Learn to Love Yourself Series: Have Fun!

The first topic in our series is Have fun!  I’m purposely picking fun as the first tip because when you are having fun your heart is open and it’s easier to access the part of you that’s ready to change.  So having fun can open the door for success with the other six tips.

There are so many benefits to experiencing enjoyment.  When you do something that interests you or makes you laugh or excites you your body releases what are known as the happy chemicals:  dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins.  These in turn promote feelings of well-being and pleasure.  Plus, some really cool stuff like reduced stress, increased energy levels, improved mood, better sleep, and a boosted immune system.

Doing something fun also gives your mind a distraction, a redirect away from the negative self-talk and anxiety.  Our minds can’t think two things at the same time.  It feels like it sometimes, but it’s really just toggling back and forth between thoughts.

It’s not possible to experience fear and enjoyment at the same time.

The more you fill your time and focus with things you enjoy, the less time you spend feeding the negative. It seems overly simplistic, but it's profoundly true. You get more of what you focus on whether you want it or not. So focus on pleasure.

Sometimes we’ve gone so long without having fun, we can’t think of something fun to do.  So instead of the word fun, try substituting the words enjoyable, interesting, satisfying, uplifting, stimulating, engaging, or exciting.  They all have the same chemical effect on the body and emotions.  The more fun you incorporate into your life the more ideas you’ll have.

Not only is having fun a tool to achieve greater self-love, it is also a delicious byproduct. The more you love yourself, the more fun you'll experience. Life will bring synchronicities of unexpected joy and pleasure. All of life will conspire to bring into your day lovely interesting people to laugh with, nature to marvel at, and experiences to relish.

So, find at least one fun (enjoyable, interesting, satisfying, uplifting, stimulating, engaging, or exciting) thing to do every day. Take it as seriously as your daily medications or supplements. From an energetic and physiological standpoint, it is equally effective, if not more so.

Fun comes from the same place as Love.

After 30 days you will notice a profound shift in your mindset toward yourself and others. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Try it!