“Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun. ”
Live Your Life:
My sister recently shared that I wasn't living my life. This shocked me because I've been actively engaged in a personal development journey for the past ten years. I thought I was on my way towards happiness and joy, only to realize that I wasn’t.
I wanted to ensure I didn't repeat the pattern from my childhood, where we were often blamed and held responsible for others' emotional well-being. Blaming others didn't make our childhood more enjoyable; it made it more miserable. I wanted to create a life of fun and fulfillment, so I took charge and sought support to change my mindset and life trajectory.
We have this idea of learning and growth that involves rigorous and uncomfortable discipline. Discipline is undoubtedly a part of the process, but we need to have fun while we’re at it.
MITT:
I enrolled in a 2.5-month Personal Growth Program with Mastery in Transformational Training (MITT). And in this program, we are working on a vision project. This project involves taking a huge goal and breaking it down into smaller and more manageable steps. I've seen similar processes in other training programs, but what was new is that part of the process involves celebrating our wins along the way, no matter how small. And unsurprisingly, this was the part that I struggled with the most.
As soon as I celebrated my wins, I noticed the joy and FUN in other areas of my life increased.
You could do something amazingly challenging, but what is the point if you don't allow yourself to feel good about it? And this is exactly how I had been living my life up to this point.
Climbing & Celebrating:
What do you think of when you think about climbing Mount Everest? I think of challenges, grit, exhaustion, resiliency, danger, etc.
At the moment, climbing a giant mountain peak isn't fun. Pulling something like this off takes a lot of attention and discipline. Here is what one hiker had to say about her experience:
"I feel like a zombie who has stumbled into heaven. At the summit, I truly feel on top of the world. A euphoria I cannot find anywhere else."- Lhakpa Sherpa, Business Insider
This woman went through hell and found heaven on the other side.
We tend to feel good after experiencing things that stretch us to our very cores. And that's what the personal development journey is like, too. There is joy and freedom on the other side, and having fun along the way and celebrating our growth makes this a trek worth taking!
My Uncelebrated Life:
I undervalued every major accomplishment in my life. I graduated from college, but I could've finished with a higher GPA or gotten a master's degree. I always explained why my accomplishments weren't impressive when they were. According to Excelencia, only 24% of Latinx adults earned an associate's degree or higher.
My college graduation is just one example of the many accomplishments that I didn't fully celebrate. Yes, my parents threw a big party to celebrate, but did I ever celebrate what I had accomplished in my heart and soul, or was I just there? Did I have fun? The answer is no because I didn't let myself.
The party wasn't about making myself better than others. It was about celebrating that I committed to something and completed the journey. It’s also about inspiring my younger cousins that if I could do it, they could do it, too!
P.S. This is also how you can show representation within your community. You could be opening the door for those younger than you.
Creating More Fun:
Bringing fun into your life starts with a simple concept called celebrating your wins!
It's easy to celebrate the big wins: birthdays, weddings, graduations, promotions, etc. Celebrating the "small wins" is challenging: I got out of bed and went to the gym. I had a difficult conversation with a friend. I spoke up for myself. These wins are important because they are how you get to the big milestones in life.
If all you did today was get out of bed, that's something to celebrate. Why? Because you are willing to get up and face the world no matter how tired or stressed you feel.
What small and joy-filled activity can you do to celebrate that you got out of bed today?
Do you see how this simple question can open your mind to create fun?
You're celebrating that you faced resistance, and facing resistance is 80% of the battle! And It's incredibly fun and fulfilling to come out on the other end of the resistance.
How to Celebrate:
The art of celebration is tricky. When it's our birthdays, what do we get? Presents! So, I started by buying myself things that supported my growth journey: supplements, a toothbrush, a book, and an air purifier. But, this was starting to get expensive.
I quickly learned that a celebration doesn't have to involve spending money. It could be a one-woman dance party, a cup of tea, a call to your best friend, a DIY facial, etc. The important thing is that it makes you smile.
Here's My Recent Accomplishment List:
I went to therapy - to help me process difficult emotions and set boundaries with toxic people.
I celebrated by buying an inspirational book.
I scheduled an appointment with my doctor - to better understand my body and achieve optimal health.
I celebrated by eating a delicious salad.
I enrolled in a coaching program - to connect me to my greater vision and purpose in life.
I celebrated by spending time outdoors and looking at the sky.
I had difficult conversations with my parents to discuss my needs and figure out how we can support each other.
I celebrated by having a few of my favorite cookies.
I bought a new toothbrush - to help me with dental hygiene and health.
I celebrated by telling people I love about my amazing "smart" toothbrush.
All of my celebrations were fun and made me smile. It's important to have fun because if you're not having fun, you're more likely to burn out and have less love and support to give those around you.
It's interesting to note that I still struggle with celebrating my accomplishments to this very day. But the difference is that I'm aware of it, so I work on it daily.
I learned that celebrating our smaller wins along the way helps us savor the more massive wins when we achieve them. Celebrating also builds self-love, confidence, and momentum. You can see why celebrating and having fun are so important.
Final Thoughts:
I hope this post inspires you to create more fun and celebration in your growth journey. The point of life is growth and expansion, and we forget about fun and celebrating when we've overcome resistance. Life is messy, and mistakes are learning opportunities.
It's time to celebrate when we've overcome challenging experiences or even small moments that cleared our paths ahead.
I want to know, have you celebrated today? And are you having fun? Because our ultimate goal is to make this experience called life more enjoyable for ourselves and for those around us.
If you’re not enjoying your journey (like I was), it’s the perfect moment to start creating smile-inducing fun. Hope you’re ready :)
Amor y Canela,
Monica
