Shape Up The Best YOU Can Possible Be: Rediscover Your Joy and Thrive

Yes, life’s a wild ride. It’s like we’re all spinning plates—career, family, errands—and sometimes the only plate we let fall is the one that’s just for us. We spend so much time in the fast lane—dodging traffic, hitting deadlines, checking emails, and mindlessly scrolling social media—that we often overlook the person we’re really here for: ourselves. I’m talking about that side of you that used to strum guitar strings with wild abandon, get lost in an art project, or jog around the block until your worries were left eating your dust.

Sound familiar? Maybe your favorite old hobbies are like dusty heirlooms shoved in the attic—memories of another time when you gave yourself permission to just be. You walk past those paintbrushes, the piano, the long-forgotten soccer ball in the garage, and sigh. “Someday,” you promise yourself, but someday keeps getting swallowed by today’s never-ending to-do list.

I’m here to tell you—no more “somedays.” Let’s dig those dreams out of storage and dust them off. Let’s shape up the best you can possible be. Because here’s the thing: if we don’t, we risk becoming nothing more than tired, frazzled versions of ourselves—stuck in a rut, replaying the same dull script. Let’s flip that script.

Why Shape Up?

Imagine your spirit like a garden. If you don’t water it, pull weeds, and plant new seeds, it’ll dry up. Same goes for your soul. When you pour your energy into things that fill you up, you bloom. Simple as that. Reconnecting with those joyful parts of you is like giving yourself a shot of adrenaline on the days when you’d rather curl up and watch TV.

Research shows hobbies can reduce stress, improve mood, and even make us physically healthier. In other words, your hobbies aren’t frivolous—they’re lifelines. The same way an athlete trains for a race, we can train our spirits to feel alive again.

The 7 Steps to Shape Up The Best You Can Possible Be

I’m not talking about becoming a superhuman overnight. I’m talking about finding the lost puzzle pieces of who you were always meant to be—and weaving them back into your life, one small step at a time.

1. Pick Your Long-Lost Love
   Think back. What used to light you up inside? Maybe you loved sketching cartoons on the back of your math notebook. Maybe you were a karaoke queen, belting out songs in the shower. Whatever it was, pick something that made you feel like you were you—not a job title or a parent or a to-do list checker.

Don’t overthink it. Pick what tugs at your heart the most, not what seems the most practical.

2. Dust Off the Tools
   To make this dream real, you need tools—literally. If it’s painting, buy fresh paints and canvas. If it’s running, lace up those sneakers (or treat yourself to new ones—it’s amazing how that little upgrade can spark motivation).

Sometimes you’ll need to invest a bit. If your piano’s out of tune, book a tuner. If you haven’t touched your hiking boots in years, maybe it’s time for a new pair. Think of it as planting the first seed.

3. Schedule It Like a VIP Meeting
   I know—life’s busy. But here’s the hard truth: if you don’t schedule this, it’ll stay a dream forever. Block out a chunk of time on your calendar and treat it like an appointment you can’t miss.

Would you cancel a meeting with your boss? No? Then why cancel on yourself? Even 30 minutes a day can be life-changing. That’s just one episode of Netflix, and you’re worth more than passive entertainment.

4. Phone a Friend
   Accountability is a game-changer. Tell a buddy what you’re doing. Have them check in on you: “Hey, did you paint today?” or “How was your run this morning?”

You’re way less likely to back out when someone else knows your goal. Plus, it can spark some healthy competition or camaraderie.

5. Keep a Journal—Even Just for a Week
   Here’s where the magic happens: write down how you feel each time you do your chosen activity. Doesn’t have to be poetic—just honest. “Felt clumsy at first, but by the third time, I was grinning ear to ear.” Or “I didn’t want to go for that walk, but it lifted my mood in ways coffee never could.”

These tiny notes are your breadcrumb trail back to yourself. When you hit a wall, they’ll remind you why you started.

6. Bring In the Crew
   Once you’re in a groove, find ways to share the joy. Maybe there’s a local painting group or a karaoke night in town. Or invite friends to join you on a weekend hike. When you share what you love, you keep the fire alive—and you might inspire someone else to dust off their own forgotten passions.

7. Find a Hero’s Tale
   Here’s a fun trick: read about someone who crushed it in your hobby. If you’re a swimmer, dive into Michael Phelps’ story. If it’s art, learn about Frida Kahlo’s unstoppable spirit. These stories remind us that even the greats had off days, setbacks, and self-doubt—but they showed up anyway.

Bouncing Back from Burnout

Here’s a confession: I once thought hobbies were a luxury I didn’t have time for. But burnout doesn’t ask for permission—it just shows up, uninvited. I hit that wall hard. It was like my soul had a flat tire, and no amount of coffee could fix it.

What pulled me out? Picking up my old guitar. Strumming those first out-of-tune notes felt clumsy and awkward. But by the end of that first song, my spirit felt ten pounds lighter. I realized: hobbies aren’t optional. They’re oxygen for our souls.

Examples of Shape Up Success Stories

Let’s bring it home with some real-life stories—because this isn’t just theory.

• My friend Tara used to doodle in every notebook she owned. She got busy—kids, work, chores—and stopped drawing. But she picked it up again recently and told me, “I didn’t realize how much it made me feel like me. Now I sketch for 20 minutes every night before bed. My sleep is better, my stress is down, and my kids are even joining me at the kitchen table.”

• There’s Marcus, who thought his running days were over when he hit 40. He started again slowly—just a jog around the block. Three months later? He’s doing 5ks every weekend, and he’s never felt stronger.

• And then there’s Lila, a piano teacher who stopped playing for herself because she was so busy teaching. One day, she decided to play just for her soul—no students, no pressure. Now, she says her joy is contagious, and her teaching has never felt more authentic.

Why We Stop—And Why We Shouldn’t

Why do we abandon these things we love? Part of it is survival—life’s demands crowd out what feels “extra.” But it’s also fear. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of starting over.

But remember this: your worth isn’t measured by how well you do something. It’s measured by how much of yourself you pour into it. If your painting looks like a three-year-old’s masterpiece, so what? It’s yours, and it’s beautiful because it’s real.

Choosing Passion Over Perfection

So here’s the big takeaway: don’t chase perfection. Chase passion. Let your activities be messy, silly, or downright terrible—because at the end of the day, they’re yours.

When you choose to show up for yourself—when you shape up the best you can possible be—you’re making a promise to your soul. You’re saying, “I matter. My joy matters.”

Final Thought

Life’s too short to live on autopilot. Shape up the best you can possibly be. Dust off those hobbies, block out that time, and pour your heart into what you love—clumsy notes, messy brush strokes, wobbly first steps, and all.

It’s not about being the best. It’s about feeling alive.