Stop Trying to Escape Your Life

The other day my friend told me her family goes on "adventures" not "vacations."
"Vacations," she said, "makes it sound like we are vacating our life." The concept
struck me powerfully. How often are we vacating our lives? How often do we want to
escape, to get away from our every day? It is all too common to believe we have to
over a three hundred days of boredom, frustration, stress, and angst in order to
have a few days were we vacate the normal and actually live.

What If We Didn't Need to Vacate Our Lives?

What if instead you looked at every day as an opportunity to live your life to the
fullest? Here are a few ways to break away from the pain of every day and begin
truly living the adventure of life:

What If These Were the Last Five Minutes?

One of the ways I help my clients shift from feeling stuck to actively living their life is
to ask them, "If these were the last five minutes of your life, is this what you want to
be experiencing?" When we think we have an unlimited abundance of time, it is easy
to say, "I'll stick it through this hard part and then it will get better." This attitude
creates victimhood and robs us of the joy we can find in each moment. When you
find yourself in a tough situation, stop and ask yourself how you can make it just a
little bit better. What would it take for you to actively create a better experience in
that moment? Sometimes it is something very simple which can switch the gears
from monotony and negativity to a little pocket of joy.

Do Something New Every Day

When we are stuck in a routine, we begin to feel like a robot whose life has no
meaning. Look for ways to switch things up a bit. Take a new way to work. Try a
new food. Reorganize a room. Change at least one thing in your routine to provide
you with a feeling a freedom. In doing so, you will have a new outlook on your day.

Give to Others

When we are down about life, we become obsessed with everything that is wrong.
We replay all of the losses and injustices. We are constantly telling ourselves the
story of our horrible life. If you are stuck in this cycle, cal l a friend and ask them how
they are doing. More times than not, those we love are going through challenging
times as well. Support them. Give them advice or just a compassionate ear. Reach
out to those in real need; those in shelters, senior homes, or local children without