Hello, joyful community! I’m writing from my happiest place: a Mexican beach.
It’s interesting how a one-hour change can cause so much havoc in our internal clocks. Yesterday, I let myself sleep for an extra hour and skipped my morning meditation. Instead of responding to all my e-mails, I went swimming.
I didn’t fault myself for succumbing to these luxuries. Instead, I was kind. “There’s always tomorrow,” I told myself.
How often do we catastrophize, thinking that one missed workout or one missed habit means that “all is lost”?
If you’ve fallen out of routine, be kind. If you’ve forgotten to work on a goal you set back in January, don’t worry.
You can pick it all up again tomorrow (if you want).
In this issue: Why going for “interesting” is better than “ideal”, how we can work together, and an interesting article on happiness at work.
Go for interesting, not ideal
On Saturday, I waded through poop. This is not a metaphor.
In order to enter the canyon, my hiking companions and I would need to walk knee-deep in a pool of cow-dung-infested waters. There was no way around it.
My husband and I hike frequently, and this was one of our more challenging adventures. From our truck’s wheels getting stuck in the sand at the start of the hike, to the scorching sun that followed us for seven miles, to wading through water with bits of cow manure as our grand finale, this was the worst hike ever.
Except that it wasn’t.
In fact, we’ll remember this hike for years, mainly because of the great friends who shared interesting tidbits about their lives and worldviews, keeping us laughing as we walked.
We’ll also remember this hike because though some aspects weren’t “ideal”, the experience was so interesting!
Question of the week:
What if instead of searching for “ideal”, you pursued what is “interesting”?
I found our hike memorable because I had no expectations going in. When we approach life this way, there is no disappointment.
Disappointment happens when we attach ourselves to outcomes - outcomes that in our mind are “ideal”: the “ideal” organization, the “ideal” salary, the “ideal” boss, the “ideal” team, and so on.
The reality is that few things in life will ever match our “ideal” version.
I suggest that instead of focusing on “ideal”, you focus on “interesting”:
What is currently sparking your curiosity?
Sabotaging thoughts will want us to believe that what sparks our curiosity:
“Won’t make us money”
“Is just a hobby”
“Isn’t respectable”
“Is foolish”
How do you know?
Before your inner saboteurs shut your curiosity down, explore a bit:
Talk to someone in the field that is sparking your curiosity
Imagine what a day of following this curiosity would look like
Read about a skill related to that curiosity
When we lead with curiosity and explore without judgment, we might discover things we never knew.
On this not so “ideal” hike, I discovered that:
This part of Mexico has some spectacular canyons
People are incredibly kind (especially the man who offered to pull us out from the sand in the middle of his workday)
Some cows can live in the desert (who knew?)
Like in life, a hike is to be enjoyed not by the destination (in our case a pool full of cow poop), but by the journey full of friends, challenges that make us stronger, and unexpected rewards along the way
What if instead of searching for “ideal”, you gave yourself permission to explore what you find “interesting”?
What might you discover about yourself and about the world?
By letting go of your “ideal”, you might just find the “ideal” you never knew existed.
Let’s work together!
Are you ready to go after your most joyful life and career?
Book a Discovery Coaching call here.
I specialize in helping people who want to experience more joy in their lives and careers. Here’s how it works:
You build mental fitness so you can think and feel better. When you feel better, you do better!
We get to know YOU (your values, your definition of success, your gifts, and your story) so you can create and go after what lights you up.
You take action in micro and big doses, always experimenting, learning, and growing.
As your coach:
I support you every step of the way.
I help you see what you’re not seeing.
I challenge you.
I catch you.
I help you think.
I help you decide.
All from a place of curiosity, love, and joy.
Let’s start building your roadmap to your joyful life and career now.
Book a Discovery Coaching call here.
I’ll be back next week with more thoughts, questions, and joyful tidbits. Until then, I leave you with this:
Your job doesn’t need to be the most prestigious or the best-paid. It just needs to be rewarding. Here’s a great article about The Secret to Happiness at Work.
Frankly, I can see me wading through the poop right behind you. Cow poop would never slow me down. What would be beyond the poop would be worth the dirty legs. I have always been a 95% guy. "The last 5% takes another 95% for the ideal result".
Loved this one! Interesting has served me so much better than ideal over the last decade. Can’t imagine how the hike was like, what a story!