Challenges, obstacles, and adversities are part of the human journey. We all face them from time-to-time. Sometimes, they can make us feel defeated, depressed, and unproductive. But, we always have a choice on how to deal with them – we can be joyful even if we have challenges going on around us.
7 Ways to Create and Add More Joy to Your Life
Joy is laughter, a sense of more fulfillment, bliss, feeling fortunate and lucky to be alive. Being conscious of creating more joy will bring a positive impact not just to your life, but to others as well.
Here are seven tips on how to bring more joy into your life:
#1 Silver Lining Thinking
Silver lining thinking is not the power of positive thinking. We’re not going to pretend that there’s nothing wrong. Silver lining thinking is seeing the possibility of something good in the midst of something negative.
This kind of thinking is not natural to us humans. Mastering this mindset needs continuous practice – it’s a habit that needs to be formed, it’s a muscle that needs to be shaped.
For example; I use it a lot when somebody upsets me, and I’m like, what was their intention? And so I choose to believe that a person’s intention is good, rather than negative. And it is a choice, by the way, whether or not their intention is bad or good doesn’t actually matter. It’s how you perceive the situation.
Another example; say you are faced with a negative situation like COVID lockdown. What’s the reality? You’re on house arrest. What are the potential positive outcomes? You get to rest and spend more time with family.
#2 Look Up and Be Amazed
We often forget to take a look around when we’re surrounded by beautiful things. In this era of technology, we tend to keep our eyes on our smartphones. We are so focused on where we’re headed that we forget what is actually around us. When you are aware that you are worrying about things happening inside your head, remember that all you have to do is to look up and around.
There is nothing like nature that can show us how majestic our world is. Instead of worrying about what’s on your phone, be in the moment. Go on nature walks. Simply observe. Allow yourself to get lost in the miracles of nature.
#3 Step Back and Change Your Perspective
When faced with challenges, we want to train our minds to look back, adjust, and give some thought to the bigger picture. Seeing the situation from a different perspective can help solve what needs to be done.
Understanding that the negative situations we see ourselves in do not last forever. That’s how life is–sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s not. We have to be willing to accept the roller coaster life is with its highs and lows.
#4 Be Healthy
Another great way to add more joy in your life is to take care of your health. Drink your water and stay hydrated. Exercise, and keep your body moving everyday.
In my case, I exercise twice a day, and one of them has to be outdoors. This allows me to connect to nature, and I end up feeling great every time.
#5 Rewrite Your Story
If you have not been feeling joy lately, take time to reassess. Believe that you are someone who can feel joy.
Purposely ask yourself at the end of the day, “What did I do today that was a moment of joy?” Practising gratitude is incredibly powerful. Once we accomplish that gratitude practice, we start being grateful for the good, the bad, and the in between.
Take a look at the story you’re in. Are you hooked onto the negative parts of your life so much that you can’t feel joy? Try to write down these negative thoughts on paper and see the words in black and white. By writing down your story, you give your internal voice an external presence. We can be objective about the stories we need to tell. The lack of joy may be hidden in those words; we just have to lay these thoughts down and rewrite our stories.
#6 Understanding Challenges are External
You have to understand that all the challenges you face and all the tasks you need to do are external to who you are. We have to separate ourselves from these external obstacles. We are an entity and we are not our negative thoughts.
So often, we identify with our problems. Realizing that we are separate from them takes us a step closer to joy.
#7 Let Go of the Busy
We all have things to do and places to go. Sometimes, we are too caught up in the busy that we forget to notice even the simplest joys of life. As this busy culture consumes us daily, we do not make time to accept joy. Instead, we allow the busy to steal joy from our lives.
If that’s the case, we need to reevaluate the way we divide our time. Choose to busy yourself with activities and things that bring you joy. Busy doesn’t need to be taken negatively.
Choose to Find Joy in Your Life
When you choose to find joy in life, everything is better. You’re better, your relationships are better. You are peaceful.
Of course, we cannot be joyful all the time. However, we can find tiny bursts of joy within the mundane, but only if we look for them. So accept and celebrate the joy you find. Continue to create joy for yourself and for the people around you.
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