What if we could view life as a dance - a journey where we immerse ourselves in dancing simply to dance?
In this episode, Natalie and Karla talk about the pressure we put on ourselves to achieve, which can often steal enjoyment from the activities we pursue (whether it’s dancing or something else!). They discuss ways in which they're both aiming to get healthier and how too much of a competitive streak has gotten in the way of their goals. They also talk about activities that they're both pursuing in order to learn and practice enjoying the process without an outcome or achievement in mind.
Key takeaways:
- Not everything we do in life is always going to be fun, but it's important to become aware of the ways in which we steal enjoyment from ourselves as we pursue goals and activities we like
- Use the 80/20 rule: if 80% of the activity is enjoyable, don't throw in the towel (i.e., give up on what you're doing) simply because 20% of it isn't as enjoyable
- Creative work takes time and effort, but it's important to look at the big picture of why we're pursuing our goals
- Life is not about the destination, but rather, it's a dance. "The point is not to finish the dance, but to dance" - Alan Watts
- Questions to ponder:
- What activities can you immerse yourself in purely for the enjoyment of the activity versus the outcome or reward of it?
- When do you notice yourself stealing enjoyment from the activities you’re pursuing? Why do you think you do it?
- As you pursue various goals, what will help you feel supported to keep things fun? For example, would an accountability partner help?
Resources:
Alan Watts Organization: https://www.instagram.com/alanwattsorg/
