Three Simple Steps to Finding Joy
Today, many women live hectic lives. Whether you are working full-time, finishing a degree, or have family obligations, most likely you feel the shortage of time in your schedule. This shortage of time may leave you craving a need for more “me time”, where you can nurture your personal wellbeing. In examining my own life, I have often found that my craving for more “me time” stemmed from a lack of “joy boosters” in my life. Joy Boosters are what I define as moments that decrease my stress level and increase my happiness, as well as inner resilience. I have noticed that if I don’t have a few joy boosters interwoven throughout my week, I am unable to maintain the focus and stamina needed to accomplish my goals.
So, I want to take a moment to share with you three simple joy boosters that you can start using to create more joy in your life.
1. Express Gratitude. Gratitude is the one key ingredient to joy that is often overlooked. Expressing thankfulness for what you have accomplished is the first step towards a more resilient mindset. Taking time to list at least 5 things that you are grateful for each day will increase your level of happiness. In addition, making a gratitude list will also push you to start looking for the many blessings that you may overlooked due to your busy schedule.
2. Celebrate your accomplishments. If you are like me, you may spend most of your time rushing to and fro, trying to cross items off of your to-do list. However, I have found that I don’t spend as much time celebrating what I have done so far. Remember to remain centered in acknowledging yourself, and all that you are doing to live a productive and fulfilled life. Take time during the month to treat yourself, celebrating what you have been able to achieve in the last few weeks. Stopping momentarily to celebrate your hardwork will ultimately increase your level of joy during the month.
3. Try the smile test. Truthfully speaking, smiling didn’t always come naturally to me. However, over the past year or so, I have challenged myself to smile more. I remind myself daily to increase the amount of times that I smile, in both public and private. This reminder provides me with an increase in mindfulness, and appreciation of the many things that I am grateful for. In addition, I have found that the more I do smile, the more smiling naturally becomes a part of my everyday demeanor. I encourage you to try these three simple steps to implement more joy in your life. I guarantee that you will discover more fulfillment in your overall wellbeing.
Feel free to share your feedback and any additional “joy boosters” you are using in your life. I may be found at www.preciousvines.com.
Precious L. Vines
Precious L. Vines is an attorney, educator, and author. She is the author of "The Sweetest Transition: Lessons in Life, Love, and Self-Discovery." She enjoys writing, and you can find her creating entries for her blog, The Single Maven. There you will find her take on various topics, including her Christian walk, and how to find life's purpose in everyday circumstances. In addition to writing, Precious enjoys arts and crafts, traveling, and murder mysteries.
