Minimize the things you have to do.

Replace them with things you get to do.

——

There are two ways to go about this.

The first is to literally stop doing things you don't want to do. We can do that here and there—clearing away "obligations" we'd rather not have in our lives any longer.

But that will only take us so far.

We live in a world that demands certain things from us. If we want to be upstanding citizens in our society; if we want to achieve certain things; if we just want to be a good friend or family member: there are going to be obligations.

So it comes down to shifting our perspective of those things.

Forgive me if I butcher this:

Eckhart Tolle has a philosophy where you can approach events in your life one of three ways: accept them, embrace them, or resist them.

Labelling something as a "have to do" means resisting it. You're saying, "I don't want to do this."

The very best you can do from there is accept you still have to do it--but even that's incredibly hard. More likely: you'll repeat, "I don't want to do this," over and over until it's finally done.

That's a hard way to live.

But if you GET to do things, you open the door to embracing them. Embracing them means being present during them. It means facing them with a sense of curiosity and play. It means taking some of the pressure off. It means removing some of the willpower it takes to get started.

It makes life easier and more enjoyable.

It might not be like flipping a switch—simply saying “I get to—” but it’s sets you up in the right direction; it gives you a chance.

——

Like many things I talk about, it may seem trivial. Maybe it sounds like semantics.

But it's not. Words matter. The language you use shapes how you think and feel. Subtle changes can make profound differences.

So what do you get to do today?

——

Now how can you really change your perspective so you see things like work emails as a "get to do?"

For me, it starts by reminding myself: "I GET to live." No matter how I spend my time, being here—being aware—is already a gift. This is crazy. Being able to read and write is crazy. Talking to people is crazy. Using Microsoft Excel is crazy. Designing a flier is crazy.

It doesn't matter how boring or frustrating something is; the fact that we're alive to do it is insane.

It's all a gift we get to play with.

And if you start there, and the idea of doing something still seems unacceptable, then perhaps that's something you walk away from. You're allowed to turn things down and go play with some other opportunity. Life IS short, after all.

Love.