top of page
Oct 26, 20213 min read

Daily Practices to Increase Joy

Who doesn't want some extra joy in their lives?



Hi, friend! I wanted to write this post because, lately, I've been feeling a lot of joy, and I want to share it with you!



Before We Begin...


Let's start off by defining what joy means. The dictionary definition of joy is "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying." While I like that definition, I think we can do better. We can take the dictionary definition of joy and expand it to more than an emotion, but a practice.


How do we make it a practice? Here are some basic steps or actions that you can take to increase your joy!



1. Smile


I realize that, lately, a lot of my posts have had to do with smiling. But it's so important! Smiling is a gift to ourselves (it triggers positive neurons in our brains) as well as to others (other people can smile back, or just receive it). Don't be afraid to share your beautiful smile with those around you, I can promise you it makes people's days better—strangers and friends alike.



2. Gratitude


I genuinely believe we are unable to count our blessings, simply because they are so numerous. That being said, it's so important to acknowledge them. Some practical ways to do this are writing three things you're thankful for in a journal or on the notes of your phone, speaking gratitude when you feel it, noting things you're thankful for throughout the day. Personally, I write what I'm thankful for in my prayer journal. It helps me to notice the blessings in my life and try to put a gracious spin on the things that are more difficult. Gratitude truly can change our minds towards joy, if only we let it.



3. Gift Words


At first, I was going to label this step as "give a compliment," but we can do so much more with our words. What I mean by "gift words," is using our words to uplift and encourage those around us. Giving a compliment is a great way to gift words to someone. You could also check in and ask someone how they're doing, or send an encouraging text, or say something that makes someone laugh. There are so many great ways to use your words! The dual effect of using your words for positivity is that you have to focus on positive things in order to come up with these gifted words. So, in the end, you also get a gift from your own words—the gift of positive reflection.



4. Unplug


Take some time to unplug from your electronics. I think this is the most difficult, yet powerful, step on this post because we've created habits of pulling out our phones in any and every situation. We are meant for face to face time, for being in the moment. I've found so much peace in walking from class to class without earbuds and listening to the chatter of students around me or the songs of the birds and seeing the faces go by. The only way we can do this is if we're willing to pull ourselves out of the electronic worlds we've built to be in the real world we've been given.



Something to Note


I want to wrap this post up by encouraging you that joy is an attitude. Yes, I think we can feel joy, but ultimately, we get to choose joy. That's the difference between happiness and joy—happiness is a fleeting feeling, joy is an enduring mindset. These four things are actions you can take to create not just an attitude, not just a mindset, but a lifestyle of joy.


With that, joy becomes a state of being.


How wonderful it would be to constantly live in a state of joy! I understand that that's not always possible, but it's a hopeful mindset to hold close. I pray that you would not simply find joy in your life, but that you would create a joyful way of living.



 

Comments

bottom of page