The M.A.P. Maker

Create a Fun Jar

In the M.A.P. concept (Meaning, Abundance, & Passion), abundance refers to multiple types of abundance, not just the financial variety. One of those is "fun abundance."

Want an easy way to work on improving your fun abundance quotient? Make a Fun Jar. You can read the original post for the full description of the idea, but here it is in a nutshell...

1. Brainstorm a long list of things you would qualify as “fun”. It’s best to do this in a fresh notebook, because you’re going to want to come back to this list often, and add to it as inspiration strikes.
2. Go through your list, and mark your items in terms of ease.
3. Take all the easy items, write them out on small slips of paper, and put them into a jar. That’s right. You’re going to create a Fun Jar. Seriously.
4. Every day, pick an item from your Fun Jar - and Do It. Remember, the Fun Jar contains only those fun things that are really easy to do.
5. Exercise your fun muscles gradually. Your daily shots of small bits of fun, courtesy of your Fun Jar, are a good start, but you want to target the bigger items next.

Fun is out there, just waiting to be had. Yes, even for you! It's easy to lose sight of it. It's easy to get so busy that you fall prey to thinking you don't have time for fun. But that's a trap, and it's a slippery slope.

Part of the key to thriving, both in your career and in life in general, is developing habits that feed your well-being. The Fun Jar idea is a great way to begin developing a "fun habit" using an easy, doable approach.

Check out The Occupational Adventure Guide

Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst ^TM

 

Can humor change the world?

I have a client who loves making people laugh. It's when he's at his most energized, and it's one of his greatest gifts. On several occasions though, I've heard him play down its importance in the greater scope of things, saying, "It's not like it's going to change the world."

I disagree.

Maybe it's not going to "change the world" by itself, but I think the lightness that humor brings can play in important role in a sustainable approach to positive change.

If you've been reading this blog for long, you know I often think in terms of ecosystems. That is, what is the environment that is most conducive to a given result (in this case, positive change)?

The trouble with an uber-intense approach to making a difference in the world is the potential for burnout. Have you ever run across someone who seems absolutely militant about their cause. It starts to color their view of the world. It's like they're in a constant state of emergency. You can almost see the cortisol pumping copiously into their veins in response to the stress.

At the end of the day, creating a personal ecosystem for positive change is about figuring out how you can be most effective, internally and externally. What is going to let you put your best efforts into your work?

Humor can be like a mini-vacation. It can defuse the stress, and give both your body and your mind a little R&R. It has proven benefits for both mental and physical health. It also has a positive social impact, making it easier for people to connect and breaking down barriers.

So can humor change the world? Well, at the very least it can change your world, and that's where it all starts.

 

Check out The Occupational Adventure Guide

Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst ^TM 

Life's too important to take seriously

Do you have enough fun in your life? If you don't, you're not alone. Somehow the pressures and responsibilities of being a "grown-up" often leave us wallowing in an over-serious state.

Bummer.

One of the abundance concepts I like to explore with people is "fun abundance." Fun isn't some frivolous, non-productive activity better left to kids and slackers. It can play an important role in helping you stay energized and focused.

Creating the life you want takes work. It's not always easy, and it requires a commitment to it for the long term. Part of the key to success is taking advantage of all the ways you possibly can to keep you motivated, engaged, and moving forward. Like having fun. 

Fun can help you take a break and refocus so you can come back to your "serious stuff" with a fresh perspective. It can loosen you up so you can stay more open to the possibilities life has to offer. On the physical side, laughter has been shown to reduce stress and provides numerous health and healing benefits.

Is there enough fun in your life? What small steps could you take to bring more of it into the picture, starting today?

Check out The Occupational Adventure Guide
Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst ^TM