Like you, I was a wholehearted mom. I approached motherhood with passion and enthusiasm. While our days together were far from problem-free, there were many moments of pure joy!
As the kids grew up and needed me less and less, I noted my enthusiasm for life waning. The anticipation that made me leap out of bed in the morning was gone.
What happened to me?
I began a process to revive my enthusiasm and to make joy an everyday thing again. Yes, it is possible to rekindle the joy you may have lost.
You can learn to:
- Let go of the things causing you pain
- Revive and remember what brings you joy
- Discover new outlets for joyfulness
- Overcome the roadblocks that kill your enthusiasm
- Foster enthusiasm in those you love
Enthusiasm is more than having something fun to look forward to marked on the calendar. Of course, an annual vacation is something to be excited about, but enthusiasm should also include your approach to everyday life. A great cup of coffee is something to get excited about, plus you can get equally excited about having an attitude of gratitude or fostering someone else’s enthusiasm too.
Identifying what makes you happy can help you find the joy in everyday life and revive your enthusiasm when it feels like there’s not much happening day to day. It’s ok to feel like life’s not quite what you’d like, that’s normal. But if you shift your focus to what’s working, where there’s gaps, and what activities or mindsets can close those gaps you’ll be surprised at how much there is to love about your life.
What Brings You Joy?
One man’s joy may look nothing like someone else’s. Operating from a place of joy makes life feel fun and carefree. You may be having so much fun you lose track of time or feel refreshed and invigorated even if the activity is strenuous.
Getting back to basics can help you revive your enthusiasm and remember what brings you joy. It could be simple things that bring you joy or the thrill of trying something new and exciting. Your joy is unique to you and the things you enJOY doing.
Identifying as many things as you can that bring you joy and incorporating them back into your life can revive your enthusiasm and change your whole outlook on life.
It’s entirely possible if you have a hard time remembering what brings you joy that you’ve been under pressure to perform in ways that don’t leave time left for personal happiness. Now’s the time to decide to claim your right to do things you love and revive your enthusiasm for everyday life.
Adulting is draining. Tackling the list of responsibilities you’ve got every day is daunting. If you can’t make it all happen, it might feel like failure. How on earth are you supposed to take time for the things you want to do when you don’t have enough time for the things you have to do?
Work will always be there. You have to be intentional about finding your enthusiasm and your joy!
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Take a spur of the moment adventure- Ever get the bug to drive half an hour for a special meal at a favorite place? Don’t stop your thoughts! Get in a spur of the moment adventure. Being spontaneous and fun can revive your spirit and lead to some really fun experiences.
Schedule vacation time every January- Planning is a very good thing. Take the time during the new year to schedule one to two… or more… vacations. Getting them on the calendar and taking action to prepare for them builds your enthusiasm and revives your spirit.
It’s time to ask yourself some questions:
Q? What can you do for hours on end and often lose track of time?
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Q? What activities do you enjoy when you have free time?
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Q? What activities have you wanted to try or experience but haven’t?
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Q? When you daydream about fun activities what are they?
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Q? If time and money didn’t matter, what would you do with your time for fun?
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If you don’t plan for fun, it might not happen.
It’s helpful to know that losing your enthusiasm is normal when you aren’t paying attention. Life gets busy and commitments keep piling up until one day you look up and there’s no blue sky. Everywhere you look, it’s appointments and responsibilities. It’s a relief to know that you can control a lot of the responsibilities you commit to by assessing and reducing your schedule, switching up your social circle, and making fun a scheduled priority.
