But\u2026<\/p>\n
Passion isn\u2019t a nice-to-have it\u2019s a need-to-have! We need passion in our lives it\u2019s the energy that fuels us.<\/p>\n
Even Oprah says so\u2026 \u201cPassion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n You know what passion does? It awakens our senses, stimulates our brains,\u00a0and<\/span><\/em>\u00a0make us happier. \u00a0It\u2019s true, passionate people are happy people, and people like to be around happy people. Think about someone you know who is passionate. Chances are you\u2019re drawn to their energy and secretly wish you could have just a bit of it.<\/span><\/p>\n If passion is missing from your life it\u2019s time to start spicing things up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ve all watched children play. \u00a0It is a totally spontaneous activity they don\u2019t think<\/em> about playing they just…play<\/em>. They surprise us with the ideas they have and the connections they make, things that would never occur to an adult mind. It\u2019s awe inspiring.<\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t it be great if this same spontaneous creative spark could be brought into our adult lives?<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been diving into research and learning that reclaiming our spontaneity could actually be a big factor in discovering our passion. Not only does being a little spontaneous help break up the monotony that comes from a routine, predictable\u00a0 lifestyle, it also contributes to what positive psychologists call “peak experiences”. These are euphoric moments characterized by wonder, joy and often times a feeling of being connected to the larger world.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Who doesn’t want more of these!<\/p>\n Here are 15 ways you can spice up your life every day with spontaneity and in so doing get connected to our passions.<\/p>\n PAINT DOODLE DRAW<\/strong><\/p>\n The sheer act of making art of any kind fires up all kinds of connections in the brain. Don\u2019t worry if you don\u2019t think of yourself as \u2018artistic\u2019 it\u2019s not about that. It\u2019s about engaging the right side of the brain that likes to play, experiment and have fun. It loves being unleashed. You feel an actual physical sensation in the body it\u2019s like an inner twinkling. How to start? Is there a quote you find really inspiring? Write it out and bring it to life with markers, glitter and paint. Creativity isn\u2019t about the product it\u2019s about the process and how it makes you feel. It\u2019s about losing yourself and having fun. Not to mention the a-h\u2019as epiphanies and unexpected insights you\u2019ll receive while engaging in it. When I need to be uplifted I do what I call heart doodles they are a quote or they focus on a issue I’m working through or something I want more of in my life.<\/p>\n These are some of my heart doodles I have a bulletin board full of them in my office.<\/p><\/div>\n Here\u2019s a red shoe post about how doodling helps you reach your dreams faster<\/a>!<\/p>\n DO SOMETHING PHYSICAL<\/strong><\/p>\n Research has shown that physical exercise helps to force you out of left brain dominant thinking and instead adopt a more creative mindset. Exercise also increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which sharpens mental clarity. Here\u2019s a fascinating article<\/a> that claims aerobic workouts may help stimulate imagination and creativity. Go ahead ….. be spontaneous open the door right now and go for a walk.<\/p>\n Open the door and go for a walk.<\/p><\/div>\n WATCH A TED TALK OR LISTEN TO A PODCAST<\/strong><\/p>\n I often find that tuning into a powerful TED talk is a great way to shift perspective quickly and without a lot of effort. There are so many inspiring people out there doing unbelievable things. Sometime I feel excited, other times awe stuck and always fired up.<\/p>\n TED talks are full of surprises. Have you ever watched one and not learned something new?<\/p><\/div>\n PLAY<\/strong><\/p>\n Studies show that when we immerse ourselves in doing something that we enjoy \u2013 we get out of our own heads, it stimulates outside the box thinking and silences our inner critic. Tinker with toys, build something, make something (cook, sew, paint, sculpt, etc…)….and most importantly think like a kid.<\/p>\n CALL SOMEONE<\/strong><\/p>\n Call a friend or family member who you haven’t caught up with in a long time. Is there someone who keeps showing up in your thoughts? Get in touch. Chances are they\u2019ve been thinking of you too. Serendipity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>SIGN UP FOR ONLINE DATING<\/strong><\/p>\n If you’re single and haven’t yet experimented with the wonderful world of online dating and dating apps be a little spontaneous and make your very first profile. You never know who you might meet. I can\u2019t tell you how many people I know who have who have met their partners this way. Take the leap. Nothing to lose.<\/p>\n BUY A PLANE TICKET<\/strong><\/p>\n I know this sounds a little out there but<\/em> there are discount sites that offer fares so low they make travel accessible. I\u2019ve just started subscribing to one called Scott\u2019s Cheap Flights<\/a> I do the free version and that\u2019s pretty awesome. I\u2019ve heard the paid version is even more amazing. If there\u2019s a place you\u2019ve always wanted to go this just might make it possible.<\/p>\n Where do you want to go? What do you want to explore?<\/p><\/div>\n UPDATE YOUR LOOK<\/strong><\/p>\n Make a trip to the salon and commit to a major cut or new color. You’ll feel like a whole new person. Do a closet purge and find a new style that reflects who you are and who you want to be. If you need help with this email me cheryl@redshoezone.ca and I will put you in touch with Red Shoe style expert Micolle Canido. She is a magician and works largely with what you already have in your closet envisioning it in totally new ways. Honestly you\u2019ll be so surprised. I\u2019ve gone through this process twice with Micolle and it\u2019s totally amazing. See what happened when Cindy<\/a> met Micolle.<\/p>\n This was Micolle working with me and my closet about a month ago. Totally amazing.<\/p><\/div>\n SIGN UP FOR LESSONS<\/strong><\/p>\n Pick an activity you’ve been wanting to try and finally sign up for a class. Learn to cook, paddle board, paint, dance, play an instrument, make pottery etc\u2026. Just try something new. I (spontaneously) signed up for facial yoga a couple of weeks ago had no idea how relaxing it would be. I also spontaneously put a meditation app (Breethe) on my phone and I’ve been using it several times a day. Here\u2019s some of my favorites for online course providers: Udemy<\/a>, Daily OM,<\/a> Gaia<\/a><\/p>\n TRY A NEW WORKOUT CLASS<\/strong><\/p>\n Plenty of studios (yoga, dance, fitness, pilates, spin cycle, kick boxing etc…) offer free classes for first-time students. Grab some friends or drop into a new class by yourself to change up your workout routine. My go to is The Dailey Method<\/a>\u00a0they have studios across Canada and the US, 3 in Mexico and 1 in Paris, France. As a member I can invite a guest to give it a try,\u00a0 a lot of places offer this same introduction. So, if you have a friend who keeps raving about the ‘place’ they go to see if you can snag a guest pass.<\/p>\n Dailey Method workout<\/p><\/div>\n REDECORATE<\/strong><\/p>\n Buy some paint and update your walls or simply rearrange the furniture. \u00a0Changing your physical environment will create an internal shift and how you see things.<\/p>\n THROW A PARTY<\/strong><\/p>\n No holiday, no birthday, no special occasion, no problem. Gather friends for a spur of the moment (spontaneous) evening together. Think back to when you’ve attended or thrown one of these. Amazing-right?!<\/p>\n TRY A NEW CUISINE<\/strong><\/p>\n Even when it feels like you’ve done it all, there’s always something new to try. Give your standard takeout\u00a0spot a break and find a new restaurant that serves a type of food you’ve yet to try.<\/p>\n GO FOR A ROADTRIP<\/strong><\/p>\n Pack a bag, hop in the car, take a few days (or more) and see where you end up. Adventures like these can\u2019t help but be transformational. Go alone, take your partner or a friend and channel your inner Thelma and Louise.<\/p>\n![\"heart](\"https:\/\/ohmywordjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/04\/doodle-wall1-300x400.jpg\")
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