#VonWongDaily

A thought a day keeps my ideas from fading away.

Posts Tagged ‘joy’

152- Pebbles of concern

Having worries and concerns are part and parcel of the human condition.

Regardless of how much comfort, security, and #joy we accumulate, these doubts and problems always seem to find a way to seep in through the cracks of our subconscious mind.

But not all of our worries and concerns are made equal.

Some are valid, rational, and proportional to the different situations we face. While others, like a pebble in a shoe, are tiny, cause a disproportionate amount of discomfort, yet are easy to resolve.

The next time a tiny #worry emerges, don’t dismiss it; take note of it. If you observe it growing or re-occurring, address it sooner rather than later.

Trying to remove worry from our lives is near-impossible, but taking the time to identify and remove the small pebbles in our path can help make the #journey a lot more pleasant.

120- The Valerie Effect

My friend Valerie has the power to materialize #joy out of thin air.

For the last two weeks, we’ve been co-living together. Every time she spots me from across the room, she lets out a cry of delight, runs towards me, and wraps me in a massive bear hug as if we were reconnecting for the first time in decades.

It’s one of my favorite moments of the day, and the best part is that the entire experience is manufactured.

We simply made the #decision one day to greet each other with unbridled enthusiasm.

It makes me wonder: What other triggers can we plant in our lives to self-generate the feelings we crave?

119- Ego and creativity

Dogs don’t overthink when they get reunited with a loving owner.

Their whole body and being will radiate unconditional #joy as they rush over to express themselves.

On the other hand, we humans are more guarded with our expressions. We worry about how others interpret our actions, intentions, beliefs, or feelings and filter them accordingly. Sometimes this is necessary, but other times it keeps us from sharing our most beautiful skills and gifts with the world.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been taking and sharing photos within minutes of capturing them. A couple of years ago, it would have taken weeks if not months to deliver those same images. Not because I wasn’t technically capable of editing quickly, but because I cared too much about how the work reflected my talent and skill.

In other words, my #ego was getting in the way of delivering the best possible outcomes to those around me.

If dogs had egos, they would be more like cats. Which would you rather be?

81- Game of life

Nobody wants to play a game they know they’ll win 100% of the time. Guaranteed #success is not fun.

We want to play games that we have a fair chance at winning. And a good game is not defined by who wins or loses, but rather how enjoyable the challenge was.

Life is similar. All it requires is to shift our focus from the outcome of winning to the joy of playing.

Since we’re competing against no one but ourselves – the key is to play at the edge of our competence. To find that zone where we can confidently pursue our potential and find learning opportunities in failure.

Life is a game, we just need to remember to have fun.

#joy #play