Step 2:
The Fun Factor Essential
Attribute Target
The Fun Factor Essential
Attribute Target
(Paying Attention to What You Pay Attention To)
Initially, I began by using what I call the Fun Factor Essential Attribute Target, (FEAT). It gave me an opportunity to see, in one place, how I, (and others), perceived their Attributes in each of the five Essentials. The intention of the Fun Factor is to fill as much of the target as possible. I attempted to assess the strength of my fundamentals by placing a dot around the target in each one of the five Essential segments. The less strength I had in a particular Essential Attribute, the more towards the center I put the dot. Conversely, the more strength I had in a fundamental the more towards I put the dot toward the outside. Initially, I was not interested in maximizing the area within the target graphic; I was simply trying to figure out to what Essential I needed to pay the most attention.
Curiously, while conducting my own assessments I found I was paying attention to Essential characteristics to which I never paid attention before. For example, I never really quite asked myself if I had a sense of humor. Luckily, or thankfully, I felt that I had somewhat of a sense of humor so I gave myself a 5 on a scale of 1 to 5. I did this with each of the other Essential Attributes. Over the next few days I let my assessments cook in my mind. I went back to them frequently. I made tweaks to my assessments. This was a helpful process that I think you’ll find useful as well. I found as time went on I was more easily objective where I hadn’t been originally. Perhaps that was the most profound experience in the entire Fun Factor process. I became more self-aware and that, in and of itself, lead to a more enjoyable and confident me. I was understanding myself better! And, not coincidentally, I started seeing the humility fundamental begin to rise.
I realized something else quite interesting. As I assessed my Essential Attributes all I needed to do was pay attention to them without putting much effort into changing them. They began the strengthen by themselves! For example, as I considered my level of GRATITUDE in my life I became more thankful simply because I paid attention to it. As I assessed my Essential Attribute, ATTITUDE, to determine if I was more positive or negative, I found that I tended to consider more positive thoughts and that -- just naturally -- changed my overall attitude. In all, simply paying attention to the fundamental had the effect of changing it in a way that increased my Attribute for that Fun Factor Essential.
One of the most important things I have realized during the process of writing is something that I’ll say over and over again. When we pay attention to what we pay attention to thoughts become things and we naturally migrate to a true sense of who -- and what -- we are.
Embracing the notion of becoming a more fun person is a lifestyle change. By this I mean that the very fabric upon which we live must somehow change. This is where most people lose it. Change takes us out of their comfort zone. Through years of our cultural education and media we are taught that our happiest self is when it's in a box. I resist this premise completely. Change is necessary to grow. To resist change is to not live healthy and productive lives. In fact, I believe to remain the same is to not live at all.
Often, we equate a lifestyle change to something painful because it’s usually taking us from a place of pain to a place of less or no pain. Stopping smoking is painful. Losing weight can be painful or at least frustrating. Divorce or separation are certainly painful. It is any wonder why we wish to avoid any sort of change in our lifestyle?
A change in lifestyle requires change in behavior. Changes in behavior often require the elimination or the creation of some sort of constant routine, or dare I say habit. I try to strongly avoid the word “habit” because the connotation is frequently perceived as negative and painful. In fact, habits are so challenging in human nature that countless books have been written and zillions of psychiatrist paychecks received to help people deal with them. It’s like a war of of the mind, isn’t it? One habit is created to counteract some other form of habit. And these habits, while necessary to change the lifestyle to something more productive or beneficial, are perceived as painful in and of themselves.
We create and utilize habits to change our state of mind. The eventual changes in our state of mind create a new state of being. That new state of being is freed from whatever bad behavior was restricting it. The Fun Factor elevates the Essential Attributes to one where we more effectively and easily express our attitudes of enjoyment and positivity, and the upward spiral of health and happiness ensues -- a new state of being.
