Are we creating as much joy that is actually possible for ourselves and others?
To all our highly valued clients and acquaintances:
Spring is obviously starting to spring in most parts of the US right now.
Can we create momentum for greater personal joy in the months ahead?
I want to encourage this idea in as grounded a way as I can offer, though it may sound somewhat outlandish, especially with this kind of recent survey.
Adults Report Highest Stress Level Since Early Days of the Pandemic
80%+ report emotions associated with prolonged stress, says this survey.
How best to focus on what we can control and learn from history, thereby reducing our stress and optimizing our joy, amidst change and uncertainty?
It was the American author Paul Auster who, when asked about entering the winter of his years, replied that “he was living in the present, thinking about the past and hoping for the future.” Maybe we could also say that?
Best-selling author, speaker and consultant Alan Weiss writes that “one of the greatest causes of stress is the incorrect belief that we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow and that we have little influence over it.
“We have far greater control over our lives and destinies, personally and professionally, than we care to admit. The problem, in fact, isn’t lack of control but surrendering control…on a daily basis, we control most of our lives.” For ideas from his latest book, visit https://alanweiss.com/legacy/.
Avoid wasting time on things you can’t change. I don’t ever want to pretend to have your answer. You have the gift of being able to make your own choices and, in that light, I recommend you only do what works best for you
We each captain the ship of our own lives – we are the only ones who can choose that direction for our own health, happiness and peace. If we are committed to improving in any of those areas, we need to train ourselves.
Learning to live and work creatively, effectively and at peace inside our existing circumstances is a critical discipline and skill set. Coming back to a most basic and important message – let’s slow ourselves down – get a fresh grip – determine what’s the realities are in our current situations, as best as we can understand them – where and with whom can we access the best support and guidance? What will we do that actually creates joy?
To express our highest, most fulfilling creative best self in the face of whatever, regardless of severity/changing dynamics of our circumstances?
To live a life worthy of you? What kind of life will bring real joy to your soul?
I’ve decided to invest nearly a year working with a Wisdom Community to explore such questions as I continue to develop the inquiry and practice of Play. What if every adjustment we made in life in 2020 and have continued to make this year, has been themes of engaging in Play in our lives?
Benefits:
radical freedom from your past
being unlimited with fun, play, and ease
a life of unlimited growth and development
pursuing your dreams and making things happen
happiness, arising in a paradoxical way, free of hard work
Here are a couple of other resources that you may want to quickly peruse:
Conclusion – as an adult, you have every right to enjoy yourself as best as you can. Use the ten tips above to add more joy, fun and play to your life.
Just because we’re adults, that doesn’t mean we have to make life all about work. Learn how play can benefit your relationships, job, and mood.
The importance of adult play
In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing…But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well…Play could be simply goofing off with friends, sharing jokes with a coworker, throwing a frisbee on the beach, dressing up on Halloween with your kids, building a snowman in the yard, playing fetch with a dog, acting out charades at a party, or going for a bike ride with your spouse with no destination in mind. There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.
The benefits of play
While play is crucial for a child’s development, it is also beneficial for people of all ages. Play can add joy to life, relieve stress, supercharge learning, and connect you to others and the world around you. Play can also make work more productive and pleasurable. For your consideration.
From a couple of our blog posts from last year, that may serve you.
Special offer – free (no fee) – for 30 minutes – I’m here to add value & to serve – to be my best and to do my best – I promise at least one idea to help improve your work performance and your well-being.
