Finding Joy

Rachel and Dave Hollis and their company at Hollis Co, have been super aware of and on top of “finding your joy” and making “joy lists” and I am ALL about that. Obviously. And I think that right now, it is more important than ever, for ALL of us to jump in on that bandwagon and be on a constant quest to find joy. 

This may sound silly, like, why do I have to look for joy? I don’t need to look for reasons to be happy. But I actually completely disagree. Granted there are times that you are just happy. You may find yourself laughing at something, feeling relaxed, or just content with your current situation. But in times like this, when we are all physically separated from our loved ones and we are constantly being fed reasons to be afraid and sad by the media, and we actually are afraid and sad about our current situation, I think we do need to look for reasons to find joy. 

Like I have said in previous posts, “If you choose to find the bad, you will find the bad. If you choose to find the good, you will find the good. It’s your choice either way.” By saying this, I am not saying to ignore our current situations and act like they aren’t happening. But just try to find the good. Find the joy in this different situation we are all in.  

To me, finding joy is kind of like finding gratitude. When I feel really truly grateful for something, my insides get warm and fuzzy. Sometimes I cry (lol), and I just feel good all over my body.  

When I feel truly joyful and elated I get those same feelings, except I outwardly smile and laugh at the same time. 

Feeling joyful and feeling grateful just feels really really good. And who doesn’t want to feel really really good? I sure do. So let’s do it, let’s make that happen. 

I am going to start to tell you some of the things I do to find or add joy to my life. 

First, I wrote out a “joy list”.  

This is a list of things that I just love and or love to do. It sounds silly, but once you get going it feels so great because you are focusing on and thinking of all of the things that you love and consequently, it brings you joy.  

Some of mine include:

• An early quiet cup of coffee in the morning. 
• Practicing yoga. 
• Going on walks outside.
• Cooking a new delicious meal. 
• Reading a book. 
• Going to the beach. 
• Hanging out with my friends and family. 
• Writing or blogging. 
• Exercising. 
• A new bouquet of flowers.
• Going out to dinner.
• Getting dressed up for a night out. 
• A great smelling candle.
• Going to a winery.

Then we do more of what brings us joy. 

It’s very very simple. Do more of what makes you happy. Make sure you take the time every day to do at least one of the things on your list. And when you do them really DO them and feel into the feels.

  For me, I love that first cup of coffee in the morning by myself. I would take a minute while drinking that first sip to really take it all in. Feel so grateful for that moment, that I can do that thing right there. 

There will be some things that are on your list that you just can’t do right now. Now is the time to get creative and figure out how you can still do that while being at home. For me, some of those are hanging out with my friends and family and going out to dinner. Instead of hanging out with my friends in person, we can have a virtual hang out. And instead of going out to dinner, bring date night home. Give your kitchen a romantic feel with candlelight, and some music playing. Getting dressed up and make a cool new fun meal.  

Start a gratitude journal.  

Like I said before, for me finding joy is like finding gratitude. You are looking for, creating, or experiencing those moments that make you feel so happy and full. Keeping a gratitude journal is a way to capture those moments on paper, and a way to force yourself to sift through your day to remember the great things that did happen to you that day. 

On the tough days, it could be something as small as, “I am grateful for the fuzzy socks I got to wear all day” or “I am thankful for my health”.  

I would highly suggest you write down different things every day. Write down the big things and write down the little insignificant things that happened that made you happy.  

Either way, you are finding joy. You are looking at your day, and are looking for the good. Looking for the things that made you feel happy and grateful. That mindset and feeling of gratitude, that good feeling, that feeling that everything is okay right now. That is what we are ultimately looking for because, in the end, everything will always be okay. So today, let’s focus on what’s right, rather than what’s wrong. Find your joy and create your happiness. =] 

Love, Em