it’s repeatedly surprising how the value of writing and reading cyclicly escapes my awareness for making life immediately more enjoyable.
hear me out even if you hate the idea of writing or reading, which isn’t required for the happiness or motivation part.
so, i cycle through realizing that in order not to garner a growing apathy for life in general, i must read and write. what i read and write doesn’t seem to effect the nourishing effect, but apathy for almost everything does indeed start to numb my mind if i neglect those two things for more than a month or two.
somehow i disturbingly still lapse into periods where i don’t do either of these things and get frustrated with the general day to day. the days feel longer, i’m less than motivated to get out of bed, i want to over eat, over drink, avoid decisions or decisive action toward anything.
i’m generally thinking life is boring and it’s just another day, not an awesome day. can you relate? ever found yourself there sitting at your work place or home feeling like that?
then, as if for the first time, i once again stumble onto realizing that these words i’m putting down, and books i’ve drummed up excitement to read are the spark to igniting a renewed generally happy disposition and eagerness to tackle projects, goals, work, relationships, and life in general.
it’s not just thinking about them, but the combination of wanting to do them and doing them that does this.
the crazy thing is, i do not on any terms consider myself a writer, or all that much of a reader either, you don’t have to either. i think it has more to do with input, output, and for some, connectedness than reading and writing.
when we deliberately and consciously “take in” an experience or information that we’ve chosen, not shown up for out of obligation or agreement, we feel the value. the same goes for when we create, or reflect or “out put” experience or information. there’s a certain sense of spirit to it, of mastery.
this “value” feels good, and sparks life. life, meaning aliveness. happiness. readiness. this is what moves you from currently not happy and motivated to generally so.
today, many people, myself included have a tendency to fall into numbing rhythms. we wake up just in time for work, get home with just enough time to recover from work, then sleep and do it again. this ends up feeding those apathetic and general life stinks feelings when repeated enough times. note: any life rhythm that doesn’t involve genuine input and output is susceptible.
so
break up that rhythm by purposely taking something in, or producing something in the very near future as i’m doing now writing this. get into this action, it’s anti mindlessness and will do you good. major life events also help.
i find i…
regain interest in others projects
regain interest in my own projects
find motivation for progress
share my experiences and reflections
try new things
connect with others, God, nature
wake up feeling good
when i…
read a book, blog, article i’d say i’m genuinely interested in
consciously choose to experience something (ie. go to niagara falls)
create, write, build, bring thoughts into being
…life can feel like a hamster wheel all too easily. take a figurative step back, realize you might be stuck in a cycle, and then make a conscious effort to “take in” or “put out” in order to trigger a feeling of value, and aliveness.
alive is good.
resource: http://750words.com