#goodlifeproject

Finding My Inner Spark

Recently, I’ve been feeling kind of overwhelmed and having more trouble juggling life. The summer time is always a lot busier for me in regards to social plans and travel, and working for the travel industry, it’s also the busiest time of the year at work. Since Campbell and I moved to Newton Center, I left my regular gym and am having trouble fitting exercise as regularly into my new…

Recently I’ve started listening to podcasts. The first podcast that I came across that really inspired me was Pursuit with Purpose. The host is Melyssa Griffin, a successful entrepreneur who helps others find success in their businesses and life. (Peep her website and learn more: http://www.melyssagriffin.com/). In each episode she interviews other entrepreneurs who share their secrets to happiness, success, and purpose. My absolute favorite portion of each episode is when she asks her guests to share how they bring meaning to their lives.

The point of this blog to recap episodes, share my thoughts, and stroll down the road of happiness. Unfortunately, I’ve missed place the notes from the first few episodes but once I find them, I’ll definitely recap. But for now.. I’m recapping Episode 05: “The 3 Most Important Factors for Having a Great Life”. This week’s guest was Jonathan Fields an author and the founder of Good Life Project (ironically, another podcast that I started listening to prior to this episode). He started out as an attorney, opened his own wellness center, and now owns his own yoga studio. This yogi has some great advice and I’m so happy to recap it for you all. 

First and foremost, he emphasizes the importance of doing what feels good and meaningful for you. Rather than following the path that others think you should take or that you feel pressured to go down, take the path that feels right. Ask yourself “who am I?” and “what lights me up?”. If you’re struggling to answer these questions, try new things. Maybe they’ll work out, maybe they won’t. However, it’s all about your mindset. Even if it’s a bad experience, take it as an experiment, think about the lessons you’ve learned and how this will benefit you in the future. As long as you take something out of the experience, chalk it up as a win. You can learn from everything. He suggests that you look at new experiences like new relationships. In the beginning you’re exploring and learning, this is the same with experiences as it is in relationships. Most of us cherish our relationships, but we fail to cherish our experiences. He also discusses the “three buckets“ of life that he believes help foster a happy, fulfilled life. These include contribution, connection, and vitality. Contribution is bringing your gifts to the world, connection is focusing on relationships, and vitality focusing on mind and body. For more info on the three buckets: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-26701/3-buckets-to-a-meaningful-life-contribution-connection-vitality.html 

Other great advice featured in this episode: 

GET A PLANT, something green changes your psych. 

Take a quick skim everyday and wok on what you’re missing of the three buckets (again - contribution, connection, and vitality).

Try breathing exercises and mindfulness. Become more mindful and less reactive. 

Know yourself 

Some questions that he suggests you ask yourself: 

Who am I?

What do I care about?

What are my sparks? What lights me up?

What are my values?

What matters?

Last but not least, he suggests taking action. This was probably the most important piece that I took out of the whole episode. TAKE ACTION towards a meaningful life, reflect and answer the questions, follow the advice, but most importantly, do what YOU want to do. Do what lights YOU up. 

All-in-all, a great episode that I strongly suggest listening to. I also plan on checking out Jonathan Fields’ book, How to Live a Good Life. If you’ve read it, please let me know how you liked it. I’ll definitely be sharing my review once I’m done.

What I’ve taken out of this episode is to take action, and to ask myself these questions. But I’ve also realized the important of podcasts and how I thoroughly enjoy them. So that’s my personal advice for you, check out a podcast. Let me know what you’ve tried.