Who doesn’t crave a life filled with passion. How is it then we can go through days, weeks and even months without doing anything that lights our fire and makes us feel like we can take on the world?

We write it off by saying, “That’s the way life is…”

But…

Passion isn’t a nice-to-have it’s a need-to-have! We need passion in our lives it’s the energy that fuels us.

Even Oprah says so… “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”

You know what passion does? It awakens our senses, stimulates our brains, and make us happier.  It’s true, passionate people are happy people, and people like to be around happy people. Think about someone you know who is passionate. Chances are you’re drawn to their energy and secretly wish you could have just a bit of it.

If passion is missing from your life it’s time to start spicing things up. 

We’ve all watched children play.  It is a totally spontaneous activity they don’t think about playing they just…play. They surprise us with the ideas they have and the connections they make, things that would never occur to an adult mind. It’s awe inspiring.

Wouldn’t it be great if this same spontaneous creative spark could be brought into our adult lives?

I’ve been diving into research and learning that reclaiming our spontaneity could actually be a big factor in discovering our passion. Not only does being a little spontaneous help break up the monotony that comes from a routine, predictable  lifestyle, it also contributes to what positive psychologists call “peak experiences”. These are euphoric moments characterized by wonder, joy and often times a feeling of being connected to the larger world.  

Who doesn’t want more of these!

Here are 15 ways you can spice up your life every day with spontaneity and in so doing get connected to our passions.

PAINT DOODLE DRAW

The sheer act of making art of any kind fires up all kinds of connections in the brain. Don’t worry if you don’t think of yourself as ‘artistic’ it’s not about that. It’s about engaging the right side of the brain that likes to play, experiment and have fun. It loves being unleashed. You feel an actual physical sensation in the body it’s like an inner twinkling. How to start? Is there a quote you find really inspiring? Write it out and bring it to life with markers, glitter and paint. Creativity isn’t about the product it’s about the process and how it makes you feel. It’s about losing yourself and having fun. Not to mention the a-h’as epiphanies and unexpected insights you’ll receive while engaging in it. When I need to be uplifted I do what I call heart doodles they are a quote or they focus on a issue I’m working through or something I want more of in my life.

Here’s a red shoe post about how doodling helps you reach your dreams faster!

DO SOMETHING PHYSICAL

Research has shown that physical exercise helps to force you out of left brain dominant thinking and instead adopt a more creative mindset. Exercise also increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which sharpens mental clarity. Here’s a fascinating article that claims aerobic workouts may help stimulate imagination and creativity. Go ahead ….. be spontaneous open the door right now and go for a walk.

WATCH A TED TALK OR LISTEN TO A PODCAST

I often find that tuning into a powerful TED talk is a great way to shift perspective quickly and without a lot of effort. There are so many inspiring people out there doing unbelievable things. Sometime I feel excited, other times awe stuck and always fired up.

PLAY

Studies show that when we immerse ourselves in doing something that we enjoy – we get out of our own heads, it stimulates outside the box thinking and silences our inner critic. Tinker with toys, build something, make something (cook, sew, paint, sculpt, etc…)….and most importantly think like a kid.

CALL SOMEONE

Call a friend or family member who you haven’t caught up with in a long time. Is there someone who keeps showing up in your thoughts? Get in touch. Chances are they’ve been thinking of you too. Serendipity.

 SIGN UP FOR ONLINE DATING

If you’re single and haven’t yet experimented with the wonderful world of online dating and dating apps be a little spontaneous and make your very first profile. You never know who you might meet. I can’t tell you how many people I know who have who have met their partners this way. Take the leap. Nothing to lose.

BUY A PLANE TICKET

I know this sounds a little out there but there are discount sites that offer fares so low they make travel accessible. I’ve just started subscribing to one called Scott’s Cheap Flights I do the free version and that’s pretty awesome. I’ve heard the paid version is even more amazing. If there’s a place you’ve always wanted to go this just might make it possible.

UPDATE YOUR LOOK

Make a trip to the salon and commit to a major cut or new color. You’ll feel like a whole new person. Do a closet purge and find a new style that reflects who you are and who you want to be. If you need help with this email me cheryl@redshoezone.ca and I will put you in touch with Red Shoe style expert Micolle Canido. She is a magician and works largely with what you already have in your closet envisioning it in totally new ways. Honestly you’ll be so surprised. I’ve gone through this process twice with Micolle and it’s totally amazing. See what happened when Cindy met Micolle.

SIGN UP FOR LESSONS

Pick an activity you’ve been wanting to try and finally sign up for a class. Learn to cook, paddle board, paint, dance, play an instrument, make pottery etc…. Just try something new. I (spontaneously) signed up for facial yoga a couple of weeks ago had no idea how relaxing it would be. I also spontaneously put a meditation app (Breethe) on my phone and I’ve been using it several times a day. Here’s some of my favorites for online course providers: Udemy, Daily OM, Gaia

TRY A NEW WORKOUT CLASS

Plenty of studios (yoga, dance, fitness, pilates, spin cycle, kick boxing etc…) offer free classes for first-time students. Grab some friends or drop into a new class by yourself to change up your workout routine. My go to is The Dailey Method they have studios across Canada and the US, 3 in Mexico and 1 in Paris, France. As a member I can invite a guest to give it a try,  a lot of places offer this same introduction. So, if you have a friend who keeps raving about the ‘place’ they go to see if you can snag a guest pass.

REDECORATE

Buy some paint and update your walls or simply rearrange the furniture.  Changing your physical environment will create an internal shift and how you see things.

THROW A PARTY

No holiday, no birthday, no special occasion, no problem. Gather friends for a spur of the moment (spontaneous) evening together. Think back to when you’ve attended or thrown one of these. Amazing-right?!

TRY A NEW CUISINE

Even when it feels like you’ve done it all, there’s always something new to try. Give your standard takeout spot a break and find a new restaurant that serves a type of food you’ve yet to try.

GO FOR A ROADTRIP

Pack a bag, hop in the car, take a few days (or more) and see where you end up. Adventures like these can’t help but be transformational. Go alone, take your partner or a friend and channel your inner Thelma and Louise.

WHIP UP A NEW RECIPE

Even if you’re no Giada de Laurentiis find a dish online you’ve never made before, head to store for the ingredients, and get cooking.

OVER TO YOU LADIES

Spice up your life. Rock the boat.

The secret to spontaneity is – just do it!

Don’t think–DO.

Jump, leap, take the plunge.

A little something every day.

Check in with yourself after each activity by asking, “How do I feel?”

Chances are the juices will be flowing, you’ll feel glimmers of excitement and be saying things like, “I had no idea this could be so much fun” and “I can do this!”

How awesome is that!

I’d love to hear what you do and how you feel! Please share your experience.