5 things you can do today to invite in more joy
The most beautiful change happens in your life when you realize this one fundamental thing: you are in charge of your joy, and you can quite literally create it every single day.
Isn’t that incredible news!? I know, it’s still easier said than done. But there’s no time like the present to get started. Here’s a few tips to help you do just that, right now.
BE A LITTLE SPONTANEOUS
Spontaneity is literal soul food and neuroscientists are sharing that a sense of discovery is one of the key differences between people who are happy - and people who aren’t.
You can be spontaneous in all sorts of ways, big and small. But keeping your mind open to new experiences is always going to be a great way to go about it. Have a picnic in the living room, pick your boyfriend up from work and drive an hour down the highway just because, or just head to a new spot in town instead of your regular joint. It all creates joy.
DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE
Find out who you are at your core and what motivates you so that you can step into the unique mixture of passion and skill that’s going to lead to a sense of meaning in your life.
We are never at our most confident or powerful as when we know exactly where we’re headed and how we’re getting there. By focusing on your sense of purpose and fulfillment, you can throw the door wide open to joy. Because you’ll be living your truth and honouring yourself.
GET MORE OBSERVANT
Limiting distraction and attaching yourself, connecting with, the world around you is an almost guaranteed way to find something you haven’t been seeing - and that can help you find a sense of awe and wonder in the world.
Just taking a walk without headphones in is one of the fastest ways I know to create joy. Look - really look - at the people and life around you. Notice the older couple holding hands, the puppies playing in the grass, the way the leaves sway in the wind, the sound of the birds chatting at each other, the waves lapping at the rocks. Notice the world around you.
SAY ‘NO’ MORE OFTEN
Saying no to things you know don’t fill your bucket or add to your life is a surefire way to ensure you have a little space to welcome in a bit of joy where it presents - or go on the hunt for it, if you choose.
If you’ve done the work to discover your highest values, then you’ll have a solid idea of what to take off your plate - and what to start saying no to. The power of saying no isn’t just in what you don’t give your time, energy and money to - it’s in what you’re freed up to invest in.
ACT LIKE A KID
Adulting is hard, I know. Sometimes the simple act of giving yourself permission to ditch the stress and go all in on something silly and childish is the fastest way to feel more joyful (think a bike ride, no hands! or a toboggan ride down a hill).
It’s so powerful to tap into not only what children do, but what YOU used to do as a child. Therein often lies the secret to the ways in which you used to experience joy, freedom, and play and feel you’ve lost. You haven’t lost them, you just forgot them for a while. Tap back in and tap into joy.