#102
Zoning In On What Brings You Joy
You know the look on the face of the researcher who has just made a huge discovery. They have devoted their life to a very particular specialty, and then discover something that rocks their world? Or the enthusiast talking about the thing they obsess over.
The sheer joy of that moment exudes their whole being. It is as if they’ve been lit up from the inside and can’t help but share that feeling. I saw it on the BBC yesterday when they reported on the discovery of the leg of a dinosaur they believe was killed the moment the giant asteroid struck earth. (see link below)
Wouldn’t it be nice to tap into that feeling ourselves? Well, we all can, and here’s how.
Some of us have that one thing we are passionate about. It might be medieval music, the Hittite empire, ornithology, first edition books, an orchidologist. For most of us it is more subtle, but the feeling is the same. When I think of my friends and family, I know cheese enthusiasts, gardeners, swing dancers, carpenters, bakers, wine connoisseurs, jigsaw puzzlers, book-lovers, nature nuts, amateur photographers.
These things aren’t our careers, but they light us up. So often we minimise them as hobbies, when actually they are the vehicle that bring us into relishing the moment. When doing them we touch on that sense of being enlightened.
Ways To Tap Into Joy
It’s not rocket science (unless rocket science does it for you!). Notice the things you are drawn to that bring you joy. Things that you get so immersed in you lose track of time. What coaches call being ‘in flow’. And do more of them.
- Notice those things that make you happy
- When life seems a little heavy, or if you just need a little burst of happiness, make the time to do one of them
- If something really calls to you consider taking it to another level. Maybe you could use your carpentry skills to create birdhouses. Or write a blog/post on wild mushrooms in your area, or favourite riverside runs, or unpasteurised cheeses. Who knows where it might lead? In my case I decided to put together a portfolio of my (amateur) photos and submit it to a gallery. It felt joyful to immerse myself in that kind of project.
If any of this speaks to you, and you would like a quick chat with me personally you can book a time using this link . Or simply contact me and suggest a time that suits you.
Here is the link to the BBC news video about the dinosaur leg and the asteroid.
