Well, hello again. How you doin'? Well you look fantastic! I'll bet you thought you were never going to get another post again... you might have even crept off to other web sites. Well, it's good to be back (and certainly good to have you back). Let's not worry about lost time or what the plan is now, let's just get with the posts.
I was crossing the valley yesterday and listening to Mihály Csíkszentmihályi (say that 3 times really fast... shoot, say it 1 time real slow) talk about FLOW, which is the mental state one enters (according to Mihaly) when one is fully immersed in what they are doing. The ultimate level of Flow is when you are so in zone, your head so in the game, that you experience a feeling of joy, rapture or jubilation (not so subtle melodrama reference; it was really a fantastic show).
So one part of what makes things Flow or allows you to get lost in something is making sure there is a purpose to what you are doing. This is where you get into the zone is when you are fully focused on what you are doing and have a clear purpose or outcome. 
So... those were his words, not mine. But it did get me thinking (and so finally we get to the creamy filling part of the post... my favorite) Is this what really enables us to get into the zone, to lose track of time? So let's examine my life for a minute (it'll be interesting, come on)
At work, I lead a technology department. For that department we have a Mission Statement. We have a Vision Statement. Values. Goals. Very clearly defined (and occasionally adhered to). As a project manager (remember, I keep my PMP hand strong), I have sponsors and scopes and timelines and work breakdown structures (and all other kinds of similarly exciting things, but I won't get you into all that here). I certainly have intentions and goals in my own activities (ie gym time!) and things that I want for my children; hopefully I have raised them to be successful and happy.
But what about everything else? What about the daily activities in life? Not so long ago, I would have been lost in where to even start to answer that question (if I would have understood it). Today I think I can at least give a partial answer. My goal, my intent, my purpose if you will, is happiness (and maybe a really good sandwich). It's that simple. Get happiness from the things I do and give happiness where I can. I think that's a pretty good purpose.
To help me out, a little more Abraham
The greatest gift that you could ever give to another is your own happiness, for when you are in a state of joy, happiness, or appreciation, you are fully connected to the Stream of pure, positive Source Energy that is truly who you are. And when you are in that state of connection, anything or anyone that you are holding as your object of attention benefits from your attention.
And what about this? What about these posts? Well, these are for you, my object of attention, and for your benefit (I hope). My purpose is to communicate with you, and hopefully extend that happiness, that joy I get being here doing this, to you. I have found that I really enjoy putting these posts together and revel in my own ability to actually sit down and put my thoughts to semi-coherent words. And then I pretend that you are reading and understanding and nodding your head in agreement and occasionally touching a hankie to your eye because you are so deeply moved. (Okay, that might be a bit much.) That thought makes me happy, and that is my purpose... look at that. Circle complete. (it all spins down to this right here right now)
So dear readers... this blog, today's post, my happiness - is all for you. You make me happy. You rock my world. I hope you're happy.
🙂
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I know! the song is a rerun. Nothing else fit as well.