We have a lot of achievement seeking, goal-setting, go-getters reading this email.
If you’ve followed our Live Better journey for long enough, it’s pretty evident we like to pursue things that push our growth, from physical pursuits to projects that improve our mental and emotional resiliency.
There is one consistent consequence to this process, however; we feel burnt out on occasion. We feel stuck, both in our routines and in our progress. If the goal we’re pursuing is lofty enough, the time horizon to completion can produce some mission fatigue.
The simple push we all need to be reminded of is to have fun. We need to (re)introduce “play” into our daily lives, both to take away from the seriousness of our vocations or missions but also to feel present.
We just returned from a full retreat week spent in the sun, surfing, doing yoga, exercising, and connecting as friends. It was so fun. It’s easy to forget to do this when we are caught in our day-to-day lives, working for the weekend or too busy to stop and take a break.
It’s impossible to ignore this when you’re surfing; the only things that matter in those moments are paddling, smiling, and enjoying the feel of ocean water on our skin.
Thus we get to the mantra, “Follow the Fun.”
Follow the Fun
Where can you introduce more intentional fun into your day-to-day routine? Where can you add space for spontaneity? Can you say yes to something exciting more often, especially when your mind isn’t used to doing so (e.g., on a Wednesday afternoon…)?
When we over schedule, we lose the ability to follow fun, wherever it might lead us. If we rigidly plan everything, we can’t decide what feels good in the moment, either.
There will be to-do’s that need planning and careful consideration, of course, but often we impose unhelpful limitations on our ability to seek pleasure from life by deeming these pleasurable activities “unproductive.”
These moments allow our body and brain to take a break from being task focused, which allow us to come back to our task list more productive, not less, and usually much happier.
The next time you feel stuck, “Follow the Fun.”
See where it takes you.
