Have you ever felt a nagging sensation in your gut, telling you something needs to change, but you just can’t put your finger on it?
That’s your emotions trying to get your attention.
What if these feelings, often brushed off as inconvenient or too difficult to deal with, are actually the key to unlocking a more fulfilling life?
Lately, my emotions have been too intense to ignore. They’ve been throwing a tiny tantrum, waking me up at 4 in the morning, demanding attention.
The recent full super moon in Aries, while the sun is in Libra, has felt like a cosmic tug-of-war stirring things up inside me. I’m feeling torn between asserting myself (Aries) and maintaining harmony (Libra). This cosmic dance mirrors my inner struggle, making me question my personal goals and relationships.
But the good news is – this restlessness isn’t a nuisance.
It’s a wake-up call, pushing me to pay attention to aspects of my life that need realignment. It’s a reminder that sometimes, discomfort is the universe’s way of steering us towards our highest good.
These wake-up calls got me thinking about how I spend my time. Time is precious. And it’s not just because I’m getting older (though that sure puts things in perspective).
Life’s short. We shouldn’t waste time on things that don’t light us up inside.
Sounds easy, but it’s not always that simple. Sometimes we’re so busy, we forget to check if we’re even on the right path. It’s like we’re driving without paying attention, and suddenly we realize we’ve missed some beautiful scenery along the way.
How often do we stop and ask ourselves, “Am I really enjoying this ride?”
We often get stuck in routines and obligations, forgetting we’re actually in control of our lives. It’s like following a GPS without questioning if it’s taking us where we really want to go.
It’s not just about doing what makes us happy and avoiding what doesn’t. It’s about waking up to what those things are. Sometimes we think we enjoy things just because we’ve always done them. Or we avoid trying new things that might bring us joy because they seem scary.
We might keep doing things that drain us because change feels hard. Or we might not do things that could make us happy because we don’t want to leave our comfort zone.
That’s why it’s so important to check in with ourselves and ask, “Is this really what I want?”
Life’s Three-Lane Highway
Think of life as a three-lane highway:
- The Fast Lane: We’re rushing, stressed, and out of sync with our natural rhythm.
- The Slow Lane: We’re passive, not taking enough action to fully live.
- The Middle Lane: Our ‘just right’ pace, where we’re both content and moving forward.
It’s okay to switch lanes sometimes. We’re all human, and life isn’t always a smooth ride. The goal is to keep finding our way back to that middle lane when we notice we’ve drifted.
The 7-10 Exercise
This is my favorite “go-to” exercise for clarity when I find myself switching lanes and can’t put my finger on why. It’s a simple tool I learned from an intuitive coach years ago:
- Keep a daily journal for a week.
- List all tasks and activities you do each day.
- Rate each task on a scale of 1-10 based on how much joy or fulfillment it brings you.
- At the end of each day, circle all items rated 7-10.
- For lower-rated items, ask yourself:
- Can this task be eliminated?
- If not, how can I make it more enjoyable?
- After a week, review your journal to identify patterns.
- Brainstorm ways to do more 7-10 activities and improve or eliminate lower-rated tasks.
This exercise helps us figure out what makes us happy. It shows us what keeps us in the middle lane and how to make the not-so-fun tasks more enjoyable.
Years ago, grocery shopping was a weekly task I dreaded – a definite low rated, slow lane activity. Since I couldn’t eliminate it, I needed to make it more fun. I color-coded my shopping list by section (Virgo here), created a ritual of buying my favorite coffee drink beforehand, and turned it into a timed challenge.
I know it might sound silly, but this small change made a big difference in my week. By gamifying the experience, I started to enjoy grocery shopping. It became a middle lane activity!
The Bigger Picture
So why does this matter?
It’s about feeling good and living well. Chronic stress from living in the fast lane can burn you out. The slow lane can leave you feeling stuck and depressed. But that middle lane? It’s a sweet spot of excitement and ease. It’s where you find balance and health.
Life is short. We’ve only got so much time. Why not fill it with as much joy as we can. Tools like the 7-10 exercise help us listen to ourselves and make the most of our days.
Every small change can help you find your way to that middle lane. Are you ready to try it?