Post written by Leo Babauta of zenhabits.net
Just about everything I do is just for fun.
While some people like to focus on being disciplined and achieving goals and sticking to their plans, I find this to be meaningless. What’s the point? You’ll fail about a third to half the time, and then feel like a failure for not being disciplined or sticking to a plan or goal.
In contrast, if you do the exact same thing, but let go of the expectation you’ve set for yourself and just have fun doing it, it’s a complete success.
Let’s repeat that for emphasis: if you do the exact same thing, it’s a failure if you have expectations, but a complete and absolute success if you let go of the expectations and do it for fun.
Let’s take a few examples:
- If you set out on a really tough 3-day hike through some mountains, and make it through the first day and night but get too tired in the middle of the second day, is that a failure? It is if you are mad at yourself for not getting to the end, for not being disciplined. It’s a success, though, if you decided at the beginning to do it “just for fun” and had a great time while you were doing it.
- If you start writing a book but only get about halfway through, is that a success or failure? It’s a failure if you expected to get finished and are disappointed in yourself for not sticking it through to the goal. It’s a success if you decided to do it for fun and had a wonderful time writing.
- If you start an online venture and it doesn’t take off and you have to call it quits after a year — is that a failure? Well, by now you know the answer. Have fun doing it, and it’s always a success.
If you go for a walk, a run, a hike, do it for fun, not for the benefits you might get. Do experiments in your life for fun, not for the results. Wake up each day and do something for fun, not to accomplish something. Every waking moment should be just for fun.
It shifts everything. It doesn’t only determine whether something’s a success or failure — it changes your attitude while you do anything, while you’re talking with someone or reading or watching something. Your mood lifts, you are kinder to others, you have a smile on your face.
Do handstands. Dance. Bound up a hill. Sing with your child. Write something with a light and lifted heart. Be love, and compassion, and joy. Live life just for fun.
Post inspired by my (that’s – Leo’s) friend Suraj.

“Life is a moment to celebrate, to enjoy. Make it fun, a celebration, and then you will enter the temple. The temple is not for the long-faced, it has never been for them.” Osho, I Celebrate Myself
Copyright notice: Three of Water – Celebration, Osho Zen Tarot© 2012 OSHO International Foundation, All Rights Reserved.
Leo Babauta, great soul that he is, made his work free of copyright, but PLEASE if you are resharing, reblogging or in any other way reproducing his writings, make sure that you are giving him due credit.
Related articles
- A Journey Without a Goal (moderndayruth.net)
- Healthier Choices: Leo Babauta’s Daily Routine (greatist.com)
- Zen to Done eBook (christianpf.com)
Lena –
LOL Great article, but I am a Sun/Moon Cappie! We have to schedule in said fun! 😉
Oh, dear, i hear you… 11th house in OCD Virgo here, not to mention natal Venus in anxious Cancer! 😛
Positive feelings from your post! As long as your happy, that is what is important!
Thank you, Judy! I agree!
You’ve got me doing a ‘happy dance’ now! 😀
Yay, how cool is that?! 😀 xxxx
Wow, we think so much alike! People find it hard to believe that I’m happy every waking moment no matter what I do, it’s because I don’t do things unless they are fun and I’m surrounded by good people. I’ve created my whole career around fun. For the past decade I’ve been saying, “It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday, Friday or Sunday — every day is amazing.” So many people live only for the weekends and their vacations — and that is so sad! Great job on this one! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I am still learning – and it was a hard lesson for me, but really – most of the mystical philosophies come down to that – do what you enjoy because that’s what you should be doing! Thank you for commenting!
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My comment did not work LOL. It was supposed to be all symbols, 3 Smileys surrounding 3 Unhappys. A symbolism comment only, with the little I know how to do with these sorts of computer thingys. Will try one more time…. just scrap the whole lot if if I mess it up again. I would rather a circle of Smileys around the Unhappys but I have no idea how to do that. Was trying to keep it in context with the story, which I enjoyed reading, so if it fails…again, it was really just for fun & doesn’t matter. By now you will be thinking small things amuse small minds LOL :
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Oh it did work , Jim, thank you! 😀 😉