Creating with intention
Seth Godin first plopped these two words into my mind many years ago. Since then, this has become something of a personal mantra: How can I bring more joy into the world? How can I surprise the people around me?
It’s not enough to simply show up.
It’s about pushing boundaries, testing assumptions, and bringing intentional kindness into the communities in which you live.
Tweet me and let me know how you’re adding surprise and delight into your life.
Instead of focusing on what is wrong or needs to change in your life, add something. Look for ways to fill your life with magic.
Once a day, once a week, even once a month, incorporate something that inspires you: A song that brings you joy. A place with fond memories. Fifteen minutes sitting on a bench in the park. Dancing.
Get intentional about this. Instead of waiting for a miracle to happen to you, create one for yourself. Fill your space with candles or flowers. Take a class. Wander aimlessly through a bookstore. Play. Sit in the sun. Find a new restaurant.
When you actively build excitement into daily living, work becomes more productive, relationships become more fulfilling, and life becomes brighter.
I wish for you magic, today and always.
We carefully plan our days, scheduling meetings and appointments to maximize our energy and time. We plan our evenings, scheduling outings and time at home in an attempt to balance work and play. Yet what if this careful planning is actually getting in our way? What if we’re creating a series of insulated experiences and limiting ourselves from true magic?
It seems (too often!) that moments of inspiration—those flashes of brilliance when you just get it, “Aha! I need to write this down!”—happen when we least expect them. The memories we cherish and the stories our friends eagerly clasp are often the result of something unexpected, unplanned, maybe even a “mistake.”
What if we are limiting ourselves and our own potential by limiting our exposure to the unpredictable? When we travel, we easily relinquish control and let ourselves live, experience, explore, and get lost.
What would happen if we released control in our day-to-day?