The Power Within… Just Change Your Mind

Finding Joy in Your Life

I thought that Id avoid the typical New Years Resolution article this year for one that is a little more personal. You already know my thoughts on resolutions, if you have to make a resolution to do something, shouldnt you already be doing it? So just get it done in 2009, OK? I cant believe the New Year is just a few days away. Maybe you are doing the same thing that Ive been doing, trying to figure out where 2008 went? Its been a year of many good, bad and crazy things! Now we are here looking into yet another year that is bound to fly by as quickly as this one did.

So for this year, Im pulling a previous article that I wrote a couple of years ago, called Finding the Joy in your Life. It originated from an article that I read in Prevention Magazine, entitled Maximum Joy, 14 ways to learn to feel lucky you are alive. What a better way to end this year and start a new one with this simple thought of finding joy in your life.

Finding Joy in your life can be as simple as enjoying an awesome piece of chocolate or as complicated as achieving a professional accomplishment or as deep as spiritual fulfillment. No matter how it comes into your life, its something that we all need and want more of. Yes, happiness has been researched. According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD of the University of California in Riverside, only 10% of happiness comes from life events and 40% is influenced by what we do deliberately to make ourselves happy. Being happy is the key to being joyful.

Maybe for the New Year you can utilize some of these ideas toward trying to make your life full of more joy and happiness. First, notice whats right. It seems that optimistic people are happier people and experience more joy. If you focus on whats wrong all the time, you will experience discouragement, depression and low self-esteem.

Be grateful. Individuals who regularly record what they are thankful for in gratitude journals experience higher levels of optimism, enthusiasm, attentiveness, and energy and they feel better about their life as a whole.

Remember the kid you were. If you allow yourself the opportunity to play you can rediscover the childlike qualities that are strongly associated with joy. Kids seem to find happiness and joy in just about everything they do.

Be kind. Random acts of kindness increase happiness.

Spend time with your friends & family. Having a strong social and supportive network of friends, family and romantic partners has a huge effect on happiness.

Savor every moment. You can increase joy by paying attention to momentary pleasures. Bask in praise you receive from others, share pleasures with friends, completely immerse yourself in something you love doing.

Move. Exercise is a powerful mood elevator.

Rest. Peace, quiet, and solitude can also create joy.

Put on a happy face. Just smiling and looking like youre happy will make you happier. Even muscular changes in your face can elevate your happiness, as can good posture. If you smile more you make more friends and people are nicer to you which makes everyday happier.

Pursue your goals. Research shows that the pursuit of your goals, not necessarily attaining them, can increase joy.

Get into the flow. Flow is a form of joy, ecstasy and happiness that can emerge when people are so absorbed in an activity they love that they lose themselves. Flow is highly individual, but people experience it in everything from running and rock climbing to writing, painting and playing music.

Play your strengths. Identify your strengths and virtues and then use them. You should re-craft your work life, love life and your leisure time to use those strengths and virtues that make you special.

Find your calling. Having a sense of purpose, feeling like you are here for a reason, can perhaps bring the greatest joy of all.

So in 2009, start with yourself and make a conscious effort to pull joy and happiness into your life, then youll be able to share that joy with everyone you love. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Deborah Holmes

December 23, 2008