The world has become, for lack of a better phrase, too goal oriented.
There is a toxic, hypercompetitive spirit slowly seeping into our collective consciousness.
No thanks to social media.
Every other post is about some vain goal.
“Wow, here is how I burned a billion calories today.”
“Let me show you how my business made $600,000 this month.”
“Hey, I just got my 5th PhD.”
“Oh, look at me. I just benched 6,000 pounds at the gym. Look at my muscles.”
“How I scaled my startup to $10 billion.”
On and on it goes.
It is almost like we are being primed daily to become achievement seeking machines. Somewhere along the line, we have become dangerously obsessed with achievement.
We chase external validation so much that we abandon the core of our being.
We forget the little child inside who just wants to breathe, laugh, play, and feel alive.
Somehow, many of us have learned how to build a life that looks good from the outside, but forgot how to build a life that nourishes our internal world.
We make sacrifices and convince ourselves it is worth it.
Friendships. Hobbies. Joy. Peace of mind. Health. Family.
Fifty years ago, they told you $75,000 per year was what you needed to be happy. At some point, it became $1 million. Today, they say if you do not have at least $5 million liquid, you are poor.
So we chase and chase, yet the goalpost keeps moving like an ever elusive target.
Do not get me wrong. I am not knocking ambition.
I believe every man and woman should aspire to actualize their innate potential.
But I also reckon that all the money in the world falls short if it comes at the expense of the things money cannot buy.
Friendships. Hobbies. Joy. Peace of mind. Health. Family.
They say moderation is the key to lasting enjoyment. So, even in the pursuit of accolades, the wise man or woman must learn to prioritize balance.
Which brings us to the crux of this article.
When was the last time you did something just because it made you feel alive?
I am not talking about feeling productive.
I am not talking about feeling accomplished.
Not impressive.
Just alive.
When was the last time you did something simply because it made you happy?
Inside each one of us is a child that the world rarely meets.
It is the part of you that wants to laugh out loud without a care in the world.
The part that wants to sing and dance badly in your room.
The part that wants to take a long walk without turning it into a fitness goal.
The part that wants to create something badly and freely, something that does not need to be posted.
A part of you that neither cares about accolades nor looking stupid.
That is the part of you that helps you stay human.
Sure, discipline, goals, ambition, and growth are essential ingredients for a successful life.
But you also need music, laughter, sunlight, movement, rest, friendship, silence, beauty, and play.
So, here is my challenge for you.
Before this week ends, do one thing, or make a plan to do one thing, purely for the joy and excitement.
Not for self improvement, or to impress anybody.
Not because it will make you more successful.
Do it simply because it is good for your soul.
Because while the world may applaud the version of you that performs, your peace and quality of life depend on how well you care for the part of you nobody sees.
If you need Ideas, I have created a PDF PDF document with 100 soul nourishing activities you can do this week.
Click here to download the PDF for free.
I do not want you to have any excuses.