How do I enjoy life?
Be present.
Nothing will be joyous if you aren’t taking in, what is currently happening to you. There is always something to worry about, in the future and the past. But you will miss out on joy in front of you.
No matter what is going on ahead, what has just gone down, the present moment is so precious and has the capacity to be so much, if you are actually in it. Once you master the ability to be present, everything else becomes easier. You’re listening and taking in much more than if your brain is thinking about the past and the future.
That being said, humans are the only creatures with the capacity to actually create scenarios in our head. “If I buy this bag of chips now, here’s what will happen later.” Planning and reflecting are obviously amazing tools. Here is how to utilize them, without going crazy. And most importantly, if you set yourself up properly, you will be able to relax, and be in the moment.
Find the work and the activities that satisfy you. This one is big, so I’m going to give some sub-steps.
Write, Read, Stretch, Water (I know this is just me, but these are the activities that never “run out”! Doing too much of them never harms you.) Write your most honest and sometimes angry thoughts. Be real with yourself. Notice the things that actually bring you joy and satisfaction. Break apart your day, or week, or year. Be as specific and even goofy as possible about how you look back at your life, and decide how to optimize your time to bring you more enjoyment. And try not to be as simple as saying “hanging out with my friends!” What about the hangout? Was it a certain conversation topic? Was it walking in nature or being loyal about something?
When you do have down time, instead of thinking about things you want to happen for yourself, think about people out there in the world who might need a little extra love, or push. I do this when I cannot fall asleep and I always wake up happier. Just let your brain drift into the people around you, the widow who might need a wave of something to look forward to, the taxi driver who is bored of his life, and needs something to challenge him. Just think about people’s lives and what they’re feeling; it goes along way and you will find yourself happier. And next time you’re walking around, thinking about YOU and what you need, observe the people passing you by.
Talk to people!! Ask everyone questions. Making a joke or random small talk with the person bagging your groceries is the number one factor that will determine whether you live long (I’ll find the research report soon 😅). But asking people to tell their story, or open up about things, will always bring new insight.
Change is honestly one of the most important aspects that brings me joy. I sometimes just move my chair to a new spot. I walk down a different street. Small things can move you. If you’re irritated and bored with certain ways, there are often low-resource ways to make changes that can have huge impact.
I would love to hear how any of these work out for you! 🥴