I recently ordered a ton of toys with the hope of keeping my crazy little puppy Barkley entertained (and if anyone has any tips for keeping a puppy busy, let me know!). When the box arrived, Barkley was pleased with some of her new playthings, but she was obsessed with the big piece of cardboard they arrived in. (You can see the same thing happening in this old Mastercard commercial.) Babies and puppies tend to find packaging just as exciting (if not more so!) than the items they encase. And even as an adult I've experienced this—receiving a gift wrapped in a box or gift wrap that I liked even better than the gift itself. 

I call this the Packaging vs. Present Phenomenon, a situation very common in kids (and pups!) in which they appreciate the packaging more than the present. As we get older, it seems less and less common for us to be thrilled by the box a gift came in, mostly because we've become so trained to look past the outer wrapping to see what's inside. While watching Barkley play endlessly with a cardboard box while ignoring the new toys scattered around her, I realized there's a lot we can learn from this Packaging vs. Present Phenomenon...

5 LESSONS FROM THE PACKAGING vs. PRESENT PHENOMENON

1. Appreciate the simple things. 

The box and wrapping, such simple things, are what babies and puppies are drawn to when they receive a gift. They appreciate the basics—some colorful paper and a hearty slab of cardboard—and will happily play with just one item without even realizing there are other objects around them. We could learn a lot from their focused appreciation. With so much to see and do these days (just a little online time has me lengthening my wish list like crazy!), it's tough to remember how valuable each little simple thing is. Whether it's a neatly wrapped gift or simply a quiet moment alone, it's worthwhile to acknowledge (and enjoy!) life's little pleasures. 

2. Explore objects from another point of view. 

One of the cool things about watching a puppy or a baby with a box is seeing all of the silly things they'll do with it. It certainly never occurred to me to put a flap of the box in my mouth and chew on it, but Barkley sure seemed to enjoy nibbling on the cardboard corners. (Then again, I'm not a teething puppy so it's probably no surprise that this didn't occur to me...) When a puppy encounters something new, she explores it. Pushing it with her nose, biting it, and pawing at it. While I wouldn't recommend biting into newly discovered things (unless they're edible, of course!), there's something to be gained from really taking the time to look at something in a variety of different ways. 

3. Find value in what matters to you. 

Puppies don't care that a toy cost $10 while the box it came in was (relatively) free. All they care about is what grabs their attention and seems like fun. What they value isn't based on status symbols or the latest trends. They focus on what's important to them, right in that moment. If the box seems like more fun, the box has more value (regardless of how many times a human squeaks a new toy right in front of them). We, too, should value not what we're "supposed" to value, but what actually matters to us. We shouldn't be held back by what we should value; instead, we should be inspired by all that we could value. 

4. Use your imagination like a kid. 

Apparently one of the reasons little kids like boxes so much is that they are absolute wonderlands for their imaginations. For an adult, a box is just a box. But for a kid, a box can be anything—a castle, a dungeon, a boat! (I can't speak for a puppies imagination, but I'd like to believe that Barkley has some creative ideas for what exactly a box's purpose is.) The more we try to see things the way a kid would, the more we open ourselves up to new and more creative ways of thinking. In fact, I saw proof of this in this episode of Brain Games. The more we try to think like a kid, the more creative we get. And the more creative we are, the more exciting (and positive!) life becomes. 

5. Focus on the inner and the outer. 

Eventually, after playing with the box for some time, Barkley got around to investigating her new toys (some of which have been lifesavers for me!). While the box seemed to be a favorite, she also appreciated new toys to play with. Seeing how she reacted positively to both what was in a box and the actual box itself reminded me of how important it is to focus on both the inner and outer aspects of our lives. For example, it's essential to focus on creating a great relationship with yourself—and it's equally as important to create great relationships with others. We all tend to focus more on one than the other, but don't forget to spread the love to both the packaging and the present. 

Pretty funny how much I got from watching a little pup play with a cardboard box, huh? Perhaps it's just my overanalytical mind at work, but I'd like to think that the five lessons I wrote about above show how even the simplest things can have value, can teach us things, and can make us appreciate not only the moments we experience, but the lessons those moments come packaged in.  

"In the end, what you do
isn't going to be nearly as imporant
as who you do it with."

John Green

10 Ways to Make This the Best Summer Ever : woo-hoo for summertime!

Washi Tape for Walls : so perfect for temporary changes to your walls

Words Dance Book Boxes : can't wait to see the rest of this cute series

Mean Disney Girls : this mash-up of Mean Girls cracks me up

Nicole's Classes Feature : my illustration was featured on the blog! yay!

6 Things Optimists Do Differently : all six of these are so important

Dang Gurl : this card is so incredibly perfect + adorable

Numerology : I've always been intrigued by this and just found out I'm a 7

YAY! Magnets : I need Dogs, Halloween, Fall, Pizza, Reading, Wolves

JennyBlake.me : this amazing resource just launched this week!

Canoe : just came across this shop + I'm in heaven

Check out this week's Positively Present playlist on YouTube. 

"The World Is Ours" — Catcall
"Take Off Your Sunglasses" — Ezra Furman + the Harpoons
"Falling" — Haim
"The Walker" — Fitz and the Tantrums
"Sunrise Sunset" — We Are Trees
"Float" — Pacific Air
"Belly of June" — Horse Feathers
"The Summer of the Sun" — Marble Sounds
"Young and Beautiful" — Lana Del Ray
"Everything Has Changed" — Taylor Swift + Ed Sheeran
"Fever Dream" — Young Summer
"I Am Whole"  — Jillian Jensen
"Sunshine" — Court Yard Hounds

 

The Summer We Read Gatsby  
Danielle Ganek

Doing what you love is so much easier said than done. If asked, "Would you like to spend your life doing what you love to do?" most people would probably respond with a resounding "YES!" But how many of us are actually doing it? How many of us are even trying to do it? Most of us aren't and there's a good reason why we're not: it's hard. Some people are lucky enough to fall into a great opportunity in which their passion can be their career, but for most of us, creating a career based on what we love to do takes hard work and a lot of emotional, financial, and mental effort. 

About 15 months ago, I left my full-time job in Marketing to pursue my passion: writing (specifically, writing for Positively Present). It took a long time for me to get to the point where I was ready to leave the security of my job, but once I took the leap, I was thrilled. Finally I was able to spend my days as I'd always dreamed I would: writing and researching and enjoying life! For a while, that's what it was: exciting and inspiring, freeing and exhilarating. And then reality set in. Out of nowhere arrived the days of struggling to stay motivated, the daunting tasks of keeping track of taxes and tackling never-ending to-do lists. What had once filled with me absolute joy—writing—was now my job, and somehow that made it a lot less exciting. 

Pursuing my passion full-time wasn't exactly what I thought it would be—and it's so much more work than I had imagined!—but there are those moments when I am so blissfully happy doing what I love, what I feel inspired by, and those moments make every difficult task I have to conquer, every hour of stress and frustration, completely and entirely worth it. Even when it's hard, I'm spending my time doing what I love—and that's something I wish everyone could experience. Turning your passion into a career can be so rewarding, but it's not something most of us can do easily. It takes time, patience, effort, and just a little bit of luck. Here's my advice for getting started: 

FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU LOVE.

We often think we love something, but it's not until you're doing it every single day do you realize how you really feel about something. Whatever you're passionate about, make sure you love it so much that you couldn't live without it. Make sure that you could do it every day—live, breathe, and sleep it—before you consider turning it into a career. I've learned that making a career out of a passion changes the way you see it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's something to be aware of. Be certain that what you're passionate about it's a passing phase and ask yourself these questions: Could I do this for the rest of my life? Would I do this every day even if no one paid me to do it? When I'm doing it, do I feel alive and excited? Do I want to do it as much as I can, whenever I can? 

DO YOUR RESEARCH. 

When it comes to turning your passion into a career, you've got to know what you're getting into. Do as much research as you can: on the industry you're interested in, on the taxes you'll be responsible for, on issues like health care and additional financial needs. All of that stuff might sound boring to you (I know how you feel!), but when you start doing your research, you'll see just how much goes into pursuing a passion full-time. If, after doing all of your research, you feel overwhelmed and exhausted, you're not alone. But if, after all that, you still want to go after what you love, you know that it's something that really matters to you. Research helps to put it all in perspective and it's a great way to find out how committed you truly are to what you're passionate about.  

CONNECT WITH PEOPLE. 

Passionate people, that is. The more you connect with those who are passion about what they do, the more insight and inspiration you'll get. You don't even have to connect with people in your future industry (though that's always a nice bonus!). Just find people who really, truly love what they do and ask them how they got to where they are. Ask for advice. Ask for help. Even if you're launching into a solo passion, like writing, you still need the help of other people to get you where you want to go. Don't be afraid to reach out to people (even those you don't know!) and seek inspiration. The more you surround yourself with passionate people, those who love what they do, the more motivated and inspired you'll be. 

MAP OUT A ROUTE. 

At some point, you have to put the passion on paper—and the best way to get started is by mapping out a route. Imagine it as a journey from Point A to Point B. Here you are the beginning, still doing something you don't love and longing to get to a place where you can do what you're passionate about. How are you going to get to Point B, that place where you can do what you love as a career? You have to create a plan. Break everything down into small steps—your financial needs and goals, your business ideas and dreams—and set a timeline for everything. You may find yourself deviating from the plan, but as long a you keep moving in the direction of your ultimate goal, you will inevitably arrive there. Just keep going. 

Doing what you love to do sounds like a dream come true, but it's actually a lot of hard work. Before going for it, be sure you really, really want it because there will be a lot of days that are tough and being certain about what you want is one of the best ways to conquer the down days. Even though it's hard, most of us would be so much happier if we spent our days doing what we love to do. So if you don't love what you're doing, find a way to start doing what you love. 

"The cure for anything is salt water:
sweat, tears or the sea."

Isak Dinesen

Talking about Change : listen to my interview on Positively Empowered Radio!

Clap Clap Design : such great illustration on these pretty products

5 Steps to Destroy Debilitating Fear : perfect for overcoming your fears

Goal-Setter of the Month : I'm honored to be Goal Chic's monthly goal-setter!

The Science of Self-Control : can you increase your own willpower?

5 Ways to Deal with Stress + Anxiety at Work : beat that stress! 

Pixel Art of Superheroes and Supervillains : these are so simple + cute

Popsicle String Lights : how perfect are these for summer?!

20 Ways to Celebrate Spring : so many creative ideas to enjoy the season

Graceful Hunter : this Etsy shop sells such cute, color-blocked stuff

Dribble : have I mentioned how much I love searching on here?!

Check out this week's Positively Present playlist on YouTube. 

"Freedom" — Emma Louise
"Another" — The White Album
"In an Aeroplane over the Sea" — Neutral Milk Hotel
"All the Pretty Girls" — fun.
"St. Croix"— Family of the Year
"East Coast Girl"— Cayucas
"Cover Your Tracks" — A Boy and His Kite
"Odds Are" — Bare Naked Ladies
"Sea of Air" — Portugal. The Man
"Sunshine" — Tigerweather
"Let's Go" — Matt & Kim
"Riviera" — Shadow Shadow
"This Is the Beginning" — BOY
"Soak Up the Sun" — Sheryl Crow
"Nolita Fairytale" — Vaness Carlton

Super Sad True Love Story: A Novel  
Gary Shteyngart

Summer might be just around the corner, but that doesn't mean we couldn't all benefit from a little (late) spring cleaning. For some reason, during the colder months of the year, clutter seems to build up and suddenly the warmer months arrive and stuff has piled up all over the house. You've probably heard it before, but let me tell it to you again: the way the outside looks is often a reflection of what's going on inside. If your place is full of clutter, your mind's going to have a hard time staying clear. It's so important to get rid of clutter and organize your life if you want to live positively in the present. Clutter—mental or physical—will hold you back from being positive and it will make you want to escape the present (because who wants to stay in a cluttered place or mindset!). 

Unfortunately, decluttering isn't always easy. If it were, we'd all have perfectly pristine homes in which nothing is ever out of place. But that's not quite the case, is it? Even the most organized people have a bit of clutter they can do without—and clearing it will help make room for the things that are really important, as well as provide your home and mind with a nice clean state. Clutter causes stress and stress is something we definitely don't need more of in our lives. To destress, it helps to declutter. Here are tips to help you get started:  

Get rid of what you don't need. It can be really difficult to let go of the things you think you need, but take a look at the stuff around you and ask yourself, "Do I really, truly need this right now?" Don't think about how someday, down-the-road, maybe, possibly you could use it. Think about right now. Most of us have things around us that we could get rid of right this moment and never think about again once they are out of sight. Donate or trash these things immediately. Don't wait to see if you "might need it someday" and don't allow yourself any excuses. If you don't use it or absolutely love it (and by love, I mean love, adore, cherish, not "kinda like it"), chuck it.  

Put everything in its place. Often we have a lot of clutter because we don't have a place for things. Designate a home for every single thing you own, a place that makes sense to you (even if it doesn't to anyone else!). Every single thing—from loose coins to miscellaneous memorabilia—should have a place it calls home. Can't find a home for something? Then ask yourself why you have it. If it's not deserving of a home, it's not something you need. Once you find a place for everything, make sure you always return it to that place. It'll make it so much easier to find what you need (saving time!) and so much less likely that you'll buy something you already own (saving money!). It might take some time to find a place for everything, but the effort is well worth it. 

Take an inventory of your stuff. Once everything's in its place, take inventory of what you own. If you're like me, you'll probably want to write it down (or keep a list in your phone so you always have it with you!). Taking inventory is important because it'll help you to see all that you have. You'll be surprised by the things you'd forgotten about (a fly swatter? really?) and the things you have more than enough of (59 pairs of shoes?!). By keeping an inventory you'll be less likely to double up on purchases. And you'll be less likely to purchase things you don't need if you know you have to add them to your list, which will cut down on future clutter. (Remember: less is more!)

Make use of decluttering tools. Assess, then invest. As tempting as it is to run out and buy organizational supplies, don't bring in anything new until you really know what you need. Once you put everything in a specific place and get rid of all the things you don't need (which may take a while to do!), then you can go out and explore the world of organizing tools. For your closet, try a Closet Doubler to give you some more space. To keep track of the clothes you own, I highly recommend the Closet app. For the office (and everywhere!), consider picking up a Epson Label Maker to keep track of what's inside boxes, files, etc. You don't have to spend a lot to stay organized: check out sites like DollarTree for good deals on bins and baskets. 

Look out for tips and tricks. Great organizing ideas are everywhere—you just have to know where to find them! A great place to start is Pinterest, where people are posting daily about new and innovative ways to organize everything. You can start by checking out my Essential Organization board. Another great resource is Real Simple, one of my favorite magazines. If you don't subscribe to it, you can still check out their great ideas online, like on their Smart Organizing Ideas Pinterest board or their New Uses for Old Things page. There are also some great tips on Martha Stewart's organizing page. The more you read about organizing, the more ideas you'll find that work specifically for you, making it much easier to create a decluttered space that works with your unique lifestyle. 

Don't wait or hesitate. Although the act of decluttering can seem incredibly overwhelming, don't put it off. The longer you wait, the less likely it is that you'll actually do it. Block off some time on your calendar as soon as you can and get to it. And once you get started, don't hesitate. If your gut instinct says to get rid of something, do it. If, deep down, you know there's more you could be letting go of, put that stuff in the trash or the donation bin. Decluttering—simple as it might seem in theory—can be a really difficult thing, both emotionally and physically. You have to just dive into it and don't stop until it's done. 

Clutter can be lethal to your sanity. Even though it's just stuff, an excess of it seems to take up space in your mind, preventing you from feeling relaxed and at peace, even if everything else in your life is perfectly in place. Unfortunately, decluttering can be a difficult task—and one that so many of us want to put off until "someday"—but don't let the challenge of it scare you. Once you've done it, you'll feel amazing. If you don't believe me, try decluttering just one small area and see how it makes you feel. The more progress you make, the more you'll realize how true this is: less stuff equals less stress.