You will know your path by the fun of it

You will know your path by the fun of it
Abraham

I love this simple quote by Abraham as it reminds me that if I’m not enjoying myself I’m no longer on my path.

Are there times when you get so caught up in the details of daily life and the wants of others that you don’t even notice that you are no longer enjoying what you are doing?

Enjoying does not just mean having fun as in playing, dancing, laughing and all that lovely stuff. It also includes less obvious things like being interested, organized, satisfied or relaxed and at ease within whatever it is you are doing. It is a feeling of being in the flow, fully focused, 100% committed to whatever you are doing or whoever you are with.

While it’s fine to stray from your path here and there and we all do it, it is also good to remember what it’s really all about and get back on your path. Sometimes all you need is a short break from what you’re doing, maybe something to eat or drink or some fresh air and movement. Other times call for more of a big break, a long lunch, a walk on the beach, a chat with a friend, some time in the garden or if you’re really over it, just putting it all away for the day and making a fresh start tomorrow.

Then there are those things that really never feel good, and these are the ones that you need to take a closer at to see if you really need to do them. Ask yourself why you are doing it. Is it part of something you really want or are you just holding on to it out of habit, or pride, or wanting to keep the peace or to please others? If it no longer needs to be done then maybe you could consider letting go of it or letting someone else take it over.

If you decide you really must or really do want to do something but always feel bad when you do it (cleaning toilets often falls in this category for me) then that is something to work on mentally and emotionally and practically too. Could you make things easier or more fun for yourself? In the case of the toilets would listening to music or podcasts help things along? Or could you be a bit less fussy? Are there tools and products that are designed to make life in this area easier? You get the idea, really practical common sense stuff.

When it comes to changing how you think, try looking at what you have to do in a different way. Use your reasoning skills, a question (from Abraham) that works well for me is

Which feels better?

Will it feel better to avoid this or leave it until later, or will it feel better to just get it done? How will I feel when I come back to it? Will I feel refreshed and more able to continue? Or will I feel guilty and just as unmotivated? It is surprising how quickly these questions will provide clarity and allow you to move in the right direction with energy and focus.