Have you ever had a fun event on the calendar that you were looking forward to? Maybe it's something big like a vacation, or maybe it's going out on a boat, going fishing or having friends over. Sometimes preparing for it can be full of tasks, but usually the anticipation of the event propels us forward and we excitedly plan and prepare.
Then the actual event happens and typically when it's over there are additional tasks that need to be completed. The trip home and the unpacking, the cleaning up of equipment, the washing of dishes, etc. I don't know about you, but these "post event" tasks are the pits! It can be easy to let them shift my joy of the event itself. Sometimes I even convince myself of not doing that fun item because the task of putting things back together discourages my interest. Ever felt like that? I would sabotage my happiness of the event, even dread it coming to an end because of this habit.
Little mental shifts can make a huge difference in our experience. Little tricks and strategies that shift our focus, our expectation and minds can lead us to a whole different way to enjoy and appreciate an event. A little strategy that I recently have been experimenting with is called shifting your done point. It goes like this...instead of the fun event ending when the actual event itself is over, shifting your done point until after the "clean up tasks" are completed. Staying in a contended, happy, blissful place of enjoying the whole experience rather than just a segment of the experience.
Now I know this may sound a little silly or simplistic, but something like shifting our mental done point for the "fun event" can actually change the experience. It tosses these burdensome feeling tasks into the same category as the planning and preparation tasks that we don't typically mind as much because we anticipate the event. Shifting the done point and continuing to celebrate the goodness, the fun, the joy. Next time consider setting your done point out further until the clean up tasks are done.
Here's the clincher for me...practice gratitude and appreciation for the fun event and all of the things that went into it while completing the clean up tasks. This helps me to savor, replay and enjoy the event over again in my mind while performing the not so fun tasks of putting things back together again. Now you've not only accomplished the clean up tasks, but you've also shifted this good experience from your short-term memory into your long-term memory by savoring it and helped re-wire your brain for happiness.
This small intentional practice can cause a big mind shift allowing for more happy and joyful moments. Give it a try, I would love to hear what you think!
Then the actual event happens and typically when it's over there are additional tasks that need to be completed. The trip home and the unpacking, the cleaning up of equipment, the washing of dishes, etc. I don't know about you, but these "post event" tasks are the pits! It can be easy to let them shift my joy of the event itself. Sometimes I even convince myself of not doing that fun item because the task of putting things back together discourages my interest. Ever felt like that? I would sabotage my happiness of the event, even dread it coming to an end because of this habit.
Little mental shifts can make a huge difference in our experience. Little tricks and strategies that shift our focus, our expectation and minds can lead us to a whole different way to enjoy and appreciate an event. A little strategy that I recently have been experimenting with is called shifting your done point. It goes like this...instead of the fun event ending when the actual event itself is over, shifting your done point until after the "clean up tasks" are completed. Staying in a contended, happy, blissful place of enjoying the whole experience rather than just a segment of the experience.
Now I know this may sound a little silly or simplistic, but something like shifting our mental done point for the "fun event" can actually change the experience. It tosses these burdensome feeling tasks into the same category as the planning and preparation tasks that we don't typically mind as much because we anticipate the event. Shifting the done point and continuing to celebrate the goodness, the fun, the joy. Next time consider setting your done point out further until the clean up tasks are done.
Here's the clincher for me...practice gratitude and appreciation for the fun event and all of the things that went into it while completing the clean up tasks. This helps me to savor, replay and enjoy the event over again in my mind while performing the not so fun tasks of putting things back together again. Now you've not only accomplished the clean up tasks, but you've also shifted this good experience from your short-term memory into your long-term memory by savoring it and helped re-wire your brain for happiness.
This small intentional practice can cause a big mind shift allowing for more happy and joyful moments. Give it a try, I would love to hear what you think!
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