What Makes a "Full Day"? Jimmy V and the Art of the Effortless Present

We often overcomplicate what it means to live a good life. We chase productivity hacks, build elaborate morning routines, and measure our worth by how many tasks we can cross off a to-do list. But when we strip away the noise and embrace the concept of The Effortless Present—the practice of living deeply and authentically in the current moment without unnecessary strain—we find that a meaningful day is actually quite simple.

To define what a truly "full day" looks like in the Effortless Present, we don't need to look at modern wellness gurus. Instead, we can borrow a timeless piece of wisdom from legendary basketball coach Jimmy Valvano.

During his historic, emotionally charged 1993 ESPY Awards speech, delivered while he was battling terminal cancer, Jimmy V offered a profound blueprint for daily living:

"To me, there are three things we all should do every day... Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."  

Here is how we can apply Jimmy V's three pillars to anchor ourselves in the Effortless Present.  

1. Laugh: Finding Joy in the Now

Laughter is the ultimate anchor to the present moment. You cannot fake genuine laughter, and you cannot laugh in the future or the past.  

• Releases tension: Laughter immediately diffuses stress and breaks the rigid hold of our daily anxieties.

• Fosters connection: Sharing a laugh with a friend, a coworker, or even a stranger instantly bridges the gap between us.

• The Effortless practice: Don't force it. Seek out people who bring you joy, watch something absurd, or simply learn to laugh at your own mistakes.

2. Think: Engaging the Mind

Mindfulness isn't about emptying your brain; it is about directing your focus. Jimmy V knew that a life well-lived requires deliberate contemplation.

• Deep work over distraction: In a world of endless scrolling, taking time to truly think is an act of rebellion.

• Self-reflection: Pausing to evaluate your values, your relationships, and your goals keeps you aligned with your true self.

• The Effortless practice: Spend ten minutes a day without a screen or a podcast. Just sit with a cup of coffee and let your mind wander, solve a problem, or simply observe the world around you.

3. Cry: Moving the Heart

We often view crying as a sign of weakness, but Jimmy V recognized it as a sign of a heart that is fully awake. You don't necessarily have to shed physical tears every single day, but your emotions should be moved.

• Experiencing awe: This could be the overwhelming joy of watching a child play, the beauty of a piece of music, or the poignancy of a shared memory.

• Embracing vulnerability: Allowing yourself to feel deeply means you are not numbing yourself to the human experience.

• The Effortless practice: Let your guard down. Read a moving story, listen to a powerful piece of music, or express deep gratitude to someone you love. Allow the world to touch you.

Building Something Special

The beauty of Jimmy Valvano's definition is its accessibility. It requires no money, no special equipment, and no elaborate planning. It simply asks us to show up for our own lives.

When we integrate laughing, thinking, and feeling into our daily rhythm, we stop fighting the current. We step fully into The Effortless Present. If you can manage to hit those three notes today, you haven't just passed the time—you've had a heck of a day.