What brings you JOY?
Is it spending time with your favorite people, exercising, soaking up the sun as you watch the sunrise, smiling, watching your favorite movie, taking a walk on the beach, dancing, meditating, going to sleep a 1/2 an hour earlier, listening to the podcast of your favorite comedian, taking a yoga class with your favorite teacher?
Joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune. Its the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. According to Mindful Magazine, “Joy is a capacity we all have that can be trained and developed – it is a primary component of psychological well-being, encompassing moments of appreciation, enduring contentment and a sense of confidence and gratitude.
When we are stressed, it is hard to see or feel joy. How do you choose JOY when you feel like giving up? Here are a few ways to cultivate and choose joy in your daily life:
* Find gratitude. Start a gratitude journal – write down five things everyday for which you are grateful.
* An act of self-care is an invitation for joy. Make routine of weekly (or even daily) self-care. (See my Self-Care Blog https://peacefulyoga.net/2021/03/10/should-self-care-be-a-priority/)
* Begin your day with a joyful thought and allow joy to be part of your daily intention.
* Write a thank you note to someone who did something special for you.
* Distribute joy freely – it’s as simple as sharing joy through kind words or acts of giving – given without expectations of receiving anything in return.
* Having fun – not only relieves stress but it is a joy-generator. When we are stressed, it’s hard to see or feel joy so taking moments to be grateful is really beneficial.
* Start to notice the moments of joy in your life and take note of them. You may begin to notice things that have always been there but you just never noticed them before.
* Smile – as if you are really happy – you may experience joy.
Even if you just take time every day to notice one positive, joyful thing – it will become a habit.
Choose JOY!
Looking for ways to help you manage the stress in your life and ways to find joy? Check out my Yoga, Mindfulness, and Meditation Tool Box.
To find out more goto: www.peacefulyoga.net
