We’ve all heard it. The over the top inspirational statements designed to change our lives right.now!
Level up your joy!
Say yes to now!
Live your best life!
Stop the insanity!
Be in the now!
When I read or hear these phrases, I mostly roll with it. I’ve attended life coaching school (a school for life coaches! Like Hogwarts but with more listening.) and read my fair share of personal development books. What kills me, is that the people that these phrases are most trying to reach, the uninitiated and new to the ‘life can be different’ scene, is that they are esoteric, hard to connect with. They can be a bit of a brick wall mood killer, because how they are first met with is: ‘If I knew how to do that, it’d be a done deal already. That sounds hollow.’
So here I am, ready to demystify the process for you. Because that’s what these are, processes to be learned that these phrases become shorthand for.
Level up your joy. This is a personal peeve of mine because I think it’s pretty unclear. What it’s aiming towards though, is that there can be more to life. More love, more happiness, more joy. So, if you look at your ‘joy level’ today, on a scale of 1-10, 1 being terrible and 10 being euphoria, what would you rate it? Keep that number in mind, there’s a test later 🙂
Now, once you’ve identified that number – and everyone’s scales are a bit different to there’s no need to compare notes, think about what more joy would look like to you. Again, everyone’s answers will be different, no cheating!
For some people, more joy looks like more time with their family. For others, more time to read by themselves. Or take that Hawaiian vacation. Joy looks different for everyone, so it’s important to think about what this means for you.
After you’ve answered that question, go out there and make it happen. If it’s time with the family, book that trip to see them. If you’re a solo reader, get to the library! The point of this is it’s important to realize that there is no cap on joy. OR happiness or love for that matter.
When someone tells you to level up your joy, they are asking you to do more of what makes you happy.
Be in the now, say yes to now, stop the insanity, these are all telling you to stop letting the past dictate your actions in the present. As well as stop letting your fear or obsession with the future impact your present choices as well. Do what makes sense now. One of my most favorite quotes is:
This, to me sums it up a bit better, and is a bit more relatable.
Live your best life, this to me, is just a reminder to be your best, try your best, and that anything is possible! Similar to level up your joy, figure out what that is and make it happen.
Confused? A little lost? That’s where I come in! Helping my clients identify their best life and their big dreams, and making them happen is my favorite part of my job. Hit me up for a free 20 coaching session if this is something you waver on.
What about you? What are the over the top phrases that confuse or annoy you? Leave them in the comments and I’ll help you to demystify them.
Ellen Ercolini is a Career and Life Coach dedicated to helping you figure our your life passion and purpose, so you can have the profession (and profits!) you want. Curious how she can impact your life? Schedule your free ‘uncork your awesome’ session with her here.
“God helps those who help themselves” — I hate that one. It’s most often quoted as scripture by people who align themselves with Christianity, but its not even in the Christian bible. Also, its philosophy is completely opposite of the principles of Christian faith, drives me nuts!
YES! That one in particular makes me steam a bit because you’re right, it’s really opposed to what those values are and should stand for. It’s like values hijacking!
“What are the over the top phrases that confuse or annoy you?” “Think positive” annoys me, not because we shouldn’t try and think positive, but because I felt like the “think positive” mantra took away from the “do positive” truth. Thankfully the renewed interest in positive “habits” has brought things back around to even – I think.
Thanks for the great tips! I do have a question however that I think you could probably answer.
I was wondering, How does someone start their own web development company?
How would someone with only a few web development internships start their own web development
company right after college? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!