There are many ways to live life. Some people follow the joyful approach. Some follow the jeopardy approach. Some follow the joyful approach that sometimes also has elements of jeopardy.
Different people follow these approaches in different ways. Let’s explore these themes.
The Joyful Approach
Some people learn to follow this approach early in their lives. They may have had parents, grandparents or other significant people who gave them the following message.
“Most people want to be happy. One approach is to do what you enjoy in life, providing you don’t hurt other people. It can be important to follow your interests and study the subjects you enjoy.
“Some may say that this is an easy route, but people who do what they love also have setbacks. Doing what you enjoy will give you the strength to find solutions to challenges.”
Some people may also aim to follow the joyful approach in their work. They may begin by doing a variety of jobs in the field they find fascinating. They may then focus on a specific activity where:
They can play to their strengths … They can do superb work … They can deliver success.
Some people choose to follow their vocation – their calling. Their vocation may remain constant throughout their life. They may express this through various vehicles, however, on the way towards doing valuable work.
How to find your vocation? One approach is to focus on several satisfying projects that you have done in your life. Looking at what made these satisfying can reveal your successful style of working. It can also provide clues to your vocation.
There are relatively few vocational themes but the way a person expresses these will be unique. Most of the themes revolve around the eternal human activities. These include, for example:
Encouraging People … Healing … Creating … Designing … Problem Solving … Communicating … Passing On Knowledge … Performing … Coordinating People’s Talents … Leading … Pioneering.
Some people find and follow their vocation. They also learn that they never retire from their vocation. It is something they express in different ways throughout their life.
People who follow the joyful approach love to keep developing. Some do this by playing to their strengths but also stretching themselves. They do this in a positive way, however, and do their best to achieve success.
The Jeopardy Approach
Some people follow the jeopardy approach in a relatively healthy way. Some follow it because they feel alive and get a kick out of taking risks. Some follow it in a way that can lead to difficulties.
There are several definitions for the word jeopardy. Some focus on the possibility of danger, injury or death. The definition we are using is less onerous. It is:
Doing activities that may expose yourself to loss or harm.
Some people feel alive when doing things that are exciting but also have an element of chance or risk. Many mountain climbers, for example, love to test themselves. But they plan carefully and only take calculated risks.
Some sports people perform at their best in situations where there is a lot to gain but also an element of jeopardy. They enjoy competing – both with themselves and other people – and aim to rise to the occasion.
Some people have a less healthy relationship with jeopardy. They may be guilty of poor planning and not do their due diligence before embarking on ventures. They may then encounter problems they should have anticipated.
Some people may be addicted to gambling, substance abuse or harmful behaviour. This increases the chances of jeopardy. Their short-term fix can create problems for both themselves and other people.
The Joyful Approach That
Has Elements Of Jeopardy
Some people follow the joyful approach that sometimes has elements of jeopardy. They build from a solid base, however, before stretching themselves to work towards achieving success.
Such people focus on what they can control in the situation and follow strategies that work. There may be times, however, when they need to find other solutions to challenges
They then buy time to think. They aim: a) to clarify the real results to achieve; b) to clarify the possible options together with the pluses and minuses of each option; c) to settle on their chosen route forwards.
Such people rehearse the strategy and play different scenarios. They clarify how to build on the pluses of the strategy and minimise any risks or minuses.
They then move into action but keep reading reality and focus on what is actually happening. They then aim to build on what is working and tackle areas for improvement.
Such people recognise that, while they may be following the joyful approach, there may still be some elements of jeopardy. They aim to find solutions to these challenges and do their best to achieve success.
Let’s return to your own life. Can you think of a situation where you may want to follow elements of the joyful approach? How can you do this in your own way? What may happen as a result of taking these steps?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
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