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Hi and welcome to the Scary Goals Club podcast and hello from a very snowy January. Day. It's so nice. [00:01:00] I went out for a walk this morning, uh, well it was actually snowing this morning and we were like playing outside in the snow, I was like throwing snowballs for maple and like throwing up in the air and then it had stopped and the sun was coming out and went for this like just, just this loop that I'll take maple on, like through the trees and light was like filtering through, there was like snow laying on the trees and like on the branches.
I think it's like snow's just so amazing because it gives this like muffled sound it's like quite comforting and like everything was bright the sun was out and like the snow was sparkly it's like it's really cold as well so it's that very like dry sparkly snow where almost there's like ice crystals in the air and like the snow you just look at and it's just sparkly and it was oh it was so good my it was like exactly what my soul needed I actually am in the process of recovering from mastitis, which I got at the back end of last week.
And so I've been on antibiotics and just like [00:02:00] totally resting, like at the weekend I spent all of Saturday in bed, just like napping and like meditating and like being basically and just resting and recovering. And then felt a bit better on Sunday. And then it's just been, it's been back to work this week, which.
Has been amazing. And I've been, I've been really craving like a little bit of routine, but actually it's also been tiring because it was like Luke and I, we were like both parenting together and then all kind of hang out. So if I did need a break or anything, then it was like, I could be like, can you just hang with Flynn for a bit?
And I'm just going to go have a nap or just like chill. Whereas, It's back to the kind of like full days and I've not been feeling 100 percent so like Monday and Wednesday I've been a bit tired and just trying to take it super easy, but I got there. I'm getting there.
Um, but anyway, Today I really wanted to talk about how to, like how to find joy. Instantly. How to like, create a [00:03:00] sense of joy, of awe, of wonder, just like, instantly. Because I think it's very easy, and certainly I have found this as well, like, more recently, is either getting in a routine or getting in, I think especially with like, with kids, or like when you have your own business and it's like, And I guess if you're working as well, whatever, whatever you're up to, but like, it can be easy to get into a routine and I do love a routine, like it helps me feel quite calm and quite relaxed.
Like I know what's coming, but I also hate routine. Like I think that's the ADHD part of my brain that like, like I know that it really helps me, but I also rebel against it and I think what I had realized, what I've realized recently that I have been missing. is building in more like adventure. So adventure is one of my like values and is something that even just thinking back like how Luke and I have kind of lived our lives is like quite adventurous, doing things differently, like going on crazy expeditions, endurance events, living in different places, [00:04:00] being like making decisions quickly, being like right we're just going to go and live here, we're just going to go do this thing.
Obviously that changes with a kiddo there's like You can't just suddenly change and do something as much. I mean, you can, but they need a bit of structure. They need a bit of routine as well. And like, there's different elements at play. And I think, I feel like I have been missing the adventure, like, and actually.
It doesn't have to be these big adventures. It can be on the day to day, almost like the micro level of like bringing adventure more into, into your day, into your work day. And I think what I've started doing is like building a bit more of that in. This morning was a great example. It was like, I had put in my calendar.
Like yesterday I was checking like, okay, what does I need for tomorrow? What does my body need? What is my, like, what do I need for the day? And it was like, okay. Gonna go for a walk between nine and ten. And like, by nine it's light, so I'm not having to like, walk in the dark. I'm getting sunlight. And [00:05:00] also it's like, you know, I can have a super chilled morning with like, Flynn and with Luke, and then go out for the walk.
Get my ideas, like, come up with whatever for the day, like, come up with podcast ideas, like, all of that kind of stuff. Really, it really helps me with that. And today it just felt especially magical because of the snow and it felt like an adventure because even though I walked the path I often walk, it felt different, it looked different.
I was like picking up snowballs and like throwing them from Maple, she was like jumping. I was listening, like I didn't go out with headphones or anything, and I was just listening to like the sound of my boots like crunching on the snow, like squeaking. It's like feeling the snow. It's everything like the air smelled like crisp and fresh and I could hear the birds overhead and like some of them would knock the tree or like and some of the snow would fall off and like would come down and just it was like becoming so present in like the tiny micro amazing [00:06:00] wonders of nature.
Every single moment. And actually there was a quote I, oh maybe I'll read it out actually, I was like, oh this is so good, I'll read it out now.
And it was like yes, this, this is so important. Anyway, I'm going to read it out. It says, so when I say children here, if you don't have kids, think about it like yourself. I think this applies to children as much as to ourselves. Okay, here it is. "Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable, but it is a way of foolishness. Help them instead to find wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples, and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself." By William Martin. So good, and I think, like, it can be so easy to, again, when we're getting into goal setting, and it's like the new year, and it's like, okay, I'm going to do these big things and big things, [00:07:00] and it's like we can have all this, like. And, and I'm not saying not to dream big, like a hundred percent, and like, imagine this big, rich life for yourself.
A hundred percent, I am like, all here for that, and dreaming bigger, and doing things that feel scary, and feel like, Oh, impossible, how am I gonna do it? Here for all of that. But the key is not to like, think that at that point in time, that's when you're gonna start living this amazing life, or like, things are gonna suddenly change, it's actually, Yes, having these big, extraordinary, amazing dreams and finding like the wonder, the joy, the like excitement, the awe in the tiniest moments.
And really, I found this was so helpful. I said this in the last podcast where it's like, I had some really hard stuff that happened, like, over Christmas and New Year, and I would find moments of, like, feeling connected with something bigger, feeling like it wasn't just me, feeling like the wonder, the awe, [00:08:00] the, like, beauty, the joy, the amazement, the excitement, like, all of these, like, big expansive emotions just feeling that by like literally stepping out my back door when I was like super low on energy stepping out the back door looking up at these like massive tall scots pines and like the stars above it and like the moon would be out and I find like Flynn's been amazing for that because he's so amazing at spotting the moon like during the day or like if it's in the evening you should be like moon and he just spots it and we talk about like imagining like jumping up to the moon and like jumping among the clouds and like being with the birds and just he's so tuned in to like to nature and to to the moon which is such an exciting thing when you think about it especially as a kid and it's like we can take that wonder as an adult as well like The fact that, you know, it's, the moon isn't there all the time, and it changes position in the sky, it changes color, it changes shape, depending like what, like, in the cycle it's in, it changes, like, how it looks, it changes how it lights up [00:09:00] the land or not, and it's like what the weather's doing, like, there's so many amazing factors at play, and it's like, we can actually, yes, have these big dreams, but find the tiny micro moments of like awe and wonder and joy in the micro est, tiniest moments, like, that is when life feels so rich and so powerful.
And I know for me, like, novelty, and again this is an ADHD thing, it's like, really craving novelty, really craving newness, that really excites me. And it also helps slow time down. Do you ever find that, like, if you're in a routine and doing the same things, like, every single day, suddenly you're like, oh my gosh, weeks have just gone, or like, months have just gone, and it can feel very, like, similar.
It's like, you get up, you do the things, you do things. And it's like, we can be on almost like autopilot because so much of what we do is habitual. Our body is just like going through the motions, like only about 5 percent of what we're actually doing is conscious. The rest of it, it's just like, we have these habits, our body's just like [00:10:00] doing it, and then we do this, and then we do this, and then we do this, and it's like rinse and repeat.
And it can feel very samey, and it can feel like the time is just. Going so quickly because especially if you have kids and it's like you're in a routine something like time is passing so quickly and the way to slow time down the way to just like, like live a life that feels richer as you are working towards the bigger vision and the bigger goals and whatever you're creating is to just notice the smallest things.
And In particular, nature is so powerful for this because it's freaking amazing, like when you're outside and you're like watching like the birds just doing their things and they're like getting ready for spring and like that's kind of happening and like the trees are just doing what they do and then the buds appear it's like and we are we are nature like we are part of nature and it's so easy to become disconnected from it and like especially during the winter months and be inside and be in front of screens and be watching tv or be watching whatever and it's like It's easy to get, and it's not not to do [00:11:00] those things, but it's easy to just, it's easier almost to stay inside, but then we can get into the like, same, same, same, same, same.
And so just thinking like, how can you, even asking yourself that question, like, how can you build a little bit of newness into today? How can you build a little bit of awe, a little bit of wonder? And I'll give you like three steps, I guess. I'm just making these up off the top of my head, but sometimes steps can be helpful.
I can like talk through this, but sometimes it's like, okay, what actually are the steps? So for how I would do it, you can pick up whatever steps you want and just play with it. But in terms of a framework. So the first step would be, for me personally, getting outside into nature. Parks are great, ideally you want trees.
Like trees, bushes, a river if you can, or like some water, the sea, a beach, like whatever. Something that's like, not just like grass, that's maybe not gonna give the same [00:12:00] vibes basically for me. Or there's maybe not as much like richness of like biodiversity and plants and animals and things to look at.
So just like anywhere you can find a patch of nature. like a bit to just go and be in and just getting out into nature. So that would be step one, decide where you're going to go and, and actually what if it's somewhere you've not been before? What if it's somewhere a little bit different? Or like if you have your usual walk or your usual run, what if you can take it backwards or like take a slightly different route or go and just like step into the trees for a bit before coming back to the path?
Like anything like that that's like slightly different that you can, that takes you out of the ordinary. Do you know what's really interesting? Slight tangent, but. I just remembered, so I, well no, I'll do step two and then I'm going to tell the story. So step one is just get yourself to a place where there's nature and ideally like some animals or like birds or something as well.
It just gives more interesting things to hear and to like see Step [00:13:00] two is to just either walk slowly So I rec yeah you can obviously can run if that works but like if you're walking just slow it down a little bit so it's almost like quite a slow walk and that helps like calm your nervous system down and you can just like relax and feel safe and then like you'll start to kind of dream you'll start to like see more or you can stand and like stop and just like take it all in and So it's like slowing down your pace or stopping like finding a spot, it would be step 2.
And then step 3 is just like, not having headphones in, not having anything, and just tuning into all your senses. So like, can you hear what is the ground sound like under your shoes or your boots or your Trainers, what can you hear the birds? Can you hear like the trees rustling? Can you, what can you smell?
Like what does the air smell like? What can you, can you taste anything? Like does the air taste anything of anything? What can you see? And just [00:14:00] like when you're thinking about seeing, it's like looking on the micro, like zooming right in, like get right up to a tree and look at the lichen and like touch the bark.
What do you feel? And then also zooming out and like I love to look like up at the trees and just see the top of them and see like all the branches and all the leaves just like framing like with the sky and just watch the birds sometimes like in the top of the trees or like crouch down low so you're at the level of like the fallen leaves and like maybe some blackbirds hopping about.
Just change your height, vary what you are taking in. That would is different than like what you would normally see at your normal eye level. So thinking small, thinking big. And it actually reminds me, so I grew up as a kid in Alaska and we used to do these like summer camps, summer holidays for school there are three months long.
They're 12 weeks. It's so long. And so there's a lot of like camps and like kids doing like different activities. We had this camp and it was like, I don't know if it was wilderness or nature camp, it was amazing. We [00:15:00] learned how to make like fire out of sticks and you put the sticks and then you make like a bow and you move it back and forth.
We learned to like peel, birch bark off the tree without actually damaging the tree and then we'd like soak it and we got grasses and we like shaped it and then dried it over a fire and we made like birch. bark baskets with like traditional weaving. And then we also did this thing where we went into, we had this like, I think it was a meter squared or something like that, where we went, like not a big space, and we went and we sat.
And I don't know if we had like a notebook or Or if we were just being present and I think we were there it was like it must have been an hour or something like that it felt like a long time as a kid so it was like an 11 year old of just being in this one place and tuning in and really listening to our senses and again it's like you get down to the micro level you can see you look at the like lichen and you're like in the micro level Imaginations going of like imagining it's another [00:16:00] world and there's like fairies down there or something I don't know or like you see maybe a slug or you see that you see all the like tiny bugs and the animals and then you maybe see or hear like a bird and the birds start coming closer and you're starting to like talk going like Or like, trying to like, get the bird to come near you and just being in a space and just being like, how freaking amazing is this world that we live in?
Like how amazing is nature? How amazing and lucky are we to like, again, be here at all? And I think connecting to something that, Bigger than us that we are part of. And also something that just does its own thing, like humans have a way of interfering with nature. We don't really make it that much better, but like it just does its thing on its own.
Like we don't have to control it. The seasons shift, like the leaves change, everything changes. And it's like when we can. Find those moments of awe and wonder in the tiniest, everyday moment, like, [00:17:00] tiniest little things. Like, we remember that. Like, that thing in Alaska that I did, that camp, you know, that was decades ago, and I still remember so, like, that connects so deeply with me, like, such a core memory of my childhood is just being so present and experiencing such a, like, wonder and joy at, like, that.
The world that's there that we almost can, we almost sometimes don't see because we're so busy and because we're thinking about the next thing and because we're like packing it more and ticking off our to do list. It's like there is, when we can just pause, get out in nature, slow down or stop and like just actually see what is there.
There is so much there and Like that we bring back into our day today, like I feel so energized and so different now from having this moment like that this morning. It wasn't just a walk. I was like, Oh, I just need to get out for a walk.
It was, it's not just like a walk for the sake of a walk. It's like actually [00:18:00] being present and seeing what's there. And it's a skill because sometimes it can be easy to just like plug something in or like zone out or tune out, but like the more we can really. Be present and see what's there and just pause and feel the wonder, feel the joy, like, just feel it in our body and be like, the more that's going to carry into the day to day and like, the more that, yeah, our goals will be super fun and like, they'll be amazing, but they're not going to feel any more like awe inspiring and wondrous than like the tiny little things.
Like feeling awe, feeling wonder, feeling joy, feeling excitement. is a practice. It's not dependent on something happening or something outside of us. Like, it's on us to feel that within ourselves. To, like, imagine something that is just amazing and just feel it or like see something that is amazing and like actually take it in and actually feel it.
So creating those [00:19:00] feelings like ahead of time, experiencing the joy, experiencing the awe, experiencing the wonder will help you also create your goals, but also it means when you actually make them happen. You're going to be just as awed and just as like, oh my gosh, by that as you have been looking at like some lichen on a tree.
So I know it maybe sounds a bit crazy if you've not tried this before but I promise you it is just, and it's so simple because you realize you don't need anything else. You don't need to go and like do these big things and strive and do all this and like go go go. You can because it's fun and because you want to but not because Like, somehow that's gonna change anything when you can find just like that quote.
It's like when you can find the wonder and joy and like in the tiny micro moments on the day to day. Life just becomes richer. It slows down. It feels more exciting. You have like, like, just lands like memories stick more. And you're like, It just feels, yeah, it's just like a richer, a richer experience for life.
So there you go. There are my musings for today [00:20:00] and I hope you take some time for yourself to go outside, whatever the weather, to connect with yourself, to connect with nature and something bigger and to just be and just see what you notice and feel it. Even close your eyes and just like feel the wonder, feel the awe, the stars.
That's another one. Um, like you, if whatever reason you can't get outside during the day. Get outside where you can see stars or the moon like that and just be like, okay, we are literally on this like tiny dot in space. This is the only home we know with all these other humans on this planet and we have the moon for company and like literally we're like whizzing in space, whizzing around the sun.
Like that's what sometimes I think when I see the moon, like it looks lovely, but I'm like, it is mad that it's like our companion in space. The solar system in the galaxy in like the universe is like us and the moon hanging out and then look billions of stars and other planets and it's cold and it's dark out there and what we have here [00:21:00] it just Helps me ground myself more with like again what we already have like how amazing that we have what we have So I want to leave you with that and I hope you have a wonderful nature filled and nature connecting day and evening and week ahead and life.
It's such a fun practice to build in and I'll see you next week on The Scary Goals Club. Bye!
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