4 Simple Ways to More Joy

Joy is not an attribute that many use to describe themselves these days. We are all worn down with a daily dose of headlines that makes us feel worse. AI dupes, fake news, and really, just awful news that is really heart-breaking and depressing. Through this tiny spot on the internet, let’s work on our emotional well-being and figure out how to find more joy in our minute-to-minute busy lives.

If someone asked you to define the opposite of joy, you might respond with, “sadness.” That’s totally fair!

And yet, as Christians, our secret strength is supposed to be joy in the Lord! (Nehemiah 8:10). What does that mean? Joy in war, crazy governments, or a world spinning out of control?

Just for a small slice of this moment, let’s put Isaiah 55:12 into practice. “We will go out with joy and be led in peace.” How long has it been since you went out with joy and led yourself with peace? If we’re honest, too long! So, how do we get more joy? Pull up a seat and let’s visit.

Lean In

One way to find more joy is to work to be present and actually see and hear people. This sounds crazy but so true! When you’re talking to a friend, challenge yourself to really lean in and hear what he/she is saying. It’s tough to lean in while listening without constructing your response. Or let’s be honest. How long has it been since we really listened to a friend without thinking of ourselves? That is kind of like gauging your expressions watching yourself while on a zoom call. Just hide the self-view!

Ask yourself how you could show up to be a better friend. What questions could you ask them to let them know that they are seen and heard by you? Uncertainty and isolation is such a distressing way to live life. Push back on isolation and aloneness with your circle of friends.

Call to check on someone you haven’t heard from in a while. Notice I said to call. Let’s not chicken out with a text. I mean, who calls people anymore? How about we change that? Right here. While you’re making a friend’s day, you might just increase your joy quotient.

person holding a sign that says Grateful

Gratefulness

The opposite of joy is not sadness. Rather, the opposite of joy is being ungrateful. “Gratitude is an enabler of joy,” according to researcher Bréne Brown. Growing up, how many times did our parents force us to mumble, “thank you”, for a gift on our birthday. They were attempting to teach us gratitude. Sometimes, we just forget with the stuff in life pressing in on us.

When we strive to live in a grateful frame of mind, we easily find ourselves with more joy. It is the easy by-product of being grateful. Rudyard Kipling said this, “You will realize that you’re much more joyful when you’re simply grateful.”

At the end of today, work to find 3-5 small things for which you are grateful. Could be as simple as this list:

My cozy bed
Coffee with cream
Chocolate
A walk in the sunshine
Cardinals in the back yard

After you’ve written your list, check your joy meter. See if you don’t go to sleep a bit more joyful and less anxious! Just a little bit of joy will work!

Touch Grass

Something to challenge yourself with is to “see” things like sunsets, trees, creeks, unique buildings and crazy-shaped clouds. Last week, I heard a podcaster say, "Go outside and TOUCH grass!” At the time, I laughed and thought, well, that is such a weird thing to say. But, in our current obsession with devices and screens, it’s really true! There are days that just need us to go outside and actually walk or touch a piece of grass! Get yourself grounded back to creation and God’s stuff!

Take a walk to find five fun things to truly notice. As you’re walking, look for the unique ways that God created rocks, clouds, twisty creeks, curious pets or pesky weeds. Later, tell someone what you noticed on your walk. How many times this week have you gone outside to just “be” in the presence of what God has so lovingly created for us? Check yourself. See if your joy-meter isn’t increasing!

Bring Sadness Along

One recent film, Inside Out, had two main emotions inside the mind of the main character, Riley Andersen. Joy and Sadness were opposing emotions. The cartoon character Joy worked overtime throughout the film to make sure that Riley, the pre-adolescent gal, would never feel sadness. Joy believed that Sadness was harmful and that feeling sad would bring feelings that were counteractive to the feelings of joy. So, Joy was always screeching at Sadness to not touch anything or mess with anything! By the end of the movie, Joy had the realization that Sadness brought a fullness to memories and events that joy alone could not.

This week, if you feel sad about a situation, allow the joy of your salvation to be your strength. This isn’t to say that you’ll be filled with joy at every turn. No. When we work to find joy in sadness, we turn our sorrows to joy.

Ponder a few points of the situation. Write a few lines of how you could muster a bit of gratitude for how things have taught you about life and being in touch with your feelings of sadness. When we write about sad and traumatic events, our brains begin the healing process. This might seem so simple to you at the time, but over the long term, you will notice healing in places that were once just sadness.

Joy-Spreader

〰️

Joy-Spreader 〰️

Through the above FOUR simple steps, my wish is for you to have a bit more joy this week. A small speck in the otherwise gloomy days perhaps! Share and be a joy-spreader every single place you go this week!

With joy,

Valeria

Conclusion

Thanks for spending some time here! Your time is so precious and valuable. Your friendly comments are so valuable and important for the people reading this after you! Do you have a second to spare? Thanks for writing us a quick note to keep us going on the journey of hope!

I hope that you’ve found an extra nugget for your week. Working to create content that is helpful on your healing journey! Every little bit helps! Take good care and we’ll see you back here really soon!

Take a minute and subscribe to our email list so you’ll be in the know of our tidbits and travels. You’ll have access to resources and tools.

If there is anything we could do to help you on your journey, let us know with a friendly comment or like! We’d love to know that we aren’t alone out here in this crazy web of information!

Email us at kingdomadvanceok@gmail.com

Check out our links here

REsources