Yes, we’re living in fast paced life and that leaves us often busy. Stressed. Overbooked and often overlooked – even by yourself. How often do you do something for the pleasure of it? Growing up, you may have enjoyed painting, swimming, chess, or playing the piano.What happened to all those aspects of you?
These are often only distant, sunny memories. Yet, you might be walking by your guitar, art supplies or running shoes a couple of times a day. It takes a shift to realize that these things won’t spontaneously become part of your life again. If you’re already tired, it seems counterintuitive, or actively repellent, to pull out sheet music and sit down on the piano bench, or to set up a canvas and brushes, or to pull on those sneakers.
Those who exercise regularly, know the indescribable lift that a short walk or run gives, especially on days when they didn’t feel like it. For the rest of us, you’ll have to test this out by trying it.
7 Steps to the real you:
Try these steps to get back into something about you that has been loved and lost. You’ll be a much happier person for it…
1. Pick your favorite, long missed activity.
2. What do you need to get started? Perhaps sign up for lessons or get a piano tuner, or new paint and brushes, or new sneakers.
3. Make a schedule. How much time can you reasonably commit to this? You’ll be amazed at how much difference a daily half hour makes over time. Then make a firm commitment to do this activity. You wouldn’t cancel an appointment with your boss or a client, so why not treat yourself with the same respect?
4. Let a friend know what you’re going to be doing, and ask them to follow up with you.
5. Keep a brief journal of how it felt the first seven times you did it. Keeping brief notes is important, so when you get busy again, the activity doesn’t as easily fall to the wayside. We sometimes don’t really acknowledge the effects of an activity on our mood. This step allows you to have a concrete record in your diary about these effects and then remain committed to giving this to yourself.
6. Once you’ve established a rhythm and a level of comfort, considering sharing this activity with others. Would a monthly painting group, swim team or running session make it more fun and help you maintain your motivation over the long haul?
7. Buy a biography of someone who was a master in the field – Michael Phelps, Frida Kahlo, Tiger Woods, Hillary Clinton. Reading about their commitment and struggles may put you in touch with the passion you both share.
Many times the people who live the most fully are those who’ve suffered the most loss, or even nearly lost their own lives. It’s very easy for the rest of us to get caught up in meaningless rushing through life. Remind yourself that life isn’t endless. Choose to let yours be filled with activities and passion that give your life meaning. Now you can savor every possible moment.
I found step 5 particularly useful. Keeping a journal can really help reinforce the positive effects of an activity.
The article makes a convincing argument for reintroducing joyful activities into our lives. It’s a needed reminder in our fast-paced world.
I appreciate the structured steps provided here. It makes the process seem manageable for anyone looking to re-engage with old hobbies.
Agreed. Sometimes we just need a little nudge in the right direction, and these steps seem quite practical.
This article provides a detailed approach to rekindling long-lost passions. It’s a great reminder that we need to prioritize ourselves amidst our busy lives.
Many of us do indeed get caught up in the rush of life. This piece offers practical advice on how to take a step back and reclaim some happiness.
The idea of treating an activity as an appointment is interesting. It might help in prioritizing personal interests better.
It’s a useful metaphor. If we can keep commitments to others, we should be able to do the same for ourselves.
Exactly. Self-respect often gets overlooked, and this approach can bring it back into focus.
Reading biographies to find inspiration is a wonderful suggestion. Learning about others’ journeys can really ignite one’s own passion.
I wonder how many people have successfully tried these steps and maintained long-term engagement with their hobbies.
True. Real-life examples could provide additional motivation and insights into the process.
Good point. It would be interesting to see some success stories or follow-up articles on this topic.