When was the last time you woke up excited?

Has it been awhile? It’s okay if it has!

I’m willing to bet you aren’t alone. A recent Gallup Poll revealed that 85 percent of people admitted to hating their job! (Yikes!)

Are you part of that statistic? Or, perhaps you were like me, a stay-at-home mom who loved her job, but felt unfulfilled.

There’s gotta be more to life, right?!

We fill our lives with “busyness” — hour-long commutes to jobs we hate, sitting in traffic both ways, rushing through the drive-thru on the way home because we don’t have the time or energy to cook when we get there, and weekends jam-packed with the errands that we couldn’t fit in during the week.

Who has time for passion?!

We need to feel like our life has meaning and that we are here for a reason.

Survival used to be our sole purpose — do whatever we can to survive!

Now we live in a time where (most of) our basic physical needs are met.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR LIVES LACK PASSION?

When we don’t feel fulfilled and excited by our lives, unhealthy behaviors start to creep in. We try to fill that void with unhealthy food, gambling, drugs or alcohol, among other things — these behaviors fuel anxiety and feelings of depression.

This creates a vicious cycle of guilt and shame.

Ever heard the saying “Idle hands are the devil’s playground”?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR LIVES HAVE PASSION?

On the flip side, when you’re fully immersed in your life and excited about it, some pretty amazing things start to happen!

Have you ever heard of flow? Flow refers to a state of concentration or complete absorption with the activity at hand and the situation. Basically, it’s getting so lost in an activity that you lose track of time. AKA being in “the zone”.

When flow is achieved, it leaves less time and energy for negative thoughts and self-talk.

It helps you to be more connected with yourself and with something bigger. It makes your problems seem small and insignificant.

HOW TO GET YOUR GROOVE BACK

You might be saying, “That all sounds amazing, Summer, but I don’t really have any interests or hobbies.”

Don’t fret! There are tons of ways to develop your passions. Note that I did not say passion (singular).

And you don’t have to pick just one. Life is full of opportunities to pursue many different passions.

6 WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR ZEST FOR LIFE

1. CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

When you hear the term “find your passion”, do you cringe? I know I used to!

Do you think it’s kinda silly? Do you believe that it doesn’t exist? Or, maybe that it exists for others, just not for you?

When you keep that closed off mindset, you won’t be open to new experiences. You won’t notice the signs all around you that are nudging you in the right direction.

How can you expect to lead a fulfilling, passionate life if you don’t believe it exists?

2. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE INSPIRED

Do you know people that are living full, happy lives? What are they like? Notice their behaviors. Notice how they talk and how they view the world.

If you don’t have any of those in your squad, it might be time to broaden your horizons a little. Just because you’ve had certain friends forever, doesn’t mean that you can’t make new ones.

Do you notice someone at the gym who always looks happy and confident? Say “hi” next time! Ask them what their favorite type of workout is and how they stay so motivated.

Know someone at work that’s always in a good mood despite what’s going on around them? Ask them to lunch.

Surrounding yourself with the type of people you aspire to be like will have a positive effect on your life.

3. FEEL THE FLOW

Think back to the last time you lost yourself in an activity. Maybe it was when you were in your garden, on a long run, listening to music, or cooking. Pay attention to what activities bring you fulfillment!

4. MAKE MORE TIME

I know this one sounds harsh, but do you actually enjoy watching TV or scrolling your phone? Or is it just something you do because you’re bored, and you can’t think of anything better to do?

Be honest! I’m going to bet it’s the second one.

How much happier could you be if you spent those 2-3 hours a day working towards something you are passionate about?

Something that you actually love doing and can’t wait to get to. What would that feel like?

5. STOP THINKING ABOUT IT

I know this sounds counterintuitive, but you can’t think your way to a passion-filled life.

For those of you (like me) that love a good, logical reason and explanation for everything, we must remember that passion is found in your heart, not your brain.

It’s found by doing, not by thinking. So, get out there and start trying new things! Take a class, learn a new skill, talk to a stranger, and look for a way to get out of your comfort zone!

6. DITCH YOUR PERFECTIONISM

How many times have you talked yourself out of doing something because you were worried that you weren’t good enough? I know I sure have — too many times to count actually!

Or, did the fear of failure stop you from even trying? One thing I’ve noticed that all super happy, successful people have in common is that they embrace failure. They view every failure as a chance to learn and to grow.

If you love yoga, but you’re afraid to take a class because you’re worried that you’ll look silly, just remember that everyone starts somewhere! You’ll never get the chance to become better if you never begin.

IN CONCLUSION

Health isn’t so much about what you eat as it is about why you eat.

When you have passion back in your life, you will naturally stop trying to fill that void in your life with food.

You will become inspired, motivated, and be so much more present in your life that you will only crave foods that enhance that feeling and energy.

What new hobbies are you going to try? Tell us in the comments!

For more on Summer, visit her website here!