Fun and Fortune
By Keith Varnum
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
– Victor Borge
For many people, the words “fun” and “fortune” don’t go together naturally. It’s a shame the magical causal connection between play and prosperity is not fully appreciated. In my life experience, having fun naturally leads to good fortune … especially if that’s your intention!
The Physics of Fun
Good fortune means happiness, health, abundance and opportunity. When we’re having fun—feeling good—we naturally attract other people to us. Call it charisma, personal power, or the Law of Attraction. It’s the physics of fun.
A Popular Misconception
Where did we get the idea that life is serious?
Seriousness is highly overrated in our Western culture. We’re taught that you have to be serious to be heard, get things done right, and survive in this precarious, tough world.
Touch the World Lightly
In fact, the opposite is true. The lighter we touch the limited world of mass consciousness, the more we’re able to create whatever we choose. The freer we are of our past, our restrictive programming, and our rigid patterns, the easier it is to thrive on this planet. And to enjoy the ride!
What Do We Want?
What do people want most in the world? What is the most sought-after goal? What is our strongest intetnion? From the moment we awaken to the moment we close our eyes at night, what is it we seek every minute of the day?
We want to feel good!
Everyone wants the same thing—to be happy, to feel good. That’s why we go to parties, concerts and movies. That’s why we seek out friends and partnerships.
The primary motivation behind every action we take is the desire to feel happy. Even when we’re focused on moving away from pain, we are, in effect, moving toward feeling good—physically, emotionally and spiritually. By awakening our good feelings, we attract the people, money and opportunities that help us get our heart’s desires—good fortune.
Fun has Bad Reputation
Contrary to the opinion of many folks, it’s OK to want to have fun in everything you do in life. It’s not selfish, insensitive or self-centered. Wanting life to be fun is natural, normal and healthy—and profitable!
Fun = Profit
Studies show as business people know: the public buys from the salespeople they feel good around!
Beyond price and benefits, people want to feel good. It’s not the product they want—it’s the good feeling they’re getting from the salesperson associated with the product or service. So, if you’re authentically feeling good, people want what you exude. They want to be around you, be associated with you, be helpful to you—and buy from you.
A Universal Win-Win
When you feel good, you naturally begin to feel loving toward others and yourself. You naturally begin to take better care of your environment and your body. You’re more able and willing to help others feel good and get what they want in life. You win. The world wins.
Torn between Two Worlds
I was raised by two sets of parents—with radically different approaches to life. My biological father and mother were hard working, nose-to-the-grindstone, modern-day Puritans. They were financially successful, but didn’t have a clue how to enjoy life.
My three “chosen” parents were three “fathers” from traditional Japanese, Hawaiian and Native American backgrounds. They were focused yet fun-loving, productive yet playful. Their creativity in life was born in joy and expressed through joy!
They not only took the time to “smell the roses,” they planted, touched and talked to the roses! From my “chosen” parents, I learned the power of play.
Fun Is a Good Life Lubricant
Every aspect of life goes better with fun. Fun can lubricate even the most tedious chore. And fun can infuse even the most serious of situations with the lightness of delight.
Of course life situations confront us daily where we need to be focused and strong. But enjoying each moment does not diminish our ability to be decisive and efficient. In fact, a flexible, light-hearted approach usually helps us be more resourceful and effective. A spirit of playfulness spawns creativity and success
Intentionally Make Room for Fun
You have to have something in order to give something. You have to possess the qualities you value in order to share them with others. If you’re not willing to give yourself happiness, how can you help others find happiness?
Create the attitude and conditions that make fun more likely to occur in your daily affairs. Invite surprise. Welcome serendipity. Cultivate spontaneity.
Be open to unexpected sources of income, resources and support—especially those that don’t “make sense” to the intellect with its limited range of possibilities.
Set your intention to tap into the magical power of fun.
Notice how synchronicity playfully guides us to our goals. Know that the whole of your life—people and events—has been orchestrated behind-the-scenes by your soul to bring you the profound adventures you want to experience this lifetime. Approach life as if the whole of creation is conspiring to bring you goodness … because it is!
Our Enlightened Forbearers
The founders of our country knew the power of feeling good.
Up until the last minute, the signers of the Declaration of Independence were voting on these powerful words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Property.”
Yes, “Property” was the third “unalienable Right” in the original draft up until the day of the signing! The night before the representatives of the original thirteen colonies voted on this momentous document, Thomas Jefferson had a divine revelation to change the word “Property” to “Happiness.”
Why? Because he realized that the good feeling of happiness would, by definition, bring good fortune (happiness). And that merely owning property may or may not secure happiness.
The Power of Play
Take an outrageous voyage through your own humanity—a journey to turn yourself inside out and explore the extent of your self-expressive power. Play, spontaneity and improvisation are integral aspects of being human, healthy and happy.
Ancient and tribal peoples play, sing, chant, drum, dance and act out stories as basic ways to relate socially, to make individual and collective decisions, and to achieve goals in daily life.
Play yourself into a new arena of personal creativity, resourcefulness and inspiration. Open to the spirit and magic of living life through the wonderment of childlike adventure, innocence, lightheartedness, humor and irreverence.
As the musician Willie Nelson sings:
“Some things are too important to be taken seriously.”