5 WAYS TO FIND JOY EVERY DAY
The past year has been challenging for nearly everyone to say the least. So, if you’re having more difficulty finding positivity and joy, you’re not alone.
There’s a lot you can do to get your joy back, even during hard difficult times.
Happiness has two components. First is life satisfaction, which is the sense that your life is going well. The second is the experience of frequent positive emotions, which include: pride, curiosity, enthusiasm, tranquility and joy.
- MAKE A JOY LIST
What brings you joy? Think about what really makes you happy. For instance, spending time with friends, aspects of work, places you’ve been to, what ever makes you feel good. Visual reminders of the happiness you have experienced cements these positive memories. What events from your childhood make you smile when you think about them? Find a way to bring more playfulness into your life.
- SOCIAL INTERACTIONS
The thing that most reliably increases people’s positive emotions, whether you’re introverted or extroverted, is having strong personal connections with other people. It is correlated to overall happiness. It doesn’t matter how you connect. It could be a friendly email or a text message to check on a friend and wish them well. These and other connections bring about positive feelings and a sense of connection.
- GIVE A LITTLE BIT
If you’re on a tight budget, giving away just a little bit of money has just the same effect on happiness as giving away a lot. So, what is important to you? Where would you want your money to give support? One benefit of giving is feeling a sense of connection to the people and cause you are helping. If you simply cannot donate money, then donate some time to a cause you care about. The sense of reward will be very uplifting.
- BE EVEN KINDER
It doesn’t have to be a big gesture. It could almost be anything, from giving a friend a ride, to letting someone at the grocery store go ahead of you. Or just a kind smile to passers by. Surprise a neighbor with fresh baked treats, compliment the first person you speak to each day. Leave a thank you note for your mail carrier, leave a generous tip for a pleasant waiter.
- GO OUTSIDE
Spending time in nature quiets the part of the brain that tends to brood and ruminate over any problems or worries. In addition to boosting mental health, a large body of research indicates that exploring your local park or walking through the woods can reduce stress. Take yourself on a nature walk, find joy in all the little things Nature has to offer. The beauty of trees standing tall at the side of a creek, the majesty of waves crashing against the rocks at the ocean, the rising sun in the early morning or the big golden moon and stars in the dark of night. There’s so much around for you to admire. You just have to look for it.
Copyright 2022 Blanca McMurray. All Rights Reserved.
