With the state of the world today, it is a struggle to find joy or even in some cases hope.
We simply don’t choose joy frequently enough, yet it is more accessible than we realize. Joy can take various forms, including gratitude, enthusiasm, satisfaction, purpose, and love, even though it doesn’t necessarily manifest as a contented puppy rolling in the grass.
Fundamentally, it’s a profound, satisfying feeling that helps us connect with life, other people, and ourselves.
Here are some of the practices that could help in choosing joy more deliberately.
Try to be present at the moment
We frequently hear about mindfulness, and with good reason—when we’re completely present in the moment, unbound by regrets, diversions, or anxieties about the future, joy frequently blossoms.
Try doing the things you love like listening to music, watch movies, draw, paint, or do certain activities with your loved ones. Another option can be eating something delicious and savoring every moment of it.
Be playful with repetitive tasks
Experiencing joy can seem distant when we become stuck in routine. We frequently go into autopilot mode or ignore the situation in front of us. However, a little playfulness or curiosity may make even mundane circumstances joyful.
Look for ways to add fun to a tedious or monotonous task. Make it a creative exercise or a challenge and see what the result would be.
Put meaning ahead of perfection
Joy dwells in the meaningful rather than the flawless. It comes more easily when we let go of perfection and rediscover the purpose of our actions.
Rather than focusing on the performance and being stuck in getting something right, remember to choose purpose and the joy will follow.
Travel through time, both forward and backward
Joy comes from looking back as well as forward. It is stored in happy memories. Nostalgia brings us back to the important things in life, whether it’s a special time spent as a child with a beloved grandparent or the day you met someone important in your life.
Make a list of things to look forward to, even if it’s something as simple as a creative endeavor, a favorite meal, or a walk. Relive and lose yourself in a treasured memory whenever you need a pick-me-up.
When we invite joy in our lives, the more it can lead into choosing presence, being playful, seeing purpose, and having perspective on things that are always within reach, even though things might get really difficult.
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