FIVE WAYS TO FIND JOY AGAIN

BY KAREN PUTZ

Ever have one of those weeks/months/ years when one day blends into the next? If you find yourself buried so deep in the day to day activities with little or no joy blended in, it’s time for a pause.

We are not meant to grind our way through life without enjoying it.

Earl Nightingale taught us that we become what we think about. In his classic book, The Strangest Secret, this means that our thoughts have the power to shape our lives and determine our level of joy. According to Nightingale, most people do not have a clear and specific goal in life, and therefore they end up drifting through life without direction or purpose. To return to a state of joyous living requires us to direct our thinking and our focus toward the energy of joy.

If you have read my book, Unwrapping Your Passion, Creating the Life You Truly Want, you’ll recognize that the definition of passion is found in your joy. When we “try to find” our passion, we can recognize passion through our moments of joy. When you look back at your life experiences, note the moments of joy that are stored in your memories. Challenge yourself to create ways of bringing joy back into your life, using your joyful memories as clues.

Here’s an example:

If you look back in your memories and find that you had many joyous moments playing volleyball, what are some creative ways you can enjoy volleyball again? Could you join a sand volleyball league with your friends? Could you set up a volleyball day for your co-workers? Could you volunteer to coach a local girl’s volleyball team? Could you set aside time to watch volleyball tournaments on TV? Could you design and sell colorful volleyballs?

There’s no limit to the creative ways you can bring back joy into your life. The key is to keep your focus on joy–rather than becoming lost in the day-to-day routines.

Here are five ways you can tap into joy in your life:

1. Engage in activities that bring you joy: Engage in activities that you enjoy, whether it’s reading a book, listening to music, painting, or taking a walk in nature. When you do things you enjoy, your brain releases dopamine, a chemical that is associated with pleasure and happiness.

2. Connect with loved ones: Spending time with family and friends can be an excellent way to bring joy back into your life. Reach out to old friends and reconnect again. Turn acquaintances into friends by spending time together and getting to know each other more. Being surrounded by people who care about you can help you feel supported, loved, and connected.

3. Practice gratitude: Practicing gratitude can help you focus on the positive aspects of your life and appreciate the things you have. You can start by making a list of things you’re grateful for, and as you do so, you’ll begin to notice more and more things to be grateful for. Create a gratitude journal that you write in each day. Begin your mornings by thinking of what you’re grateful for and end your day with a reflection of what went well.

4. Take care of your physical and mental health: Your physical and mental health can have a significant impact on your overall well-being. Taking care of yourself by exercising regularly, eating well, getting enough sleep, and seeking help if you’re struggling with challenges. Focus on areas of your life in which you can joyfully experience positive activities.

5. Create Purpose: Recognize what is meaningful to you and what you can release from your life. Create a purpose which keeps you moving forward and gives you a strong “why” for what you do daily.

When you choose to live and work with intention rather than simply living by a to-do list, you’ll create moments of joy throughout your days–and those moments become the weeks/months/years of your life. Choose joy.

Karen Putz is known as “The Passion Mentor.” She is a certified Mindvalley Life Coach and Passion Test Facilitator. Karen helps midlifers create more joy, adventure, and fun so they can enjoy the second half of life. Grab the 22 Lessons to Live YOUR Passion at www. yourpassionschool.com.