Feeling the Blahs?

Is life a mish-mash of caffeine, social media, work, and fast food? Where you struggle to find deeper meaning in your day-to-day tasks and activities?

If so, then shout out: REMIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!

You may have heard rappers call this out at the beginning of a song, and per the great Wikipedia:

“A remix is a piece of media [like a song], which has been altered from its original state by adding, removing, and/or changing pieces of the item. The only characteristic of a remix is that it appropriates and changes other materials to create something new.”

A remix, therefore, has components of the previous entity; yet it has been transformed in some way. And I would argue that we all have the ability to “remix” our own lives to make small changes for the better, too.

So, if you’re not impressed with where you’re at in life right now and have a serious case of the “blahs” or “ho hums di dums,” then a lil’ life remix may be in order! There’s this default future we’ll have if we continue to live just as we’ve been doing and stay in that cozy, “comfortable” space.

The only problem is if you’re unhappy in that space. That means you need to get uncomfortable in order to take a chance at getting more of what you want in life. In other words, something’s gotta give.

I know, I know. Who wants to put themselves through more awkwardness than is absolutely necessary, right?

But is it worth being uncomfortable if you could transform your life? Because in that discomfort lies a tool for transformation. And, let’s just say that tool is a microphone. An especially beautiful, rhinestone-encrusted mic (because why not?)!

So, if you took that mic in your hand, what would you sing or rap about? In other words, what’s your present story? How does your “typical day” song play out? Is it that you hate your job, feel stuck, are bored, or are lost? What’s the main emotion behind your song—is it sadness, anger, or apathy?

Now imagine that you’re smack-dab in the spotlight, on a large stage about to engage in the performance of a lifetime. If you had no limits, what do you want your song to be about?

What are the lyrics? How does it sound? What would you add into this version? Take away? Modify? How is it different from the original song?

Perhaps you could add in a self-care routine. This could be as simple as walking around the block daily, meditating, or taking a bath with Epsom salts at night before bed. Or you create a bucket list to get clear on what you want to accomplish before you leave this planet.

Maybe you take away the cable TV service because you’re not really using it or cancel your magazine subscriptions since you just recycle them right away. Or you make a conscious effort to reduce your personal carbon footprint by shopping locally or at farmer’s markets, and choose to bike or take public transit instead of driving.

Perhaps you could modify your dietary lifestyle by increasing fruits and veggies while reducing refined, processed foods. Maybe you could incorporate more variety into your exercise routine or try out a new coffee shop every week.

In this modern age, it’s easy to get stuck (and lost) in some monotonous, unending EDM song, where we feel we’re just living day-to-day, on a hamster wheel, without much purpose or intention.

But we also have the ability to mix things up a bit and break out to make some positive lifestyle changes. The possibilities are infinite, and it’s all up to you. The author of The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho, brilliantly affirms: “Small changes lead to great transformations.”

So, get very connected with your new song story and how it feels in your body when you think of it. Stay aligned with that vision by writing it down and then reading through it or imagine it playing out in your mind’s eye daily.

And Then Do This to Remix Your Life:

1. Break it on down.

And we ain’t talking about on the dance floor. But really: break that new song down. What realistic action steps can you take today to move you closer to that vision? Remember, even baby steps are still actions, after all. And it’s amazing how bite-sized movement in the right direction can add up!

2. Find a Jay Z to your Kanye.

Or a Dr. Dre to your Snoop Dogg. (Or insert whatever awesome hip hop duo you like here). Basically, enlist a close friend or family member to act as your accountability partner. Having a strong support system in general can help you boost your confidence. By having intentional conversations geared towards staying on track towards your ultimate story, it can make all the difference.

3. Pump up the VOLUME.

If you need additional help and support beyond your accountability partner, hire a coach. The awesome (and totally Zen) Hip Hop Mogul, Russell Simmons, simply acknowledges that in order to be successful in life, you must “Surround yourself with the right people.” A coach is your own personal cheerleader that believes in you and your ultimate vision. They help you create a plan to bridge the gap from your dream to reality.

You know, sometimes you just got to switch things up a bit. So, go ahead and yell “Remixxxxxxxxxx!” and scratch it up on life’s turntables. You may find that you’ve just created something way better than the original.

And to those who believe that adventures are dangerous, I say, try routine; that kills you far more quickly.

– Paulo Coelho, Manuscript Found in Accra