Category: Enjoying The Journey

…Is often a question I’ll ask myself after an incredible music show.

But, the answer—as it is for most things in life—is that too much of a good thing can turn even that incredible thing into a bad thing.

If I was to go to music shows multiple times a week or even every weekend—I’d stop appreciating them as much.

It’s an observation I even made last night when listening to that legendary 2-hour set by two of the world’s best DJs: what makes them so great wasn’t just the banger after banger after banger song choice… it was the tension they expertly built throughout the show.

They knew how to build your excitement and anticipation… hold you in that peaked state… leave you levitating and wondering and anxious for what’s next… and then drop the banger of a track that gave you that euphoric release.

…And then they do it again.

But without the build… you don’t get the same feeling because there’s not really a drop.

And that’s what the space in between does for you in life: it allows your excitement, anticipation, and curiosity to build.

So that when you reach that peaked state and are levitating and just on the brink of being able to experience whatever it is in full… you are properly primed for a completely satisfying drop.

While at a music show this past weekend, I was chatting with a guy about how incredible our spot was… we were literally leaning onto the stage a few feet away from the artists performing.

And he yelled back into my ear (it was really loud)—“It’s one of my mantras, man! Everything always works out more perfectly than I ever could’ve planned!”

And he proceeded to tell me how he embraces this mantra as much as he can in his daily life.

…Only just enough planning and leaning into the magic of the universe for the rest.

And I really liked that.

Because it’s almost a guarantee that things won’t go exactly according to plan—it might as well be a law of nature. And if you expected everything to—then your day will be ruined when it doesn’t.

…But if you planned just enough to cover the major bases, and leaned into serendipity and spontaneous opportunity for the rest, then if/when things go “wrong,” THAT will be what you were expecting anyway, and you’ll be too busy navigating your “perfect” night in real time to even care or notice.

What are you working so hard for?

…Is it for your family? Is it for fancy cars and clothes? Is it for travel and entertainment?

Here’s the thing: once you answer this question honestly… it’s important to recognize the “ends” even while you’re in the midst of your “means.”

In other words, if you’re working so hard for your family, then recognize the moments you have with them—when you’re not working—for what they are: the fruits of your labor.

And the same is true when you’re traveling or relaxing or making an exciting purchase… recognize it as the fruit. Don’t let “labor” contaminate its taste. Savor the bites along the way.

And keep a healthy regiment of enjoying your fruit regularly.

Fruit goes bad when it’s left unattended for too long. And eating a mountain of fruit later in life isn’t nearly as good as enjoying your fruit each day along the way.

1. Alignment: Make sure you’re aligned with whatever it is you’re serious about and working really hard at. If you’re playing a sport to please your parents (because they’re living vicariously though you) or you’re practicing law because a younger you thought it would pay a lot of money (turns out, you also have to pay a lot in stress and time committed)—then obviously, it’s not going to be fun because you’re not doing the thing for you. See maybe you don’t align with the sport your parents are pushing you to play… but, you do find yourself drawn to a different sport or can’t help but doodle and draw when you’re passing time. Doing things because you enjoy the means is play… doing things because of a specific end is work. Prioritize doing more of the things you would do even if you weren’t being paid to do them—things that maybe you’re even paying to do. Enjoying the means is the crux to having fun.

2. Prioritize play: Once you’re in alignment, the second part is to give yourself permission to not take yourself so seriously and be more playful. Being playful is a mindset and a skill that’s developed just like any other muscle. Maybe you joke more or answer questions in silly ways or smile in the midst of busyness or cheer somebody up who’s beating themself up or model taking responsibility in a more lighthearted way… Ultimately, this step isn’t something that should require too much conscious effort… it’s something that should naturally arise when you’re aligned and you’ve given yourself permission to do so.

Close your eyes and bring to mind your favorite moment from yesterday…

Now bring to mind your favorite moment from last week…

And then bring to mind your favorite moment from last month…

And keep going back for a year… maybe two… maybe ten…

It’s impossible to know for sure what your favorite moment of tomorrow will be.

Or from next week, next month, or over the next few years…

But one thing is for sure… your favorite moments from your past are excellent indicators as to what might lead to favorite moments in your future.

Maybe not in an identical way… but at the very least in a way that rhymes.

…Trust the rhythm of your life.