Create a Life of Joy (How Are You Being?)
How do you create a life of joy? First, let’s understand that joy is a state of being. It’s deeper and fuller and longer lasting than happiness. Happiness is an emotion that is often fleeting and dependent on an outside circumstance or event. Joy comes from within; it isn’t dependent on anything going on outside of you. To create a life of joy just start simply with the firm decision to be joyous. Yes, it really is that simple! Is it easy? Well, that depends on where you are starting from. If you aren’t used to turning your thoughts around and switching them to see the positive aspects of life, then it may more difficult to just be joyous. Creating a deep well of joy from within usually takes practice- you can’t really go from depressed to blissful with a switch of a thought. (Sorry if I am taking the wind out of your sails but I’m being honest about the flow of energy. It’s usually a gradual, graceful progression, not a huge leap upward.) It doesn’t really matter where you are, however…you can be more joyous starting right now. You can slowly and surely start cultivating joy from within until joy becomes your baseline state of being. Turning Pain, Anger and Irritation Into JoyHow can you create a life of joy even during a painful experience or a troubling time? What if you just aren’t feeling it?In these situations, I ask you to check in with how you are feeling. Let those feelings have a moment to express themselves- don’t drown your sorrows in alcohol or drugs, but allow them to flow. Tell the rational mind to take a break and be quiet and just feel what’s going on with you. Now ask yourself, “How am I being?”. Be honest with yourself- are you being temperamental? Are you looking at the glass half-empty? Are you letting other people get to you? You always get to choose whether to react or respond. We all have those people or things that hit a button, but let me ask you, when will you get over it? Buttons and triggers are unhealed emotions that are simply coming up for you to heal, and the way to heal them is by listening to your feelings, and then choosing joy in spite of what is happening. If someone yells at you then you have the choice to get defensive, get upset, or get angry and yell back. You also have the choice to be in joy and love. You can simply tell that person that you won’t accept being yelled at and that you are happy to discuss things calmly. (And it helps to know that other people’s crap isn’t about you, anyway- it’s about them!). The more you engage in non-joyous behavior, the more you perpetuate it. When you choose to participate in joy, joy will begin to be reflected back to you. The more you choose joy, the more that these triggers will start to go away. (Remember that the triggers show up to help you heal, not because life wants to torment you!) Don’t beat yourself up if you get caught up in what is going on and you react from old habits instead of responding from the center of your being. Just notice what happened and choose to be different the next time. Staying grounded and centered helps (a lot!) as it’s easier to keep a higher perspective when you remember who you are (you are love!). Creating Joy In The MundaneHow do you create more joy even in the mundane? My husband often says he needs to travel for the excitement of it, and I always ask how he can create more excitement in his day to day life. It’s all in your perception. Traveling usually brings out joy and excitement because we are open to it and we expect it, and we don’t carry that same attitude in our day-to-day lives. Think about it…do you walk through your day centered in joy, or do you expect the mundane? Do you walk into a situation thinking about what might happen and worrying about possibilities, or do you walk firmly centered in YOUR joy? (Hint- it helps if you stop caring about what other people think about you!) Right now, sit up tall, with your spine straight. Take several deep breaths…breathe in and affirm that you are aligning with your joy, and breathe out while affirming that you are releasing all that does not support joy. You can do this any time you lose your connection to joy. The more you practice being in joy, the more it grows and stabilizes in your life. Creating joy and being in joy is a choice that you can make in every moment of every day. You don’t have to let things, people and circumstances in your life affect your joy! Tend to your joy like a garden; there may be sunshine and there may be rain, and you can use both to help grow joy. Remember - you have to choose to create a life of joy. Create a life of joy - You get to choose! Create a life of joy - Deliberate Creation More articles in the "How Are You Being?" Series: How are you being? Attracting mad abundance! How are you being? Attracting and being love and integrity New! CommentsLet me know what you are thinking, or just say "hi"! |
