Finding joy in your life can mean a lot of things. Joy can range from taking a dance class, to the colors of your room, to giving yourself that extra few minutes to actually enjoy your morning cup of coffee and not just downing it before running off to work!
I get joy from coming home to a clean bedroom and a made bed. I also love love LOVE tap dancing and doing calculus with a picnic in the park. (I know, I’m a #nerd) But I also truly feel joy when helping others. Sometimes the things that bring us joy take a slightly higher level of commitment, like paying to take that tap class and spending the 2 hours in the class itself. While other things can be super small and simple, like helping others by holding the door open for someone or taking the 30 seconds to make my bed in the morning.
But, what if you don’t really know what those things are? Well, you have to find them! And if you aren’t sure what brings you that sense of unbridled joy from the inside out, you may not have truly found it yet, and that’s okay!
Here are 10 simple tasks you can try in order to find what sparks that flame in your heart:
1. Volunteer
Volunteer at an animal shelter, or a soup kitchen. There are plenty of organizations out there that will be more than willing to accept your free help.
2. Send a happy message.
It can be as little as “Thinking of you! Hope all is well :)” Little things like that can completely flip someone’s day on it’s head. And it takes less than a minute to choose someone, type out something short and sweet, and hit send. It really is fulfilling to be there for someone!
3. Get active!
If you can make time to be more active, do it. Even it’s it’s walking an extra few blocks to work, or taking the stairs up to your apartment or office.
“Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands” ~Elle Woods (Legally Blonde)
4. Give without expecting anything in return.
It can be as simple as holding the door open for someone.
5. Take a class
Take a dance class. Take a cooking class. Take a marketing class. Just take some sort of class where you’re learning about something that intrigues you. Or maybe it’s that skill you always wished you were good at but really had no idea where to start.
6. Laugh!
Laughter is the best medicine. Do something that you know will make you laugh and find that natural high.
7. Make a giant to do list
But don’t put any expectations on it. Make it a point to check off one item a day. Checking things off a list visually shows you everything you’ve accomplished all in one spot. As opposed to just know which tasks you accomplished.
8. Smile :)
Studies have shown that smiling, even if forced at first, will lead to genuine happy thoughts and feelings as a natural reaction of just lifting the upper lip. It’s a super simple task you can do anywhere! #fakeittillyoumakeit
9. Do something that scares you.
It doesn’t have to be extreme, but you’d be surprised how much you can grow from new experiences.
10. Cry.
Let it out! The majority of people who allow themselves to have a good cry feel significantly better after. It’s not healthy to keep all of your emotions bottled up. Take a deep breath, and allow yourself to feel your emotions. You will make it through.
*BONUS*
Be Grateful!
Keep a gratitude journal, and read/write in it everyday! If you are focusing on what you are grateful for, your mind will be occupied by these good thoughts as opposed to being bogged down by the negatives.
What brings your heart joy? I love working with kiddos, tap dancing, and doing calculus with a picnic in the park! Share your joys below and maybe someone will be inspired to try it themselves!
*ALSO!*
Download my Gratitude Journal pages here along with my 30 day Gratitude Challenge calendar!
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