Day 208 of 365 - Light Me Up
Here are a few of the things that light me up:
- waking refreshed from a good sleep
- feeling good when I stretch and move
- my morning green tea
- delicious food
- meaningful conversations
- laughter
- music
There are many other things that could be added to my list. The point is, these are all fairly accessible activities which I can partake in on a daily basis. Even though bigger events, like travelling might also lift my spirits and bring me joy, they would only happen occasionally.
When I was in regular employment, had the many responsibilities of raising a family, and managing a household, I tended to defer pleasurable activities until obligations were met. Or, I would defer fun and attach it mainly to some weekend social event or a vacation. Of course, over time this kind of approach leads to frustration, resentment and dissatisfaction.
It seems like common sense to just say that we ought to do more of what lights us up, and less of what does not. My reaction to a statement like that in the past would have been skeptical and critical. That's because my list of 'shoulds' has always been so long. My daily life has been governed by many internalized commands. The result is that I'd tend to put my individuality and creativity on hold.
Thankfully, in my later years of life, I've come to realize that it's possible to consciously choose a life I value and that better supports who I am. Undergoing that scrutiny of values is a risk, as it's bound to create changes. During one of the periods in mid-life when I went through that kind of exploration, I decided to end my lengthy career. But, I learned new skills and enjoyed expanding my repertoire, even if it did not create steady employment.
Other things that light me up which were fostered from that period were:
- following my intuition more and receiving confirmation that it is valid
- paying more attention to my body, mind and spirit; always learning new things related to these
- better discerning my energy from that of others
- doing more health and wellness practices
Yes, there are consequences to making changes. It has helped to spread them out over the years and to have repeated opportunities to start anew when I slip back into old habits. I have chosen at times to take mundane part-time jobs to provide some additional income. Overall, I have scaled down possessions and learned to live comfortably with less.
It's unfortunate that so many of us wait until later in life to ask ourselves the following kinds of questions: What actually makes me happy? What kind of person do I want to be? What traits or characteristics do I like to express? What are the main values I live by or admire in others?
Exploring questions like these can guide us in those decisions to do more of what lights us up, and less of what does not. When we give ourselves permission to lead our lives from that perspective, perhaps we'll be lit up more often.
- waking refreshed from a good sleep
- feeling good when I stretch and move
- my morning green tea
- delicious food
- meaningful conversations
- laughter
- music
There are many other things that could be added to my list. The point is, these are all fairly accessible activities which I can partake in on a daily basis. Even though bigger events, like travelling might also lift my spirits and bring me joy, they would only happen occasionally.
When I was in regular employment, had the many responsibilities of raising a family, and managing a household, I tended to defer pleasurable activities until obligations were met. Or, I would defer fun and attach it mainly to some weekend social event or a vacation. Of course, over time this kind of approach leads to frustration, resentment and dissatisfaction.
It seems like common sense to just say that we ought to do more of what lights us up, and less of what does not. My reaction to a statement like that in the past would have been skeptical and critical. That's because my list of 'shoulds' has always been so long. My daily life has been governed by many internalized commands. The result is that I'd tend to put my individuality and creativity on hold.
Thankfully, in my later years of life, I've come to realize that it's possible to consciously choose a life I value and that better supports who I am. Undergoing that scrutiny of values is a risk, as it's bound to create changes. During one of the periods in mid-life when I went through that kind of exploration, I decided to end my lengthy career. But, I learned new skills and enjoyed expanding my repertoire, even if it did not create steady employment.
Other things that light me up which were fostered from that period were:
- following my intuition more and receiving confirmation that it is valid
- paying more attention to my body, mind and spirit; always learning new things related to these
- better discerning my energy from that of others
- doing more health and wellness practices
Yes, there are consequences to making changes. It has helped to spread them out over the years and to have repeated opportunities to start anew when I slip back into old habits. I have chosen at times to take mundane part-time jobs to provide some additional income. Overall, I have scaled down possessions and learned to live comfortably with less.
It's unfortunate that so many of us wait until later in life to ask ourselves the following kinds of questions: What actually makes me happy? What kind of person do I want to be? What traits or characteristics do I like to express? What are the main values I live by or admire in others?
Exploring questions like these can guide us in those decisions to do more of what lights us up, and less of what does not. When we give ourselves permission to lead our lives from that perspective, perhaps we'll be lit up more often.
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