I love to use this phrase; even with my very limited French. When trying to decide an equivalent English word for my business name, with a little oomph thrown in, I chose Vitality. Vitality is Energy. Excitement. Vigor for Life. While at the same time, being at peace with ourselves, and with our role on this planet. By definition: Vitality is ‘the state of being strong and full of energy physically, emotionally and mentally’.

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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was an easy way to measure our level of vitality, along with a step by step process to follow to escalate us further up the scale. I once read that if we are truly in full health, we should bounce up out of bed eager to embrace another day, rather than roll over to press the snooze button. Is there any of that excited early morning toddler left in us as we get older?

We often blame stress, or lack of time, for our deficiency in energy and gusto. So by default, when these pressures are absent we should experience that Joie de Vivre – for example on a beach or ski holiday. Rather than meander to the breakfast buffet, would we rather go for a jog at sunrise along the glistening ocean – eager to feel the sand at our feet, the wind in our hair and the dawning sun embracing our body?

My guess we might give it some thought, but the other option wins more often than not. Our vitality is more than something physical. It’s that unquestioning desire that we were born with and shows itself most in the eagerness of a bouncing tot or overly excited youth.

Winning back that Joie de Vivre attitude does not cost much – in fact, attitude is free. We create it for ourselves, within ourselves, and we own it. Good nutrition and a healthy body, of course, contribute, but the spark is ignited within our own minds and heart. We need to find that flicker and want to light it up, so it illuminates brightly.

Discovering that desire lies between gratitude for all the wonderful things we’ve been blessed with and the excitement of all things magnificent yet to come. This is why I ask clients to buy themselves two nice notebooks – one to be called “My Life” whereby every single achievement to date is written down for reflection and gratitude. The other “My Aspirations” to map out all the wonderful things they want to achieve over the coming decades.  Creating these memories and possibilities stirs enthusiasm about what is waiting for us, if we help start to direct our lives in some way.

Your vitality is waiting for you; go find it, embrace it wholeheartedly, with all the joy of the most delightful, captivating toddler you’re lucky enough to know.

Your life is a canvas; make sure you paint yourself a whole lot of colourful days.