Do you notice a spark of energy and excitement when you get out of your regular routine, whether it is for a special event or for a vacation. Even if it’s something as simple as going to a new place for dinner or visiting a location that is very different than where you live, it seems you get a special spark from the “newness”…
How about when you start something new… a hobby, a sport, a project, a job… whatever.. Have you noticed you feel so energized, juiced and excited about it? Especially, at the start of it. You have this new sense of purpose.
The more you generate excitement in life, whether from something new or from following your sense of purpose (or both), the more you feel you’re living life fully.
And the opposite happens when you are not living life fully, when you’re stuck in a rut of the same ole’ same ole’ or not doing anything that feels purposeful. You feel drained and low energy. Your life is lacking excitement and purpose.
There are many reasons this can happen. Here are 10 things that can pull us into this fatigued state of going through the motions in life and keep us from living life fully… along with tips to avoid these pitfalls.
1. Fear
Fear is probably the biggest reason many of us do not always live our lives fully. Especially if you are doing something new, it can be intimidating and scary. If you allow the fear to stop you from doing something you know you really want to do, you are allowing that fear to keep you from living your life fully.
When you overcome that fear, you feel energized and excited. If you feel fear, you may want to take that as a sign you’re doing something that will stretch you. Feel the fear and do it anyway!
2. Television
That might seem silly to some. However, I contend that watchingothers either pretend to live or watching them actually live (in the case of reality TV) is NOT living your life fully. I have never in my life heard people discussing television shows as much as I hear them now. I believe it is the ultimate distraction from living… and we all fall into that at times. I know I do. Being conscious of the time you spend with TV and limiting your TV time will give you more time to actually live.
What can you do to relax instead of chilling in front of TV?
3. Clutter
Ok, this one probably seems strange. How does “stuff” have anything to do with living fully? Well, being overwhelmed by too much stuff in your physical environment can make you feel overwhelmed in general. About a decade ago, I shifted into a more minimalist lifestyle and realized how much energy “stuff” really takes up.
Every item in our space is something we need to take care of or maintain in some way. It’s taking up space and energy life. If it’s something I use or love, it adds to my live. Otherwise, it’s most likely taking away from it.
Getting rid of excess clutter can help free up time and energy to enjoy the things that really matter.
4. Resentment
Holding on to feelings of resentment toward people you feel have wronged you can distract you from living life fully. People say or do things that can be hurtful. I believe, in most cases, that’s done unintentionally. You’ve probably even said or done something that was hurtful to someone else, and you might not even realize you’ve done it. Maybe you were having a bad day or you were busy and you brushed someone off… maybe it hurt their feelings and you didn’t even realize you did anything. You were simply distracted. Of course, that’s just one scenario.
In any case, people don’t usually hurt you on purpose and if they do, it’s likely because they are hurting themselves and it just comes out that way. Feeling resentment towards someone for hurting you, actually only hurts you more. Resentment is like drinking poison and expecting it to hurt the other person.
If you find you are having difficulty letting those types of feelings go, one thing you can do is write a letter to get them out, then burn it, flush it or mail it to Santa Claus. Whatever works for you to feel what you feel, then just let it go.
5. Judgment
Spending your time and energy in judgment of others can keep you from living your life fully. You will never have a complete understanding of another person’s motivations because you are not in their shoes. If you find yourself thinking or saying that another person “should” or “should not” do something or do it a certain way, you are judging them. They are not necessarily wrong for doing things differently and you are wasting yourself by attempting to force your ways upon them.
Again, this ultimately only hurts you. Let go of your judgments of others and accept them for who they are. This will free you to live your life more fully.
6. Wallowing in Lethargy
When you feel low in energy and unmotivated, the worst thing you can do is give into it for an extended period of time. The longer you stay inactive, the less motivated you will be to become more active.
Activity energizes you. If you are feeling unmotivated to do anything, get out and do something!
7. Chaos
When your life is too hectic and chaotic, it can keep you from living life fully. No matter what your circumstances are, be sure to always take time out for you. Whenever you are able to, simplify your life. Get creative with this if you need to. You might be able to simplify more than you think.
Regardless of how difficult it is for you to simplify, always take at least a few minutes for yourself every day. Self care is not selfish… it’s necessary. Otherwise, what is the point of it all?
8. Drama
Do I even need to elaborate? Drama is pointless and petty. Kindly refuse to participate in it and focus on love instead. If you tend to be a drama magnet or even just a drama enabler, it can take some practice to stop. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it so easy.
Make a choice… “I don’t do drama” and live life more fully instead.
9. Guilt
Guilt is essentially resentment toward yourself for things you have done to “wrong” others… or yourself. The reasons this keeps you from living life fully are basically the same as for resentment.
If you really feel you have wronged someone and want to make up for it somehow, do what you can to do so if you believe it will truly make the situation better. If there is no way to do that directly or doing so will make things worse, write a letter to get it all out & get rid of the letter in a way that helps you let it go.
Forgive yourself and live life fully.
10. Feeling You Don’t Deserve It
If you find yourself in constant patterns of not living life fully, it could be that you have a subconscious (or conscious) belief that you don’t deserve to life life fully. We all deserve it. Focus on the reasons you deserve it. Write them down. Look at them daily.
What are you doing (or not doing) that is keeping you from living fully? What do you do that IS you living fully? Share you’re story.
Life is a journey and I repeatedly remind myself to enjoy that journey!