whether that is just some time for yourself or time with loved ones, this time should be a priority as much as anything else we do. It may be most important.
I recommend finding time to relax, even if only for an hour or two. There are always things to do and others to take care of. But you have to take care of yourself, as well.
At different times, it can be other things that our mind or body may need. Sometimes, I feel like it would be good to just take a short walk. I need movement, but I also need to relax and walking takes care of both.
Other times, reading or watching something is a way for me to "get away from the every day" for a little while.
Your "me time" can look like anything you want it to be. After all, the whole point is to make life improvements. What things would be an improvement for you?
Time for your health
Having good health is underrated. People who have it, take advantage every day. People who don't take care of themselves eventually find themselves at the doctor's office kicking themselves.
Things are more difficult (although not impossible) to achieve in many instances. If you have anxiety or depression, for example, keeping your home clean and uncluttered is by itself a daunting task let alone taking on any life improvement changes.
The good news here is that I am not recommending big, significant changes for life improvement. I am recommending small changes over time.
This includes taking care of yourself.
When my blood sugar took me into the pre-diabetic range, I started with two changes. Dessert only on special occasions and having a salad every day for lunch. This led to working out. I eventually added more fruits and veggies to my diet and watched my caloric intake. In less than a year, I was able to lower my blood sugar by 0.2% and am no longer pre-diabetic.
I still have further to go because it is important to me that I am never pre-diabetic again. Small changes lead to bigger ones. That is the key. Small life improvements lead to big life improvements over time.