Happy July!! I’m back with another Out of the Kitchen post. I’m kind of just letting my heart guide me with this, so if you want more of these posts let me know! P.S. If you’re doing the 7-Day Smoothie Challenge, then happy Day 1 of the challenge! I know that summer started back in June, but July has always felt like the real start of summer to me. Maybe it’s because it’s still bright outside at 6 pm, we celebrate our anniversary and travel plans are coming into their final prep stages, but July truly is summer! I’m really trying to bring back that joy that I once felt as a teenager on summer vacation, into the everyday adulting life. Summer should be special for all of us! You may have noticed that I’ve been on the theme of happiness this summer, and there’s a really good reason for that. I’ve always known how important happiness was to me, of course, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I started to actively reach for it more than I ever have in my life. It was a question the Mr. asked me that really changed my entire outlook.
The Mr. reads a lot, like 6x more than I do (and I read a lot) and he came across a question in a motivational online story that I didn’t know would really rock the way my goals were headed this year. No really, when you stop, take a quiet moment and think “WHAT in this life, do I NEED, to make ME, truly HAPPY?”, what comes to mind? In fact, don’t google that question, because then you’ll only get answers from what others deem will make you happy. In these moments, you need to not tell yourself what you need, instead you need to hear from yourself what you need, to be quiet enough to actually hear it. I know, it sounds kind of weird, but I really do mean it. I always knew that a blanket statement of “money and a stable career” didn’t make me happy (which by the way, if that truly makes you happy, that is OK), but I knew that having enough money to travel the world, and growing my business to a point where this was achievable actually was. What I love about the author of this online story is that he said to make the list yours. YES it is okay if having a nice car is on the list, because it’s your list. But just ensure it’s what you know in your heart you need to be happy, and not what the world is always telling you. Then say the list out loud. Keep it on your phone and view it often. Print it off and keep it somewhere private, or public if you’d like. Manifest that list into your life. Very soon, you’ll start to examine your life and slowly align your thoughts, ideologies and actions to achieving the things on this list. Sounds like, well, magic right? Well, ever since finishing Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic, I’m an even bigger believer of this. So I followed the author, and I made my list. He warned that the list may start out long and flooded with some things that we think would made us happy. But little by little, we would whittle it down to what our heart knows is true. P.S. – this is scary sharing!! But ever since making this list, which I personally consider to be a life vision board, I’ve seen how I’ve shifted the way I have approached several things.
This list grows for me every day, and it’s a true reflection of what makes me happy. Now, to the great stuff. I knew that in order to really achieve this list, I would need to make a bucket list of some sorts to make this into a list of fun activities. Summer is supposed to be fun, right?! I don’t remember the last time I made a summer bucket list, so I turned my bucket list into a summer happiness bucket list – things I wanted to do this summer, with zero pressure to achieve them, that I know would better me, my happiness and my life. Ready for the list?
I’m printing this where I can see it daily to inspire what I do, to ensure my actions are working for my happiness. Want to make your own bucket list after you’ve made your happiness list? I want you to too! I’ve included a template for both, so that you can download it, print it off and fill it in!
So friend,
What do you need in this life to make you truly happy? What’s on your bucket list?
Let me know in the comments below, and happy summer! If you make a bucket list, let me know! All my love, Jessica
