Energize Your Life: Boost Zest & Learning

Are you excited to get up in the morning and start your day? Do you approach life with energy and enthusiasm? As much as I want to answer “yes!” to those questions, I often find myself lacking that spark—even after a good night’s sleep. And I know I’m not alone.

It turns out that zest—approaching life with excitement and energy—is one of the least common strengths worldwide. Yet, it’s also one of the strongest predictors of life satisfaction. That’s a wake-up call! So, how do we cultivate more zest in our lives?

To tackle this challenge, I decided to lean on one of my own top strengths: love of learning. Fortunately, using our signature strengths can be energizing in itself, giving me a head start on my quest for more zest.

The “Love of Learning” Strength

Love of learning is all about a passion for mastering new skills, topics, and ideas—whether through formal classes or self-directed exploration. People with this strength are energized by the process of learning itself, not just the end result. While it’s often linked to academic success, love of learning extends far beyond the classroom.

Love of Learning in Action

Curious about how to boost my zest, I dove into books on character strengths, explored resources like the VIA Institute on Character’s website, and observed people who radiate zest—both in real life and on the screen. I even consulted my AI friend, Perplexity, for fresh ideas! After gathering inspiration, I started experimenting with different strategies and tracked how they affected my energy.

5 Ways to Activate Your Love of Learning

1. Learn a New Dance: Watch tutorials or take a class, then teach the moves to a friend.
2. Explore Languages: Pick a phrase like “hello” or “thank you” and learn to say it in as many languages as you can.
3. Travel and Learn: Visit new places, blending education with adventure by exploring local culture and history.
4. Deep Dive into a Topic: Choose a subject that fascinates you and dig deeper.
5. Museum Adventures: Check out a new museum and share your discoveries with friends or family.

The “Zest” Strength

Zest involves approaching life with excitement, energy, and enthusiasm, fully engaging in activities rather than doing them halfheartedly. People high in zest feel activated and alive, using their energy to the fullest degree.

My Zest Quest: What Worked

Here’s what made a difference for me:

• Start with Excitement: Each morning, I asked myself what I was looking forward to. If nothing came to mind, I found a way to add a little fun.
• Move Your Body: I committed to at least one energizing activity every day—walking, yoga, or weight training—and added movement breaks like dancing, stretching, or running up and down the stairs.
• Connect with Positive People: I sought out energizing collaborators for work projects.
• Take Playful Breaks: Every afternoon, I paused for something fun—watching a comedy clip, chatting with a friend, or diving into a good book.
• Prioritize Rest: Quality sleep became non-negotiable.

These simple shifts noticeably boosted my energy, enthusiasm, and overall zest for life!

5 Ways to Spark Zest

1. Get Outside: Soak in the sights and sounds of nature.
2. Be Active: Do a physical activity you love.
3. Use Your Strengths in New Ways: Find new ways to flex your top character strengths.
4. Turn Up the Music: Listen to upbeat tunes and sing or dance along.
5. Stimulate Your Senses: Try minty lip balm, splash your face with cold water, or inhale an energizing scent like citrus or spearmint.

This Week’s Strength Challenge

I’d love to hear from you! Comment and tell me:

• What do you love to learn?
• How will you bring more zest into your week?

Want to Go Deeper?

If you’re interested in a personalized strengths exploration, I’m offering a limited number of discounted strength sessions this summer. Email me at dianna@collierclan.net for details.