Tricking Yourself into Joy

Have you ever had to trick yourself into trying something? 

Maybe you had to trick yourself into learning Ballet as an adult. ‘I’ll just do it for the exercise, you think. Barre really tones your muscles. 

Or maybe you picked up painting or the violin or figure skating. 

And you gave yourself all the adult reasons you should do it. 

Stress relief

Relaxation

Exercise

Keeping Neural Plasticity. 

Maybe you’re like me. Because that’s what I had to do with writing. I’ll just do it for fun, I thought. Stress relief. Process all those emotions. It’ll really help my anxiety if I give my imagination something to work on aside from impending humiliation or death. 

But I can admit the truth now, here just between me and you. 

I did it because it leaves me breathless and elated. I did it because writing–with all its frustrations, is still something I love. I am enchanted with the lives and heartaches of people that don’t exist. 

I don’t write because it’s the adult thing to do. 

I write because it makes my soul wake up. 

In the years since I began writing again, I’ve finally been able to face the truth. 

I love writing. And it may never make me famous, or earn me a dime. But it is still important. It is still worth my time. 

Because if I can say at the end of my life that I gave myself the time and freedom to do something I loved–I can’t see how I could regret that. 

So maybe it’s time to give yourself some permission, too.

Learn Ballet. 

Pick up a violin. 

Return to the dream you had as a child when the world was filled with possibility. 

And if you’re not ready for that yet?

Try tricking yourself into it. 

It will be worth it. I promise. 

Joy always is.