I don’t know about you but the past couple of years have been, shall we say, interesting if not a tad challenging at times. With another year coming to an end, I’ve begun to realize that my excitement for life has been subdued. I can blame this on a number of things and as hard as I 've tried not to, I have lost sight of the magic that makes every day exciting.
It’s very easy to lose your zest for life when you’re feeling emotionally exhausted, burned out, or have been dealing with health issues. When you’re living a life not aligned with your truth, you run the risk of draining all your energies. And, when your life becomes all work and no play, you become a dull Jack (or Jane) indeed!
Lately, as I reflect on my life this year, I’ve not only been missing FUN but also been trying to figure out how to make my daily existence more exciting. If you’re in the same boat and want to make positive changes in your life, read on. I’m sharing seven powerful ways to make your life exciting again!
1. Take Responsibility for Joy
No one else is responsible for making your life exciting. Only you can do that and this means taking responsibility for finding the joy and excitement every day can bring you. This means tackling those beliefs you own and identifying what's stopping you from experiencing an exciting life full of fun and happiness.
Ask yourself what thoughts you have about excitement. Some examples can be:
Do you believe excitement is only possible if someone or something else creates it for you?
If there’s sorrow, disappointments, or other challenges in your life, does this mean there can no longer be any joy?
My life will only be exciting when I am doing what I really want to do (this often happens to people who feel stuck in a situation such as a job they hate.)
When you’ve identified your thoughts about living an exciting life, ask yourself, “Am I giving my power away or not?” By taking back your personal power, you’re claiming back joy. By replacing negative thoughts with empowering beliefs, you're halfway there to transform your life!
I promised to share powerful ways to bring back excitement into your life but working with your belief system isn’t always that easy! A life coach can help you here.
2. Hire a Life Coach
Okay, I have to bring this one in because being the passionate life coach that I am, I know how empowering coaching programs can be. Deciding to hire a life coach to get your zest for life back again is a clever step to take. Life coaches are equipped to give you practical tools that will empower you to make the changes you want to see in your own life. And, this includes simple ways of finding excitement again in your daily life,
A good life coaching program is exciting in itself and you’ll feel energized and positive about life again. You’ll not only get to tackle those thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back from living a joyful life. But, you’ll also discover what really matters to you and how to align your life with your personal truth.
And, yes, life coaches also go through slumps. After all, life is about peaks and valleys, ups and downs, sadness and joy. But, where we score, as life coaches, is that we’ve been equipped with the very tools you need to regain and rejuvenate your life again.
Instead of sitting in an unhappy place for too long, you can learn to respond to the situation in a positive way.
3. Make a List of Things That Make You Happy
Every client who comes through my life coaching program has to make a list of “50 Things that Make Me Happy” in the second session. By doing this exercise, you’re opening your mind up to the many ways you find happiness in your own life and you’ll often be surprised by what they are! My own list of happy things includes:
Playing with my dog
Having tea with my partner at the end of the day
Walking at sunrise
Watching the sunset
Enjoying a good cappuccino with my friends (and, of course, cake!)
Coaching and witnessing my clients thrive
Most often, the things that make you happy are simple and “ordinary.” But, you tend to discount them as being insignificant, forgetting very quickly the moments of joy they brought you at the time.
The power of having a list such as this is that whenever you need a dose of excitement a.k.a happiness, you can pick an activity and give yourself an instant boost.
4. Make FUN Compulsory Every Day
I’ve just finished reading “Money Success & You” by John Kehoe (for the hundredth time!) I was reminded of one chapter towards the end of his book simply titled “Fun.” John Kehoe is adamant we all need to include fun activities in our life – every day! In fact, he challenges everyone to do three fun activities throughout each day.
Now, for some people who work flat out every day, you may find this a scary thought and even irresponsible. Shouldn’t you be slaving away at your desk, eight to twelve hours a day? Isn’t that what life is actually all about? No, actually. And, if this is your modus operandi, then expect to burn out anytime soon!
Make having FUN compulsory every day. Either pick some activities off your list of things that make you happy and do them. Or, spend 10 minutes before you start your day and identify at least three ways you can add some excitement to your day. It could be as simple as sitting in the coffee shop and enjoying a delicious croissant instead of working through your lunch hour.
Read about John Kehoe's "Money Success & You" in my book review for creating an abundance mindset.
5. Have a Change of Scenery
Changing your scenery every now and then is a good way to give yourself a jolt of excitement. It could be deciding to explore a new local park in the area or booking a weekend away. Take a look around your environment and identify what still needs to be discovered. I’m always amazed at what our city and its surroundings have to offer us.
Taking a trip down the road to a new nursery always brings me great joy. I also get very excited about exploring weekend getaway places. And, making the trip opens my horizon beyond my home. Almost immediately, my soul revives and I’m bouncing around in happiness as I discover a new place.
It’s too easy to get stuck in a rut. We do our work, spend our evenings watching TV, and then we go to sleep. We go to the same restaurants every weekend and we visit the places we’ve visited the week before. While there’s certain comfort and safety in visiting familiar places, changing your scenery every now and then is a good way to up your daily excitement levels.
6. Talk to Strangers
One of the biggest challenges of the past few years was lockdown, social distancing, and wearing masks. While all were very necessary for curbing a nasty virus, these actions have limited our ability to connect with other humans. I believe even introverts started to miss out on engaging with other people!
Talking to strangers and discovering more about them is another way of making your life exciting. I’m very fortunate, in my field of work, to meet strangers on a regular basis. Granted, it’s been mostly online but it’s amazing how Zoom actually has kept most of us connected with people. It’s not ideal but, hey, who can be picky in times like these?
Make an effort to connect with people you don’t know. It could be a new neighbor who has moved into your area or a colleague you’ve never bothered to talk to before. If you take Uber, get to know the driver. I’ve met some fascinating people this way and love hearing their stories.
7. Have Courage to Do What You Want to Do
Too often we let other people dictate to us what we should or shouldn’t be doing. This stops you from doing what you really want to do because you worry about what they’ll think of you. Stop caring about what others think and just do it! Have courage and do what you want to do. Don’t be discouraged by what others want you to do and instead, chase what brings you joy.
This also brings me to the dangers of social media and comparison. By comparing our “not so exciting” lives with our friends who seem to be “living thrilling lives” we sometimes feel inadequate and boring. Be honest with yourself. Do you really want to be jumping out of a plane every weekend because your buddy has taken up skydiving? This may be exciting for him but your idea of fun could be going for a day hike instead or having a picnic in the local park with your dog and partner.
But, if the thought of skydiving really excites you too what’s stopping you? It’s all about being true to yourself and knowing what really brings you joy. And, taking responsibility for making your own life exciting. Be courageous, get out there, and do what makes you happy.
Watch 24-year-old Aaliyah Bailey talk about finding the courage to live her life aligned with her truth.
Final Thoughts
While being around certain people can make your day exciting or spending hours trawling your favorite mall, adding excitement to your life is your responsibility. Only you can choose what brings you joy and happiness. And, only you have the choice as to how often you experience excitement in your life.
So, why not choose to make everyday fun even if it is only that one cup of cappuccino? You’ll be amazed at how simple it really is once you get into the swing of it!
This post was originally published on November 11th, 2021. and updated on November 28th, 2021.