Finding Joy & Embracing Life’s Simple Pleasures

In the hustle and bustle of our fast-paced lives, finding true joy can often feel like an elusive quest. We often find ourselves caught up in the pursuit of material possessions, social validation, or chasing after success, mistakenly believing that these external factors will bring us joy. In this post, I want to explore finding joy and embracing life’s simple pleasures.

What is Joy?

Joy is often associated with feelings of gratitude, love, peace, and a sense of connection. I believe that true joy lies not in the external world, but within each one of us. The way you feel can be cultivated and nurtured, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

I’ve listed just a few simple examples of things that can bring us joy below.

• Being with family
• Gathering with an old friend
• Finishing a good book
• Sunshine
• A song or photos that bring back fond memories
• Hugs
• An unexpected gift
• A daydream
• A special meal

5 Tips to Find Joy & Embrace Life’s Simple Pleasures

Cultivate Gratitude

Gratitude is an essential component in having joy. Taking time to acknowledge and appreciate the blessings and beauty in and around your life, no matter how small, allows you to shift your perspective and focus on the positive aspects of life.

In the past, I have kept a gratitude journal. At the beginning of each day, I would list things that I was grateful for. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers when being grateful. No answer is too small. Additionally, you don’t have to own a fancy journal either. Get yourself a regular spiral notebook. It’s inexpensive and works just fine.

Open your heart and just jot down the things that you are truly thankful for each morning.

This was such a helpful exercise for me when it came to keeping my joy in check!

“It is not joy that makes us grateful. It is gratitude that makes us joyful.” – Anonymous

Pursuing Your Passions

What are you passionate about? What kind of activities bring you joy? Do you have a favorite hobby?

Being with and sharing my gifts with and for my family and friends brings me such great joy! If I can cook a big meal and feed the masses…that’s a good and joyful day!

Engaging in activities that bring us joy and align with our values and passions can have a profound impact on our overall well-being. When we follow our hearts and pursue our passions, we tap into an unlimited amount of joy and fulfillment. Whether it’s blogging, painting, writing, cooking, gardening, or volunteering, dedicating time to what we love creates a sense of purpose and allows us to experience the joy that comes from doing what we truly enjoy.

Embrace Self Care

I have learned over the years that taking care of myself is a must in the quest for staying joyful. When I’m out of shape, tired etc., it’s harder to be joyful about life’s simple pleasures.

However, prioritizing your well-being by taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health will definitely help. Sometimes adding some essential oils to a diffuser helps move my joy meter. Other items like exercising, relaxing, eating well and small self care items are helpful. Enjoying a cup of tea, a hot bath and doing my nails, can bring me joy!

Picking out that nail polish color, every few weeks, definitely puts a smile on my face!

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott

Let Go of Comparison

Gosh, this can be a hard one! In this in-your-face world of social media, comparison can sometimes be hard to avoid. Comparing yourself to someone else can be so harmful to your joy! This comparison can often lead to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt and sometimes self-worth.

Tips to avoid comparison:

• Learn to recognize when you start to engage in comparison
• Celebrate your uniqueness! Embrace who you are as an individual and celebrate what qualities and strengths make you special.
• Remind yourself that each person’s journey is specific to them. Focus instead on your own progress, growth, and personal goals.

Live in the Present Moment

Last but not least, be present! Sometimes the best medicine to find joy is just stop whatever you’re doing and pay attention to what’s going on around you. Savor the present moment without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. If you dwell on the past or worry about the future, it takes you away from the present.

Finding Joy & Embracing Life’s Simple Pleasures

If you’re spinning your wheels and trying to get a grip on the joy in your life, I hope I’ve given you some good suggestions to find your joy again.

There are also plenty of books on joy and how to help you find it! I’ve listed a few below along with some other great items to lift your spirits!

Here’s to the finding the extra dose of joy you so deserve!

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