30 ways to invite in more joy
Here's the thing about joy: Sometimes it arrives like unexpected laughter or a hummingbird peeking at you through the kitchen window or a note in the mail just because or an exquisite turn of phrase in the novel you're reading late at night.
And sometimes you have to work at finding it in your everyday life.
It's like a muscle you need to flex and move and notice and use.
That's why I often talk about it as being a practice. You have to practice seeking joy, creating space for joy, opening up to joy.
You have to make joy in your everyday life.
Here are 30 ways that I dive into joy that I hope will help you get started with this practice. And here's the part where I say I hope you'll pick one today and give it a try. And then try another one tomorrow. And then make your own list.
Yes.
2. Go outside and listen to the birds sing.
3. Put on your favorite shoes and take yourself out for coffee.
4. Text a friend.
5. Watch Kid President.
6. Donate to your favorite charity.
7. Turn up "Shake It Off" and jump around until your insides rattle a bit.
8. Call your mom and tell her you love her (or call your BFF and do the same).
9. Write down 10 things you're grateful for.
10. Make soup (or some other favorite comfort food).
11. Write a love letter.
12. Head to the water, to the woods, to the strip of green in front or behind your home, and notice five beautiful things.
13. Ask your Facebook friends to tell you one good thing about their day.
14. Write a thank you note.
15. Go to a yoga class (or push yourself to do something you love that isn't at work or home and involves just being around others).
16. Check out your favorite children's book from the library and read it aloud (to yourself or someone else).
17. Eat a cupcake (or an apple).
18. Give yourself a superhero name.
19. Look at yourself in the mirror and say "I am whole. I am worthy. I am loved."
20. Sing a favorite childhood song with zeal (maybe join in with Kermit.
21. Find a dandelion and make a wish.
22. Watch your favorite movie (or even just a favorite scene).
23. Make a list of all the ways your grade school teachers changed your life.
24. Go through a carwash and pretend you're on an adventure.
25. Draw a map of your childhood hometown complete with labels of the most important places to your 8-year-old self.
26. Write a list of your favorite things.
27. Ask someone you love to tell you that story that always makes you both laugh so hard.
28. Take off your shoes and stand up (or just put your feet on the floor) and feel your toes and your heels and thank the earth for supporting you and keeping your grounded.
29. Give someone flowers (and maybe keep one stem just for you).
30. Ask for a hug. (And maybe even open your arms wide right now. Yes, right now. Open them wide. Breathing and feeling that space. And then wrap them around yourself in a hug that says, "You aren't alone honey. I've got you.)
How do you invite in more joy? Please share in the comments so we can keep the list going.
joy in make a list.
Reader Comments (6)
Stick your face in a peony bloom and inhale its sweet goodness {I know this only applies about 1 - 2 weeks out of the year, but still!}.
Take your shoes and socks off and run around in the grass barefoot {or substitute sand/surf if you are a lucky duck who lives near a beach}
Lay on your back outside and watch clouds. Inhale deeply. Close your eyes and snooze in the sun.
Tell someone you love them. Better yet, handwrite a note on pretty stationery to said person.
Whisper a prayer of gratitude for the littlest things (which are the biggest!).
Mmmmm.... I'm turning my computer off right now.
-play air guitar to a favorite high school song
-eat dessert first, or better yet, make it your meal!
-play with crayons or markers
-pick a random stranger and be extra nice to them, just to feel good
-roll down a grassy hill
-paint your nails a wild & crazy color!
-try to do a handstand against a wall
-do a cartwheel as many times as you can, in a row ( one is good too)
-find pictures in the clouds
Love this post. Discovering and celebrating joy has been my focus for a while now.
-write a Joy List -- come up with everything I can think of from the day that's beautiful or joyful
-spend some time digging in the garden
-play in my sketchbook
-go for a walk with the dogs
-put on my favorite perfume and some lip gloss
-cut some flowers from the garden
- walking around barefoot on the grass
- reading books about fairies
- colouring in my mandala colouring book
- eating ice cream, real ice cream!!!
- going for nature walks alone and listening to birds
- mediating outside
- playing with my kinders
- making crafts and painting
- going to the beach walking on the sand
- reading a book on a rainy day
- eating pop corn
- blowing bubbles
- playing with my dog
Learn to zentangle and explore things you love on Pinterest:)
Reminding myself that I am healthy
Reminding myself that my daughter is healthy
Praying out loud with gratitude that we are both healthy
Relishing the quiet times, early in the morning when everyone else is asleep
Savoring that first cup of hot coffee (for me: Hazelnut!)
Making a special meal for my family and humming a favorite tune during the tedious prep time.
Hugging one (or both) of our two dogs and being grateful for them.
Reading Anne of Green gables for the 10th time.
Going to church on a weekday and giving thanks that we have so many freedoms
Cleaning a messy room without complaint - just grateful its clean again.
Looking at old photo's and savoring the contribution that each family member has made to help me become the woman I am. Too many more to list.
Writing a letter without the computer, in longhand.