Energized

You know the feeling. The lift in your spirit, the yes in your heart, the light in your eyes. You’re doing something you love to do. And you get a little rush of joy. You’re energized.

Sometimes this burst of happiness happens in the midst of our regular work—and how fortunate we are if our work does this for us. Not everyone is so lucky.

For writers like me, many times we have to just plod along, laying down one sentence after another while stopping frequently to agonize over the right word choice. We’re not sure the piece is working, and then bam—the right word, the right phrase, the right rhythm flashes through our minds and everything comes together. We feel exhilarated. Our hearts say yes!

More often, though, I would guess that such rushes of joy come as we engage in interests or passions that are not work-related. Lately I’ve found that taking photos—especially capturing something unusual or beautiful in nature—also makes my heart say yesand sparks a happy burst of fresh energy.

When this kind of satisfying joy and excitement pays us a visit, let’s soak it up and enjoy it to the fullest. Let’s pay attention to it and pinpoint the things that make our spirits take wing.

Once we’ve identified the things that energize us, wouldn’t it make sense to engage in those activities regularly? Those infusions of happiness will benefit not only our sense of well-being but our relationships and work as well.

After all, the lift in our spirits, the yes in our hearts, the light in our eyes are all worth the time we take to get that little rush of joy. So let’s do it. Let’s get energized.

My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” Psalm 28:7b

*What energizes you?

*Flickr photo by kelsey_lovefusionphoto

**The Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is still underway. Details are in my Oct. 17 post and sign-up is to the right. Don’t miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Comments

  1. This is such a good post and I so agree we all should get energized!!

  2. Identifying what energizes us is definitely a key to happiness and living a fulfilled life. I think as I have grown older I have come to realize that it is the simple things in life that energize me. Listening to my children’s laughter, family talk around the dinner table, and long walks in the park are just some of the things that give me energy to write. Thanks for another great post.

  3. “Once we’ve identified the things that energize us, wouldn’t it make sense to engage in those activities regularly?”

    And yet we don’t always engage with those activities! Just this morning, I took some time to listen in to Gary Chapman’s hymn singing. I’m always blessed by his music; I thought to myself, why am I not listening every day? This fits perfectly with what you’re saying here, Cheryl.

    I love photography as well, but I don’t have a decent camera and little energy to figure a new one out.

    Love your pictures!

    peace~elaine

  4. A job done well
    Happy time with family
    Sunrises
    The touch or voice of God
    A new bird at the feeder
    the perfect golden glow when the sun goes down
    Joyous music that makes you move

  5. Ladies, thanks so much for sharing what energizes you. I’m energized by many of the same things you are!

  6. Hi Cheryl,

    Sometimes writing gives me that joy, other times, my brain feels sluggish and foggy. The writing takes effort and feels strenuous. Tonight was like that. I sat down, pulled up Word, and started typing though. Then the joy came…

    Re your comment, the Psalms are so good! I just quoted from them today in fact.

    mmm, and those butterfingers are still calling my name. :)

    Have a great week,
    Jennifer Dougan
    http://www.jenniferdougan.com

  7. Jennifer, I know what you mean by the sluggish, foggy brain. That happens to me, too. You’re right — writing is hard work!

Leave a Comment

*