As I peered at my son, feeling both exhausted and impressed, I watched his ever-curious self sojourn from the living room into the kitchen once more; to touch every handle, on every drawer, and peer into the infinite possibilities each shelf possessed. He had no pre-conceived notions about what he might find. He was in the hunt, for the hunt itself was the adventure. Each kitchen item he found was equally valuable, whether it be a 50 cent spoon or a $100 gadget. They were all useful, new and unique to him in some way or another. Some could be bitten, some could be drummed upon and some would make his parents jump up and grab him! The undeniable truth he exemplified was that endless curiosity equates to joy, fends off complacency and leads to a good nights rest.
If only we could bottle that seemingly inexhaustible energy store, and beautifully intellectual curiosity for indefinite use. We find this in flare-ups throughout our adult lives. When the solar swells within us ignite beyond smolder to solve an interesting problem, help someone better themselves, or embark on an adventure. Those energizing events turn into our most fond memories. Items we draw motivation from during moments of reflection. During those valleys where our energy has waned and we’ve become complacent, sidetracked or overwhelmed. This leads to an inquiry, how might we limit those periods of latency? What aspects of life keep us curious, engaged and empowered?
Starting with our considerable individuality can help us answer those questions. Activities that put you in a flow state (Credit Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) are unique to you. The combination of activities that help you reach peak curiosity, keep you engaged on a consistent basis and enlighten you at a soulful level are the treasure. They are the ticket, the ride and the destination. The peaceful and refreshing seconds, hours or days that fill you up. You can uncover your list by asking these questions: what parts of my routine do I always come back to? What parts of my routine never fall off indefinitely? What do I come back to weekly, monthly or annually? Those are your must have’s, the purpose and pleasure in your life. One you’ve identified your list, which is a perpetual fluid search, then you must devise ways to protect those activities at all costs. In doing so, therein lies the best chance of limiting the soulless periods which we feel as if we are floating on by without care or responsibility to ourselves. It is our own greatest responsibility in life to make sure we, as consistently as possible, do what comes most naturally suited to our essence. Here’s a recent lived example, after my Wife Taylor and I had our Son, the free time where one of us was solo dwindled rapidly. That’s the reality for involved-loving parents, not a complaint. The one daily or 4-5 days per week activity i could protect, and chose that I had to protect, was exercise-weightlifting. It’s been an essential part of me, of my energy management, since I began playing sports decades ago. After more than two days off I become more easily agitated, increasingly anxious and less hopeful. I simply had to protect that half hour for myself. Those are the types of activities that fend off your lesser self from evolving, that stave off negativity and fight off demons.
Action Request:
Leave room for yourself to thrive by embracing infant-like curiosity. Identify, nurture and protect the parts of your periodic routine that refresh your spirit. Experience the joy that they bring and that good nights rest seeped in your fullness.