Spontaneity, Money, and Others[Awakenings Home Page] [ Return to Resiliency Topics ] [Back] [Next] |
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Planning for Fun Let’s return to that list of things you like to do. We have taken a look at how often you engage in these activities. There are other factors to consider in determining how useful this list is to you. How much planning does it take you to have a good time? Read again each item on the list and put the letter "P" by each item that takes more than 15 minutes of planning and preparation before you can being doing it. We are seeking to find out how quickly can you do something that will build your resiliency level. If all of your items have a "P" by them then you must be very well organized to have fun. You need some items that take no planning because these enable you to be more spontaneous in building your energy. What kind of things can you do quickly.
These are simple pleasures that take little effort or planning but if fully appreciated can lift your spirits. Your list should also include those items that take planning and organization such as that trip to Europe, the long awaited concert, or the family reunion. These items build anticipation which itself is enjoyable and can pull you along. To build and maintain your resilience resources you need both spontaneous and planned activities. Another way to assess your ability to enjoy life and be resilient is to see how much money it costs you to have fun? Reread all the items on your list and this time put a dollar sign ($) by each item that costs you more than $10.00 each time you do it. When you are through, if everything has a ($) by it then we hope that you have lots of money or you will be having no fun. Ideally, you will have a balance between items that cost and those that are free. Cost-free items help you enjoy life even when you have no money. Investing your money into certain activities brings you a special experience like a vacation to an exotic location. You need these experiences too. Try to develop a balanced list. Resiliency: Alone and With Others One last way to evaluate the list of things you like to do is to read each item and to place the letter "A" by each item that you usually do alone. Again, you are looking for a balance. If you do very few things you enjoy alone then it may be that you depend too much on others to entertain you and create enjoyment for you. If you do everything alone, then you may be isolating yourself from others and robbing yourself of the enjoyment of relationships. Practice resiliency both alone and with others. This list of things that you enjoy is a brief way of assessing your capacity and ability to develop and maintain a resiliency level. The more you exercise your choices to have fun or accomplish something that is meaningful to you, the more resilient you will be. |
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[Awakenings Home Page] [ Return to Resiliency Topics ][Back] [Next] |
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