by Caroline Wangeci

Created on: May 30, 2011   Last Updated: May 31, 2011

It is necessary today, to purposely enjoy our lives more. Going by life waiting for whatever comes our way isn’t going to work because what generally comes at us is work and concerns and cares and responsibility. But enjoyment? No, that is something we have to work at. Here’s how.

 1. Relate

Be pleasant. As a general rule, we draw to ourselves people whose character and temperament is similar to our own. So if you are constantly whining, you will draw to yourself people who are constantly whining. If you are pleasant and good with people, you will draw people who are also good with people.

 Relationships are important and it is impossible to do without them. So why not be good at it! Listen. I mean really, actively, listen like you care. Share. Laugh. Hang out. Support. Empathize. Reassure. Be there. And whatever you do, don't judge. It is an admirable quality to relate well with people. One that comes in handy in every area of our lives and one which facilitates and furthers our objective to enjoy life.

 2. Write, Order, Organize

 I have found that writing helps me to calm down when I am unsettled. It helps to create order as I put my thoughts on paper. It also enables me to be more objective and to see an issue from different angles. I am not referring to a journal even though that has its benefits as well. I am referring to the writing of one's goals and objectives. Writing a budget. Putting a financial plan on paper (or in a book). Write down how much money you would require to complete a certain project that you are working on currently or are planning to take on in the future. 

 Habakkuk 2:2 says to “Write the vision and make it plain upon [tablets] that he may run with it that reads it.” We are more likely to achieve our goals if we write them down because we are in essence, holding ourselves to it. We are also less likely to feel overwhelmed because writing creates order which saves a lot of energy and time we would have otherwise spent running around in circles and possibly even panicking! Where there is order, there is peace and peace makes it much more possible and easy to enjoy life.

 3. Be grateful.

 No matter how bleak our situations or circumstances may seem, there is always reason to be grateful. There is always an area in our lives where the sun is shining. But the truth is that we are often so caught up in everything that is not going right or not going the way that we think it ought to go that we rarely give any thought to  the good stuff.

I realize that it is extremely difficult to do this especially when we are going through difficult periods in life but it is an attitude that  is essential in each one of us. Not only does it enable us to enjoy life more, the fact is, an attitude of gratitude helps to effectively put things into perspective.

 It takes effort and practice but it is well worth it. Every single day, let us focus on at least ten things for which we are grateful. Like most things, it may be difficult at the beginning but the more we do it, the easier it becomes and the more naturally it comes to us. Pretty soon, it is going to be in our very character to be grateful. This is not to be confused with 'burying one's head in the sand'. On the contrary, it is gratitude for and appreciation of all the things that are going right, even while acknowledging that which is going wrong and working on it accordingly.

 Enjoying life may take some conscious effort, but it is better to put in the effort and have fun, than not put in any effort and not get the best out of life, isn't it?

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