“Life is about experiencing all the things you find interesting and fascinating. Just get out and experience as much as you can. Participate in life.”
– Louis Zamperini
What do you think is interesting and fascinating about life? What inspires you, sparks enthusiasm and brings enjoyment?
Drawing from my childhood experiences, it was things like catching lightening bugs, building snow forts and picking freshly grown tomatoes from my grandfather’s garden. Filled with excitement, I could not wait to embrace day after day where I could do these things and more. In childhood, it’s more natural to be enthusiastic and joyful about life.
In adulthood, enthusiasm and enjoyment may seem more out of reach. We can become accustomed to going through the motions of our day-to-day lives, and as I discussed last month, choose to accept them either with our without resistance. At times it can be easier to experience situations where we practice acceptance rather than enthusiasm and enjoyment.
How can you experience more enthusiasm and enjoyment? Here are some things to try:
- Embrace Gratitude. Begin a gratitude journal, writing down three things you are grateful for each day. When you appreciate all you have and all your experiences (even the difficult ones), you shift your perspective and open yourself up to allowing more enthusiasm and enjoyment into your life.
- Focus on Feelings. Close your eyes and recall a time or create an image for yourself that generates enthusiasm and enjoyment. As something comes to mind or as you create your image, notice feelings of enthusiasm and enjoyment you are experiencing and allow every cell in your mind and body to absorb them. Practice connecting to and embodying those feelings during your day-to-day activities and notice if this brings more enthusiastic and joy-filled experiences to your daily life.
- Develop Your Vision. Take a few minutes each day in silent reflection or meditation to create your own vision of how and where you would like to see more enjoyment and enthusiasm around you and your experiences. Visualization is your blueprint for creation. Develop your vision in as much detail as you can and be open to receive its fruition in your life.
- Take Action. Register for that new class you’ve been putting off, call a friend or family member you’ve been missing, take a walk in the beauty of nature. Trust in the opportunities for enthusiasm and enjoyment that present themselves to you and act upon them.
When we are enthusiastic and joyful, we reconnect with our own innate consciousness, which we were born with and always carry within our inner being. When we choose to open our hearts to that understanding, we love and appreciate all we are. We become a true participant in life.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season.
With Love, Light, and Gratitude,
Sandy
