Coming next week: Random Acts of Courage

Yay. Fun times ahead.

On January 31st I’ll be releasing my first manifesto, entitled Disrupting the Rabblement: How to think for yourself, live your dreams, and piss off some zombies. It will be a 13,000-word expansion on the theme of this site, offered freely to your legendary self (and everyone else).

In the run up to this unprecedented and monumentous occasion, I’ve decided to subject myself to a rabble-rousing week of challenges. I’m calling it Random Acts of Courage, and the whole world is welcome to partake.

How it will work

Each day next week (Monday to Friday), I’ll post up a list of ten or so challenges designed to push me out of my comfort zone. Some will be harder than others. I’m aiming to do each challenge at least once, and I’ll post daily reports of my progress here on the blog.

You can participate by trying as many or as few of the challenges as you like. If you do attempt any, I’d love to hear back about how you fared in the comments.

What kind of challenges can you expect? Here are three random examples:

Say hello to five strangers as you pass them on the street.
Haggle over the price of something.
Sing or dance in a public place where nobody else is singing or dancing.

(Note: I don’t have all the challenges finalized yet, so if you can think of a few good ones that would require little-to-no preparation, suggestions are welcome in the comments below.)

You can of course tweak the challenges to make them more applicable to you. There’s no right or wrong way to participate, no strict measure of success. The only way to fail is to not try at all.

Find a wing*

If you’re going to participate, I recommend roping in a real-world friend to help out. Now you don’t want to have a wingman (or wingwoman) there for some of the easier challenges (that would make them a little too easy), but for the more difficult ones it will definitely help to have some support.

I know this because I’ve participated in a similar challenge before, at Steve Pavlina‘s fourth Conscious Growth Workshop in Las Vegas last July. During the 3-day workshop, Steve had the attendees attempt dozens of power and courage exercises. For example, we were asked to go out in public and strike up conversations with strangers, ask for free drinks at the bar, sing loudly as we walked down a busy street, and so on.

At first, everybody in the workshop was hesitant to attempt some of the more intimidating exercises. And it’s likely we would never have tried them if not for one thing: rather than going out and attempting the exercises individually, we split up into groups of three. Each person in the group had a turn taking the lead, while the other two offered encouragement. The results were phenomenal. With that support system in place, fear took a back seat and everyone was able to complete the entire list of exercises. As Steve explained when we got back to our seats, “Environment is stronger than willpower.”

So if you’re extremely nervous about breaking social norms, start out doing the challenges with a buddy. Once you build up your courage, try going solo and see how you fare.

* No prizes for guessing I read this book recently.

Facebook and Twitter

As part of this whole challenge and manifesto launch, I’ve set up a Facebook fan page for Disrupting the Rabblement. If you’re on board with what this site is all about, please click through and hit the like button.

For those of you planning to participate in the Random Acts of Courage challenge, I have that set up as a Facebook event. Feel free to click “I’m Attending” there, and invite any friends who might get a kick out of it.

As for Twitter, you can use and/or follow the #raoc hashtag I’ll be using throughout the challenge. Or just follow me.

Please consider spreading the word about Random Acts of Courage via Facebook, Twitter, or any other way you can. With your help, we’ll have strangers haggling and dancing in the streets all next week

…

UPDATE: All done!

My week-long Random Acts of Courage project is complete. I had an absolute blast trying all the challenges. You can read about my adventures here:

Unknown January 20, 2011 40 Comments

How to travel the world indefinitely: An interview with pro nomad Mark Webster

Random Acts of Courage – Monday challenges and field report

40 Responses to “Coming next week: Random Acts of Courage”

Spyros Heniadis Reply January 21, 2011 at 3:03 pm

This is going to be a blast Niall! I can’t wait.

Do you have sing your favorite song at a karaoke bar on the list? That’s one that I think would challenge people as well.

Here’s to Courage!!!
Niall Doherty Reply January 21, 2011 at 4:21 pm

Thanks for the comment, Spyros! And for coming up with the RAoC name

I didn’t have karaoke on my list of challenges, but it fits in nicely with another one. Check back on Tuesday for that.
- Spyros Heniadis Reply January 24, 2011 at 1:04 am
  
  My pleasure!
  
  I’ll admit though that karaoke isn’t a challenge for me (anymore) it was about a year ago, but I’ve overcome that already. However I’ll have a heck of a good time Friday night belting one out for the challenge (since there isn’t any karaoke in town on Tuesday nights)
Fran Aslam From Onlinewriter Reply January 21, 2011 at 10:07 pm

Hi Niall:

You must be wondering who is this. I am from 100 comment challenge which you signed up for.

You have a beautiful site here. Your blog post is written in a upbeat tone. It has a positive

influence. You are working on some surprise in the next post.

Awesome work. You have to connect yourself with more people. You will soon move up where you belong in this blog network.

All the best

fran A
Fran Aslam From Onlinewriter Reply January 22, 2011 at 12:25 am

Hi Niall:

You have a good looking blog, video and an awesome post. I am also excited to see what you have to say in the next post.

Keep up the good work

Fran A
- Niall Doherty Reply January 25, 2011 at 4:51 pm
  
  Thanks, Fran. Sorry it took so long for me to approve your comments. They mistakenly got flagged as spam.
Riley Harrison Reply January 22, 2011 at 6:13 am

Hi Niall

Of the 3 random examples you posed, the third one is going to take one hell of a lot of alcohol.

Riley
- Niall Doherty Reply January 22, 2011 at 1:00 pm
  
  Damn, looks like I picked the wrong year to quit drinking
Robin Reply January 22, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Heres one from Louise Hay:

Look into your eyes in a mirror every morning and every evening and tell yourself you love and truly apprreciate yourself and do it with feeling. Tell yourself something nice for a change instead of beating yourself up everyday for what you think are your faults.
- Niall Doherty Reply January 22, 2011 at 3:50 pm
  
  Thanks, Robin. I think most people would be able to tell themselves that. The challenge would be believing that it’s true.
Steve Youngs Reply January 23, 2011 at 3:17 am

Hi Niall!

Just wanted to say good luck with it. From your example challenges, the first 2 are OK, but the 3rd is way too far outside my comfort zone to ever contemplate. Any chance of seeing a video of this one if you do it?

Kind regards,

Steve
- Niall Doherty Reply January 23, 2011 at 6:27 pm
  
  Thank, Steve!
  
  I plan on having video of the singing. Just need to find a friend with poor hearing
Brandon Bailey Reply January 24, 2011 at 3:02 pm

Niall-

I like this idea a lot. It seems like its going to be fun. I’ll keep an eye on it and see how this goes. I also noticed your like to the post about quitting drinking in the comments and was wondering how that is going. I hope it is going well. let me know if I can ever do anything to help out.

Brandon
- Niall Doherty Reply January 24, 2011 at 4:00 pm
  
  Hey Brandon, thanks for the comment.
  
  Sobriety is treating me well. I’m going to wait another couple of months before writing about my experience at length, but I’ve definitely been feeling good about the decision to quit. It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I’m now more in control of my own destiny. Before I could let myself off the hook by saying something like “I’ll need a few drinks before I go dancing” or “That was just the drink talking.” It was really a cop out, a way to deflect responsibility or postpone doing something that made me a little nervous. Now I have to own up to those things, no more hiding behind a glass of beer. It’s a little scary at first, but also very empowering.
Sean Mathena Reply January 24, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Hey Niall,

This sounds like it is going to be blast! I read the 4HWW and did the challenges in there, and while they were uncomfortable at first, it was neat seeing peoples reactions. I am jealous that you got to go to one of Steve’s events, I have always wanted to but have never got the opportunity.

Keep up the good work!
- Niall Doherty Reply January 24, 2011 at 4:11 pm
  
  Thanks, Sean. I “borrowed” one of the 4HWW challenges for a Random Act of Courage today. It was the one where you lie down in a coffee shop, except I did it in the middle of a department store. The security guard wasn’t very amused. I’ll have video of it in a new post later.
  
  And yeah, Steve’s workshop was amazing. I met so many great people there and had several ah-ha moments. Probably the best weekend of my life
Ryan Renfrew @LifestyleDesign Reply January 25, 2011 at 12:17 am

Niall,

That is a great idea. I look forward to hearing the ressults of the challenges. I guess all it takes is something as simple – yet paralysingly difficult – as dancing in public to realise how conditioned we really are to social norms and conformities.

Courage week is a great way to prove to yourselves that we are free, we can do what we want and feel the freedom of doing so.

bLAZE yOUR tRAIL
- Niall Doherty Reply January 25, 2011 at 8:30 am
  
  Thanks, Ryan. I did the singing bit yesterday, threw in a small few dance moves, too
Adrienne Reply January 28, 2011 at 12:47 am

Hey Niall,

Love the concept and I instantly started laughing. The first 3 things you mentioned, I do 2 of most of the time. I’m always saying hello to strangers and we usually end up having some awesome conversations. I also sing and dance in public places where no one else is only because I long music and I love to dance so to hell with everyone else. Life is about having fun.

Might have to join your little challenge there to see what else you might come up with. I KNOW there will be things I won’t want to do but guess I’ll have to find out, huh!!!

Thanks for this awesome post and will look forward to the release of your manifesto.

Adrienne
- Niall Doherty Reply January 28, 2011 at 4:50 am
  
  Thanks, Adrienne. I just posted my report on the final 10 challenges. There were 50 altogether. I had an absolute blast trying them all.
  
  Let me know how you do with your own attempts
  - Adrienne Reply January 28, 2011 at 6:55 pm
    
    Will definitely check those out Niall. Thanks for letting me know. I’m heading over there right now.
Jody Elliott@A Walk to Simplicity Reply January 28, 2011 at 3:30 pm

Popped in over here from the 100 blog comment challenge thru Ryan Renfrew, and damn I wish I had found this sooner. This is a great idea and the challenges seem awesome. I’m all about encouraging others to get out of their comfort zone. It helps in SO many other aspects of life when you are able to put down the introvert and engage yourself more in new situations and circumstances. GREAT topic and great post. I think video helps a ton as well. Thanks!
- Niall Doherty Reply January 28, 2011 at 5:49 pm
  
  Thank you, Jody! Glad you like the idea. It proved to be an amazing week for me
Darshan Reply January 29, 2011 at 5:42 pm

I just came across your website, and this is the first post that I read. I just want to say Nial, I ran a HUGE smile across my face when I read about your ideas and adventures. This seems INCREDIBLE! Good luck on all of these (I know you have already gotten started).

But I must say your sheer courage and enthusiasm to do this is inspiring. I will continue to read on!
- Niall Doherty Reply January 29, 2011 at 6:16 pm
  
  Thanks, Darshan. If you liked this post, I imagine you’ll get a great kick out of the ones that follow. This was just the tip of the iceberg
  
  Thanks for reading.
Dino Dogan Reply February 1, 2011 at 2:02 am

Those are really great challenges. Im inspired to do some of those myself…thnx
- Niall Doherty Reply February 1, 2011 at 8:09 am
  
  Thanks, Dino. Let me know how you get on with them
Danielle McGaw Reply February 5, 2011 at 7:34 pm

Well, I popped by just to see what you’re all about and it turns out you’re pretty damn interesting. I think this is a great challenge and I can’t wait to see what the results were. I personally love doing little things like singing loudly in public that will shake people up. Generally people are pretty closed and things like that can really wake them up. Can’t wait to see what you get up to!

Keep on bloggin’ on!

Danielle
- Niall Doherty Reply February 6, 2011 at 5:06 pm
  
  Thanks, Danielle. All the challenges are complete now (see the links at the bottom of the post). I’m planning a wrap-up post on the whole thing soon, complete with video of a presentation I gave about the project last week.
Looking4 Purpose Reply February 7, 2011 at 4:16 pm

I think my first random act of courage was getting involved with this 100 comment blog challenge with Ryan, holy cow I must say, finding new social networks is challenging enough but sending out 100 comments is courage in itself. I love videos, it shows you took time to actually put some effort in your post. thanks.
- Niall Doherty Reply February 7, 2011 at 5:59 pm
  
  Hey, thanks! I actually do video accompaniments for most of my blog posts. It’s an ongoing attempt to bridge the gap between my writing voice and my spoken voice.
Robert Simpson Reply February 7, 2011 at 5:51 pm

Hi Niall,

You’ve got cahonas mate I’ll give you that! I’m far too self

concious for most of the things you are doing here…

Some of the basic things like talking to a stranger or haggling

over the price of something no problem but, going commando

or dancing and singing where nobody else is that’s a totally

different matter…

You truly are Courageous and I’d take my hat off to you If I

had one. I love what your doing and I love your blog and all

It’s about. I’m a fan of your courage even though I’m a big

chicken.

Go Niall Go! You’re AMAZING!

Robert
- Niall Doherty Reply February 7, 2011 at 6:01 pm
  
  Thanks for the kind words, Robert.
  
  Be careful labeling yourself a chicken so easily. Tell yourself that enough times and you’ll end up believing it!
Kerry Russell Reply February 10, 2011 at 1:42 pm

Hey Niall

That’s what i like “creativity”. Can’t wait to see which tasks you actually complete

No one likes going out of their comfort zone do they but I lift my hat to you for this one.

Good Luck

Kerry Russell
- Niall Doherty Reply February 10, 2011 at 2:52 pm
  
  Hi Kerry. I completed pretty much all of the tasks. You can see the results via the links at the bottom of the post.
Alyx Falkner Reply February 10, 2011 at 7:09 pm

Hey Niall,

This is what I’m talking about, facing your fears and saying the hell with normality. I’m going to go out to try some of these myself. Great work on the manifesto btw, can’t wait to read it.

Alyx
- Niall Doherty Reply February 11, 2011 at 12:15 am
  
  Hey, thanks Alyx. Let me know how you get on with your challenges
John P. Muldoon Reply February 13, 2011 at 7:16 pm

Niall,

Good stuff and glad you moved back. We need more people here to shake things up. Your challenges look like a blast.

John
- Niall Doherty Reply February 13, 2011 at 7:54 pm
  
  Thanks, John. I’m only going to be in Ireland until May though. The vagabond lifestyle awaits