Want more fulfillment? Fit in your favorite things!

​As promised in my previous article, 7 steps for finding more fulfillment in your day-to-day life, I’m expanding on each of the steps for finding fulfillment in order to go into more practical detail about each and explain why these things are essential to your overall satisfaction. Today we’re going to talk about fitting in your favorite things and, of all of the steps, you would think this should be the most simple to implement. The truth is it’s actually a lot more difficult than it should be. 
Why?
Because most of us are so out of touch with ourselves we can’t even remember what our favorite things are!

With the speed of the world and the amount of information in our faces 24/7, 365, it’s almost too much to even remember to look up from our phones and engage with actual human beings in the flesh, much less consciously think about the things that make us feel like us! So I’m going to ask you...when is the last time you thought about your favorite things? Like actually made a list? 
We were asked to think about these things a lot when we were kids, but these questions seem to fall by the wayside when we become grown ups. I say that’s a tragedy. That’s why I’m going to walk you through a little questionnaire to get you started on fitting in more of your favorite things TODAY. 
Tips before we start: don’t go all adult and overthink it. You’re allowed to change your mind or have multiple answers!

So let’s do this, shall we? 

What’s your favorite color and how does it make you feel?
What’s your favorite holiday? 
What’s your favorite place in your house?
What’s your favorite place in the world to visit?
Favorite food?
Favorite piece of clothing? 
Favorite movie?
Book?
Song? 
Drink?
Hobby?
Restaurant?
Store?
Who are your favorite people? 
What are your favorite quotes?

This is fun, right? That’s because you’re focusing all of your energy on things you love! Hopefully by directing your attention to these things for just a few moments you can start to see how powerful these seemingly simple things can be when you intentionally factor them into your day. Maybe you have a big interview so you put on a scarf in your favorite color. Or maybe you’ve had an awful day but a call with that person who helps put things into perspective and blasting your favorite song can help remind you it’s not so bad. 

So I know what some of you are thinking...“Great, I know Christmas is my favorite holiday but it’s April. This does me no good.” Okay, fair. But think about this: WHY is Christmas your favorite holiday? What is it about Christmas that you love so much? Is it the lights? The music? The time spent with family? Getting time off of work? Take whatever resonates with you and right-size it to your life right now! If it’s vacation time, maybe you’re working too much. Maybe what you really need is a long weekend to recharge. Or if it’s Christmas lights that really bring you an extra shot of joy, go out and get yourself some lights and bling out a space in your place! There are no rules here! If you love lights, give yourself some lights and put them wherever will bring you the most joy!

If the example above doesn’t resonate for you, you may still be thinking, “Thanks Kristina, I know I love Spain already and want to move there but it’s not realistic and now I’m even more depressed.” I have a couple of things to say in response to this. The first is similar to the advice above...think of what it is that you love about this place and brainstorm how you can bring more of those things into your life NOW. You love Spain...is it the food? The colors? The warmth? What are the tangible things you could give yourself now? Maybe make yourself some tapas and blast some music! Or infuse your space with the patterns and designs that make you feel alive! The second thing I’d say if you’re in this camp is that discontent can be a very useful emotion as it can propel us toward where we need to go. If you’re drawn to something, or some place, it’s not an accident. Start by making a list of small steps you can take toward making this dream a reality, no matter how small those steps are. Just knowing you’re taking action and moving closer to your dream will give you a boost of positive energy and excitement like nothing else!

Can’t answer “What’s your favorite room in your house?” That’s a sign that you haven’t infused enough of you into your space. This can be a real cause of discontent for a lot of people. Some value that’s near and dear to you is not being honored in your space and it’s up to you to figure out how to fix it. And, for the record, it’s not shallow to care about aesthetic beauty. Aesthetic beauty brings joy and a sense of order and calm. Mind your space and be mindful of where you spend your time. You don’t have to blow your budget to put more of you into your space--sometimes just small changes like de-cluttering, unpacking, changing paint colors, or even just adding a vase of fresh flowers can make a world of difference.

So are you feeling inspired yet? I hope so. Take a few minutes to plan how you’re going to integrate more of your favorite things in your life today, this week, and this month, and see if you don’t start to feel more like you. 

Here’s to you helping yourself to a better life,

K