Does Your Life Need Some Shaking Up?

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Last Valentine’s Day, I gave my wife Melissa a book called The Adventure Challenge (Couples Edition). In it are loads of ideas for activities we can do together, and the secret sauce is that you pick the adventure before knowing what it is.

You decide on one based on symbols that are next to each that indicate whether you’ll need money for the challenge, how much time it’ll take, if it’s indoors or outdoors, etc.

Once you choose, you scratch off the silver coating (just like a scratch off ticket) to reveal what you’ll be doing.

Our first one was a walk at a park where we were to hold hands for 15 minutes and walk in complete silence.

We headed off to a nature trail and quietly ventured into the woods.

When we passed a small pond and I saw a string of adorable turtles lining the branch in the water, I wanted to call out to her. Instead, I stayed in the moment with myself and admired their sunbathing skills.

When we had to step over a downed tree in our path, Melissa went first and as I approached she raised our clasped hands up to help guide me over it.

Melissa and I have been together a long time and are totally comfortable sitting or walking in silence together, but there was something about the challenge that made things feel different.

While that quarter of an hour felt long, when it was done, the rest of our walk was amplified. We were more present, excited, and connected. It was strange and awesome at the same time.

What prompted me to buy this book was a desire to mix things up a bit. We had gotten into a routine and needed some nudging to wake our lives up.

Stale energy is a dream killer. It’s nearly impossible for change to happen without doing something different. If you want a happy and fulfilling life, ya gotta shake off the cobwebs, amiright?

That can be tough to do when you’re not sure what you’re even shaking them off for. What does your “happy and fulfilled life” entail?

When I ask this of my clients or students, I’m often met with, “Uh, I have no idea.”

So to help you get the wheels turning, on a scale of 1-10, how happy would you say you are in the following areas?

• Home
• Health
• Community
• Friends
• Career

Any surprises?

Which ones are going along swimmingly?

Which have the thickest layer of dust?

Don’t think about how you’re going to clean it yet. Just start by recognizing which ones need your attention. Then you can brainstorm what you can do to improve it.

And if you discover that every area is covered in energetic dust, don’t fret. By working on one, all the others will benefit.

I challenge you to take a few minutes and consider what would make you feel over-the-moon happy, and compare that to how closely it matches your life now.

Even if they’re worlds apart, it’s ok. You can get there — one small step at a time. For reals.

Life is unpredictable, precious, and short. Make this year different. No more “someday” living for you.

If you want some more help and don’t yet have my free workbook, Your Joy Audit? Grab your copy here: https://kerririchardson.com/joyauditworkbook.