Over the past week I’ve had two “aha” moments letting me know that I must be doing something right.
There’s no doubt you’ve had a moment like this yourself. You know them because they stand out beyond a shadow of a doubt. Amidst all of the days that you may feel something’s missing – that something isn’t quite right, and that you should be doing something else, those moments that “click” are blatantly obvious.
I believe the key to living a happy and fullfilled life isn’t by developing some master plan – it isn’t hiring a life coach to tell you how to put your best foot forward – it isn’t even me writing a blog post encouraging you to make things happen. At the end of the day, it’s about capturing the moments that make you feel most alive, figuring out what it is about them that have such an impact, and finding a way to pursue those things every day of your life.
Right now, you may not know what those “alive-est” moments are. But as you continue reading, think about one moment that you felt something in the pit of your stomach that felt inherently “right”. It doesn’t have to be “that one time you climbed Mt. Everest”. Most of the time, they’re little things that have a huge impact. Here are two I’ve experienced recently:
1) My wife and I spent the weekend house-hunting.
About a month ago we hadn’t even started thinking about buying a home together – but after doing the research, talking things over with friends, and looking at our finances, we started getting serious about the hunt.
At the risk of being premature, we found a house this weekend that we loved – and while we’re not becoming too attached (because of course nothing is a done-deal) as we looked through the house, we started talking about how we would decorate, which room would be our son/daughter’s (and no, we’re not expecting any little one’s any time soon) – and had mature “adult” conversations with friends about the school zones in the area…
In short, it felt right. It felt perfect. And when you know, you know. I’m not even talking about that specific house – I’m talking about the decision to start looking for a home, the decision my wife and I made over a year ago to spend the rest of our lives together, our unconditional love. It was re-affirmed in that moment. For the rest of the day, we couldn’t stop smiling (hint: smiling is a tell-tale sign that you’re doing something right).
2) I was putting together a couch from Ikea.
And I broke it. Okay, well it was a little broke before I broke it more, so it wasn’t entirely my fault.
I spent the afternoon scrubbing down my new office space, putting together furniture, and getting some things situated. No, cleaning and putting Ikea furniture together isn’t my idea of a “good time” and no, there wasn’t anything particularly glamorous about feeling like a dumb-ass as I stared blankly at the “easy” picture-only instructions Ikea gives you for putting things together…
But I couldn’t help but feel an extreme level of satisfaction as I screwed each leg onto a piece or furniture. This was my couch in my office. One that I’d sit on with clients that I earned, that had fully invested into a business that was built from the ground up through hard work.
It was a moment where it all came together. One that reminded me that I love what I do. That I never expected to be where I am a couple years ago, but that I was here, and that I was doing it.
It also reminded me that I’ve made the right decision. That I literally could not be any happier with the work I do and the people I work with.
It’s this “alive-est” feeling that drives and motivates me. It motivates you. When deciding if a potential client is someone you want to work with, when wondering if today is the day you should quit your day job, or when taking the leap and asking someone you love to spend of the rest of their life with you, think about the moments that make you feel the most alive.
If what you’re thinking about doing aligns with what you want to be doing, you should be doing it. And yes, it really is that simple.
What makes you feel most alive? Write it below, and find a way to make it a part of your daily life every day, starting today.