You live near the ocean or the mountains but you never go.
You have a great husband/wife or family but you never spend time with them.
You have a pool right next to your house but you never go swimming.
You know how to cook delicious food, but you never cook.
You have a lot of cute clothes but you never wear them.
You love to paint, but you never get around to painting a picture.
You have an idea in your head but you don’t act on it.
There is a change in plans, and you worry instead of adjust.
There is an opportunity for adventure and spontaneity, and you decline because it’s not what you normally do.
You have an exciting change in your life, and you are too busy focusing on what you have to do next or why this situation isn’t perfect.
In other words, you don’t take advantage of the beautiful things that are right in front of you.
You don’t seize the moment. Instead of flowing with life, you block it. You put up self-made obstacles that prevent you from truly enjoying the moment.
You stay stuck in your head and continue with incessant thinking, and forget that life is happening right now, right in front of you.
You do things for the IDEA of doing them, but you don’t actually enjoy them. You aren’t actually THERE. You aren’t actually present.
These are all signs that you are not enjoying life to its fullest potential.
To enjoy something means to be IN JOY of something, which means to be in a state of complete contentment, peace and awareness. And the way you enjoy something is by actually using it, taking advantage of it (in a good way), loving it, embracing it, appreciating it, observing it, playing with it, engaging with it, and giving it your full attention.
Not by ignoring it, being numb to it, doing it to check it off your bucket list, or engaging with it half-heartedly.
Do you have a wardrobe full of clothes, shoes, and purses; things that you never wear? How about a deck in the back of your house that you never use? How about a nice car you never drive because you don’t want to put miles on it? Or a trail by your house you never walk on? What do you have in your life that could be enjoyed, and could add some value and variety to your life, but you are not enjoying???
And if you are not enjoying these things because you are not interested in them, then why do you have them? Why do you have the things that you have, why do you live where you live, and why do you seek out the experiences that you do, if it’s not for enjoyment and fulfillment?
Is it to reflect a certain image to the world of who you want them to think you are, or even worse, to fool yourself that you are “this person?” Is it to be liked or accepted, to follow a norm, or to gain a false sense of happiness and satisfaction?
These are all inauthentic reasons to own or do anything. All they do is satisfy your ego, but not your soul.
As far as the things and the experiences that you seek out, the bottom line is, if you can’t enjoy them, you either shouldn’t have them or you should start enjoying them.
As for beautiful moments…
Do you have a child you don’t engage with fully when they talk to you?
Do you have a dog or cat that you never observe as it plays, eats, or sleeps?
Do you have an acquaintance you never try to learn more about by asking them questions?
A person you don’t fully listen to as they open up to you?
A flower, tree, bird, river, or mountain you don’t become awestruck by?
A stranger who smiles at you that you don’t take a moment to appreciate?
These are those precious moments of life that need more of our attention! This is how you enjoy life! You pay attention to the simple, subtle, but oh so sacred moments and take it in as if this was the first time you’ve ever seen it (because it IS).
So ask yourself:
How can I enjoy the things that I already have in my life?
How can I welcome new experiences without letting my expectations of how they should be get in the way?
How can I enjoy the moment fully?
How can I focus more of my attention on the subtle and simple moments all around me?
After all, what is the point of life if you don’t know how to ENJOY it? If you don’t know how to take advantage of an opportunity? If you don’t know how to let loose? If you don’t know how to be spontaneous, curious, and flexible? If you don’t know how to let go of your expectations, worries, and agendas, and just enjoy the moment the way it is?
The truth is, we all have to slow down. We have to get out of our heads. And we have to get in touch with our surroundings. We have become so disconnected from LIFE, that we don’t know how to enjoy simple moments and simple things. We expect life to be a certain way in order for us to be happy, but when it doesn’t work out the way we want, we worry and stress.
Why does our happiness depend on outside circumstances? Life just happens, and it is not here to hurt us or to purposely throw obstacles in our way. Life just IS. …
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