Actual ENJOYMENT of Your Life and Career

Create ENJOYMENT

Happiness is an inside job - and I find it annoying when people say that.  Am I really supposed to be as happy when I get a flat tire as I am when enjoying a quality girls weekend away?  Sounds phony, like toxic positivity.  And then the universe (by way of my required reading for yoga teacher training) brought me this passage by Eckhart Tolle and it is shifting my view.  I'm not asking you to subscribe to it wholesale, but to consider it.  That's all.  Just read and reflect on how this could increase your overall ENJOYMENT of life.

Be PRESENT

Quoting directly from 'A New Earth' by Eckhart Tolle:  "When you make the present moment, instead of past and future, the focal point of your life, your ability to enjoy what you do - and with it the quality of your life - increases dramatically.

......You don't have to wait for something meaningful to come into your life so that you can finally enjoy what you do.... The "waiting to start living" syndrome is one of the most common delusions of the unconscious state. 

Expansion and positive change on the outer level is much more likely to come into your life if you can enjoy what you are doing already, instead of waiting for some change so that you can start enjoying what you do. 

Don't ask your mind for permission to enjoy what you do.  All you will get is plenty of reasons why you can't enjoy it.  "Not now" the mind will say.  "Can't you see I'm busy?  There's no time.  Maybe tomorrow you can start enjoying...." 

That tomorrow will never come unless you begin enjoying what you are doing NOW.

When you say, I enjoy doing this or that, it is really a misperception.  It makes it appear that joy comes from what you do, but that is not the case.  Joy does not come from what you do, it flows into what you do and thus into the world from deep within you.

The misperception that joy comes from what you do is normal, and it is also dangerous, because it creates the belief that joy is something that can be derived from something else, such an as activity or thing.  You then look to the world to bring you joy, happiness.  But it cannot do that.  This is why many people live in constant frustration.  The world is not giving them what they think they need.

Then what is the relationship between something that you do and the state of joy?  You will enjoy any activity in which you are fully PRESENT, any activity that is not just a means to an end. 

It isn't the action you perform that you really enjoy, but the deep sense of aliveness that flows into it.  That aliveness is one with who you are.  This means that when you enjoy doing something, you are really experiencing the joy of BEING in its dynamic aspect.  That's why anything you enjoy doing connects you with the power behind all creation.

Here is a practice that will bring empowerment and creative expansion into your life.  Make a list of a number of everyday routine activities that you perform frequently.  Include activities that you may consider uninteresting, boring, tedious, irritating, or stressful. 

But don't include anything you hate or detest doing.  That's a case for acceptance or stopping what you do. 

The list may include traveling to and from work, buying groceries, doing your laundry, or anything you find tedious or stressful in your daily work.  Then, whenever you are engaged in those activities, let them be a vehicle for alertness.  Be absolutely PRESENT in what you do and sense the alert, alive stillness within you in the background of the activity.

You will soon find that what you do in such a state of heightened awareness, instead of being stressful, tedious, or irritating, is actually becoming enjoyable. 

To be more precise, what you are enjoying is not really the outward action but the inner dimension of consciousness that flows into the action.

This is finding the joy of BEING in what you are doing.  If you feel your life lacks significance or is too stressful or tedious, it is because you haven't brought that dimension into your life yet." ~'A New Earth' by Eckhart Tolle

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Wow.  Reflect on that passage.  Is there truth in it for you?  Does it anger you or make you defensive?  Is there a small part of you that thinks it could be true but also feels it's too hard to do?

I hear you.  Let the message sink in.  Think about it.  Consider it.  And practice being PRESENT as Tolle suggests. 

I have been practicing this for the past two weeks with varying degrees of success (on the lower side of 50%), and even with that lower success rate, I have increased my enjoyment considerably.  

I'm realizing that almost all of my frustration is from juggling too many things at once, none with my full attention.  When I let myself be present, without expectation, but just fully in whatever I am doing (even if it is being on hold with my Dr. or deleting emails) I feel peaceful and almost joyous.  Not overflowing with joy - but definitely a positive to neutral feeling.

You want to know the most common feeling reported when people are asked why they had an affair or hit other "mid-life crisis" events?  The feeling of being ALIVE.  Because immersing themselves in this thing outside their everyday life lets them be fully, 100% present, if only for a few moments at a time.  

Imagine finding ways to feel ALIVE every day?

If this resonates, let's talk about ways to bring more joy into your life.  Schedule a free call HERE or email me to set up time to chat.  Together we can CREATE enjoyment instead of unsuccessfully hoping to find it.

Because you deserve to ENJOY this life you are working so hard for.

Cheers to enjoying your life,
Sharon

PS - none of this is an excuse to stop taking action towards growth and the life you want.  It is a consideration to increase everyday enjoyment.  It does not pertain to toxic, abusive, or otherwise unacceptable situations.  Use your judgment. 

Create ENJOYMENT with Intention

You deserve a life you love with less stress and more joy.  I can help you gain clarity on how to enjoy life AND succeed, and the tools you need to make it happen.  Whether it is to better enjoy the present moment or to set yourself up for success going forward, I offer clarity sessions, consistent support, and accountability through several options.  Schedule a free, confidential strategy call by CLICKING HERE (Choose Free Strategy Session) and we can decide what's best for you.  

Life is too short to keep putting off what you really want.  Don't stay stuck feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and unsatisfied.  I've helped so many improve their happiness, well-being, and success because they chose to schedule a call and take one step towards the life of their dreams.  I can help you too.