Honestly, I really do believe one of the reasons that I’ve been able to “not find” those 50 pounds I “lost” over 11 years ago, is because I put a great deal of emphasis and effort into having fun, playing and doing things that are pleasurable.

Therefore, when I work with people, one-on-one or in groups, one of the very first questions I toss out there to chew on is this:  “How satisfied are you with the amount of fun and play in your life?”   Followed up by:  “How heavy is its absence?”

Their initial response is a “huh?” and/or they look at me like I’ve got two heads. “What do you mean fun? Play? And what’s that  got to do with weight loss?”

To be clear, I’m not so much about weight loss as I am about lightening up, and fun and play are crucial to lightening; don’t you think? (Which will inevitably lead you to permanent weight removal!)

They tell me that they are short on time; they don’t have time to do fun/pleasure things.  Short on time is a funny concept, since time is a human construct.  It doesn’t exactly exist.  But okay…I’ll go along with it.

You’ve got 24 hours in a day, and most of them are taken up by work, errands, things that you “have to” do.  (Oh, I really have an aversion to those types of “have to’s” and “musts.”)

BUT…here’s what you have to know.  Having fun, playing and creating pleasure is THE MUST!

The absence of pleasure can cause one’s mood to slip, depression can set in, and self-esteem is likely to erode. All likely to trigger emotional eating.

Without pleasure, without leisure time, it becomes more and more difficult to define yourself apart from your job or your paycheck.  Juliet Schor, Harvard economist, reported that factory workers in Britain were forced to give up their overtime due to the company’s economic woes.    What do you think happened?

With time on their hands, people got together with their friends and family and the meaning of life became clear. Their self-esteem began to rise; they found emotional balance.  They worried less and played more.  They felt better.

Adults need to learn, relearn and/or reinforce their ‘finding pleasure’ skills.

• Pleasure: plezh-er – the state or feeling of being pleased; enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one’s liking; gratification; delight. sensual gratification.  Are you traveling on business or for pleasure?

What gives you pleasure?  You know, the small things in life that give you pleasure.

List 3 to 6 things/activities that give you pleasure that you can create time for today!

For more fun and pleasurably play, visit:  Facebook / Kick in the Tush Club

Be sure to sign up for my FUN workshop at Rowe Camp & Conference — FEED YOUR SOUL, CHANGE YOUR WEIGHT–the weekend of March 29-31 at Rowe Camp and Conference Center, in Rowe, Massachusetts (the Berkshire Mountains; unbelievably, stunningly beautiful) for what is sure to be a mind changing, life changing, enlivening experience.  Feed Your Soul at Rowe!

Spread the word–NOT the icing!
Janice

PS:  Dictated by Our Lady of Weight Loss but NOT Read.  Excuse typos.
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