The Right Frame of Mind

Any activity done with the right frame of mind could be fun. We always think that there can be fun only when there is no work, when we go on a picnic, vacation or have some entertainment. Yet, some people are known to experience tremendous enjoyment from hard work. What causes one person to love work and the other to think of it as a burden?

It is the mental attitude. If you view an activity as a pleasure, the chances are that it will be fun and you will enjoy it. It is said that four factors can help to enjoy life.

One is humour. The second is enthusiasm and the third is living each moment. The fourth is peace of mind. Finding humour in things is one of life’s greatest pleasures. A person with a good sense of humour is a joy to be with. Some of humour’s benefits are better health, longer life, creativity, increased productivity and experiencing a good feeling all the time. The peculiar thing about humour is that it relies on your point of view. You see the blue sky above, instead of the dirty mud below. In the Biblical days, the commonly used word was rejoicing, celebrating, giving thanks or getting enthused about living.

There are people who do dull jobs with lots of enthusiasm. For example, polishing a vessel may be dull but in the end when it shines, you rejoice. A person washing a car may find it dull initially, but when it shines finally, he smiles with enthusiasm. When you live in the moment, you enjoy what you are doing.

You try to notice little things around and to look for beauty even where you cannot find it. Imagine a person giving company to an old, lonely person. Imagine a nurse attending to a sick patient or a teacher solving the problems of a child or a police officer preventing a crime. In all these situations, there is an emotion — inherent joy — and you feel that you are doing something useful, without anyone else noticing it.

Lastly, peace of mind, relaxation, serenity are all essential steps towards development. It helps to maintain a clear focus in life.

Spiritual seekers often say that peace is the first step towards finding God within yourself. Undoubtedly, peace adds pleasure to any activity on hand.