What would you like to do? Is there a project you’ve wanted to start? Is there a place you want to explore? A book you want to read? A friend you want to visit? Why aren’t you doing it? What’s your excuse? What is standing in your way? Don’t tell me you don’t have the time. We all can make the time for something that is a priority to us. If it matters, it gets done. You always find time to eat, don’t you? Maybe you need to ask yourself why your wants and needs don’t matter.
It is my habit to invite you to try new things or change your point of view, but today I am going to challenge you instead. That’s right! A challenge. Like a dare. Or even a double dare. I want to challenge you to live a more joyful life. How do you do that? It’s really very simple. Each one of us likes to do, be and have what makes us happy. It’s different for each one of us. But each of us knows what those things are. We dream of them. But sometimes we will not get out of our own way to do the things we want to do! It takes effort. It takes planning. It takes focus. But I must remind you of why it is worth the effort, planning and focus. It brings joy. It brings joy. It brings joy.
Each month you can take an opportunity to make yourself a priority. You can go to the top of the list. You are more important than anyone or anything else. Can you do that? Once you give yourself permission to love yourself enough to make yourself a priority, decide how you will do that. Here’s the simple challenge…
Choose one activity every month that you would enjoy doing. You have unlimited choices here. Use your imagination. The only criteria is that you choose an activity that you enjoy. Now, get out your calendar and schedule it. Make the commitment. Put yourself on the calendar in the same way that you would add a dentist appointment or a business meeting or any other thing you may need to do. Set a date with yourself. Allow a certain amount of hours or days to enjoy your date. Your desires deserve equal time. You are very important to yourself.
Do this as a priority every month for the rest of your life. Write it down. Set the intention. Value yourself more and make an investment in a better you. There is no need to deny yourself or create limitations. Your desires exist for a reason; to push you to become better, stronger, wiser. More. Desire is the fuel of life. It is the fire in your belly that makes live worth living; the enthusiasm that gets you moving. Do it for yourself. And do it for others. Because when you are joyful, you bring more joy to the world.
Will you accept my challenge? Begin it before the New Year arrives and you bring out your old resolutions. Begin it now!