"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." ~Confucius

Well, I'm about to go to the library, does that mean I should skip and whistle merrily on my way to the place where I will inevitably spend hours poring over books, writing essays, and studying for exams?

Not exactly.

Matthew Cusick Map Art--Course of Empire Mixmaster, courtesy of Digital Bus Stop

Although this quote sounds rather cheesy, Confucius (at least to my knowledge) was not a cheesy man.  His philosophy outlined the importance of moral values, justice, compassion, and sincerity, which are all admirable traits.

I'll admit it, this quote sounds like it would appear in large, looping text on the front of a middle school girl's diary, surrounded by sweeping mountains, blooming flowers, and a beaming sun--a gag-worthy presentation, to say the least.  Yet, when standing alone in simple black text, Confucius's words are some of the most inspiring I have ever read.

He implies that, in order to live a full and satisfying life, one must demonstrate enthusiasm at every opportunity.  By this logic, even my trip to the library merits some version of gusto on my part.  Gusto, in the sense that because I am going, I should direct all my effort and attention to the task at hand by concentrating, being present in the moment, and soaking in and digesting every word that I read.  After all, I decided to go to the library, so why not "go with all my heart" and make the most of it by learning, comprehending, and doing good work?

Since that was a fairly boring example, I'll now relate this to an adventure like cliff diving.  First off, if you partake in this exhilarating, terrifying experience, I respect your bravery.  Never in five million years would you see me at the top of a cliff preparing to jump, unless there were a giant pit of fluffy pillows at the bottom (which there wouldn't be).  Anyway, in a thrilling situation such as cliff diving, Confucius encourages pumping even more zest and wholeheartedness into the act by being aware of the experience and how it affects you.

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Box

For example, at the top of the cliff, you may feel wonder and awe by looking down at the (hopefully) spectacular view and appreciate the wind whipping around you.  Then, as you're about to jump, nerves may kick in, but you notice that they only feed into your adrenaline rush.  As you jump, a feeling of complete freedom (and maybe terror) may overcome you, which will only last a few seconds.  Now it's over and you feel a rush and an overall sense of relief and satisfaction for completing the feat.

The average person likely feels all these things but does not think to notice, process, and appreciate them all.  Confucius encourages us to notice everything we sense and encounter in life in order to heighten our experience here on Earth.  By living with attentiveness, going places with all our hearts becomes much easier.

When faced with an activity that is pleasurable to us, going with all our hearts is already fairly easy.  The best times to keep these words of Confucius in mind, however, are those times when we need to complete a task or go somewhere that makes us anxious, annoyed, or angry.  Every day is an opportunity to infuse your world with energy and avidity.

So, whether you are going to the library or going cliff diving today, make sure that you go with all your heart and bring plenty of zest and enthusiasm to spare.