The Power of Acting:
Engaging, Creating, and Contributing to Feel Joyful and Confident
There is a particular kind of joy that doesn’t come from rest or stillness, but from activation—a forward-moving energy that surges when we rise to meet life with intention and vigor. This high-energy state is characterized by movement, momentum, and meaningful contribution. It is the joy of doing—of fully engaging with the world, stretching beyond our comfort zone, and pouring ourselves into purposeful effort. In this space, we don’t merely exist, we expand.
This energy is not about being frantically busy or endlessly productive. It’s about choosing action that aligns with who we are and what we value. It’s the thrill of building something that matters, the satisfaction of mastering a new skill, the aliveness we feel when we’re physically active, and the deep resonance of contributing to something larger than ourselves. It’s a state where joy and confidence grow not in isolation, but through meaningful interaction with the world around us.
The Feeling of Being Fully Engaged
To be in this state is to feel awake in every sense. It’s the spark that lights up when you dive into a creative project, or the surge of purpose when you contribute your skills to a cause you believe in. It’s the pride that wells up after you push yourself—physically, mentally, or emotionally—and come out stronger on the other side.
Imagine finishing a community service project and stepping back to see the tangible result of your work. Think of the satisfaction that comes after hours of learning something new, whether it’s mastering a dance move, fixing a household appliance, or exploring a new language or concept. Picture the rush of endorphins after a hike, a run, or a spontaneous dance around your kitchen. These are not just feel-good moments; they are moments that affirm our vitality and agency.
This kind of action brings us into what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described as a “flow state”—a mental space where we’re so engaged that time falls away. We lose ourselves in the challenge, stretched but supported, effortful but energized. Flow emerges when we’re doing something meaningful, matched to our abilities but just beyond our comfort, where we experience deep immersion and intrinsic satisfaction.
Research confirms what we intuitively know: these experiences elevate our sense of happiness, purpose, and capability. Whether through movement, creativity, or meaningful work, when we act with intention, we feel more alive—and more connected to who we truly are.
Being Active and Engaged Matters for Wellbeing
Active engagement is not a luxury or an afterthought in a flourishing life. It is essential. Human beings are wired for stimulation, challenge, and contribution. Our brains respond to novelty and reward, lighting up when we pursue meaningful goals or help others. Dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with motivation and pleasure, is released in response to movement, creativity, and connection—all hallmarks of this high-energy state.
When we are physically active, we do more than strengthen our muscles. We signal to ourselves that we are strong, capable, and alive. When we explore new ideas or skills, we stimulate cognitive growth and emotional resilience. When we contribute to others or to a broader purpose, we affirm that our lives matter—that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
Action also strengthens our identity. We don’t become confident by waiting to feel confident. We become confident by doing things that prove our capability. Each time we engage in meaningful activity, we reinforce the belief that we are effective, valuable, and worthy of pride.
And in times of uncertainty, anxiety, or stagnation, action can be the antidote. Rather than getting stuck in overthinking or emotional paralysis, purposeful activity gives us traction. Even small steps can rebuild our momentum and restore a sense of agency.
Energizing Experiences and the Feelings They Grow
High activity experiences involve doing, moving, making, contributing, and exploring. But what makes this part of life especially powerful for our wellbeing isn’t only the benefits of each activity on its own, but how they combine. When we engage in multiple kinds of active, outward-facing experiences, they interact in ways that generate lasting positive feelings, which in turn strengthen our identity, expand our confidence, and increase our openness to life.
For example, when we contribute our time, skills, or effort to a purpose beyond ourselves, especially in community with others, we often feel a deep and lasting inner sense of pride. This isn’t performative pride, but the grounded recognition that what we did mattered. Maybe we helped organize a local event, volunteered our expertise for a cause, or created something that improved someone else’s life. That feeling of significance, of mattering, doesn’t come from contribution alone, but from seeing our efforts ripple outward through real connections and shared purpose. We feel proud not just of what we did, but of how we did it – with and for others.
Now imagine coupling contribution with physical movement and strength. When we use our bodies to serve or build, like digging a garden, fixing something around the house, or carrying gear on a group hike, we don’t just feel helpful, we feel capable. Physical effort and movement grounds our contributions in tangible action. We experience our strength, stamina, and coordination in real time. This combination builds a strong sense of competence and mastery, especially when performed purposefully. The feeling that we can do hard things, and especially things that make a difference, becomes more than an idea. It becomes something we’ve lived, proven, and felt.
At the same time, when we combine physical movement with mental engagement, such as creative challenges, learning something new, or exploring unfamiliar topics or ideas, we often feel a surge of vitality. Our bodies are active, but so are our minds. We may be experimenting with designing something tangible, choreographing a dance, exploring a new landscape, or brainstorming how to solve a tricky problem. These layered experiences make us feel more alive. They activate multiple systems in the brain and body, fueling a sense of energy, alertness, and possibility. This feeling of vitality is a cornerstone of wellness. When we feel strong and lit up from within, we’re more resilient, more motivated, and more joyful.
And finally, when we pair mental engagement with social or cultural exploration, stepping beyond our usual circles to connect with people from different backgrounds or to immerse ourselves in new environments, we awaken our curiosity. We begin to feel a pull toward discovery, a desire to understand more about the world and our place in it. This feeling of adventurousness helps us soften resistance, challenge our assumptions, and grow in unexpected ways. It’s not just about seeing something new, but about expanding who we are through those new experiences.
What’s especially powerful about these high energy feelings, such as excitement, pride, confidence, vitality, and curiosity, is that they don’t just result from the experiences that created them. They feed back into the system. When we feel proud, we’re more likely to seek out new opportunities to contribute. When we feel confident, we’re more likely to take on physical or social challenges. When we feel vital, we’re more motivated to move and explore. When we feel curious, we open ourselves to unfamiliar people and ideas. And through that openness, we often rediscover the desire to create, move, and serve.
This outer ring of the WellBalance Lotus isn’t just a wheel of actions, it’s a web of dynamic interplay. Experiences don’t happen in isolation, and neither do feelings. One strengthens the other. Together, they form a self-reinforcing loop of active engagement and emotional expansion. As we move through these experiences – serving, building, moving, learning, exploring new places and ideas, and meeting new people – we don’t just fill our days. We fill our hearts and minds with the kind of energy that helps us grow into our most joyful, confident, and fully alive selves.
Living Boldly, Becoming Fully Alive
To live in this high-energy state isn’t to burn ourselves out in constant doing. It’s to channel our energy into what matters most and the actions that bring us alive. It’s not only about hustle, but also about heart. Not only about performance, but also about presence. This mode of being invites us to show up fully. To move our bodies with strength and intention. To create, learn, and express ourselves freely. To contribute with purpose. And to explore with curiosity and courage.
In doing so, we become more than spectators of our lives, we become the outward creators of our lives. Each act of engagement writes a new chapter in our story, one that affirms who we have become and who we are becoming. The joy we feel in this state isn’t superficial. It’s rooted in meaning, lit by curiosity, and strengthened by experience.
So when you see the opportunity to act, move, create, or serve others, take it. Say yes to the projects that excite you, the challenges that stretch you, and the causes that move you. Say yes to the dance, the run, the hike, the helping hand. Say yes to building, to becoming, to boldly stepping into your own possibility. Because the more you engage, the more you’ll realize that joy is not something you wait for, it’s something you create, through the proactive power of action.
