Do you want to simplify and live a fulfilling, rich life of value and authenticity? Me too!! Living a joy-based life means that in each moment, we are intentionally choosing the thoughts, beliefs, words or actions that feel the most true and authentic to our heart and higher self. What this requires of us is to slow down and allow ourselves to deeply settle into the present moment, take a pause to check in with ourselves and decide then and there to choose joy. One study on retraining everyday attention toward moments of joy, awe, curiosity, and gratitude found that mindful participants truly savored these moments, increased social connectedness by sharing them, and in turn improved mental and physical health markers.
As humans, we are social creatures and our emotional and mental wellness, which directly impacts our physical wellness, is greatly reflected by our level of social fulfillment. When we look at the Blue Zones, we see that one of the largest components was having strong ties to community, and their sense of feeling needed and of value.
What if we all, in every relationship, strived to leave people happier than when we found them? What if we all cared more about the happiness of our family, partner, tribe, or community instead of hyper fixating on our own needs and happiness? What a beautiful balance that would bring to the world if we all felt seen, heard, supported, loved, and understood by those we surround ourselves with. Imagine trusting so deeply in the care others would bring to your life that your cup was overflowing; then bringing joy, love, and support to others was your primary concern. That level of trust in the process could change how we all look at our struggles throughout our days.
"Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people
better than you found them."
~ Marvin J. Ashton
Recently in one of my Community Connection conversation gatherings, Nichea Spillane, Ph.D Associate Professor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, shared a few quick and easy tips she uses in her practice, that can help us shift to a positive mindset.
Savoring - This involves being deeply connected to the moment. Take a walk and enjoy the spring flowers, the smell of the crisp air. Using all your senses to connect you to an experience. Leave space for awe, curiosity, and wonder. Even thinking of a positive memory of time spent with the people you value. It could also include doing something kind for yourself, guilt free.
3 Good Things (Gratitude) - Take a moment to acknowledge 3 good things that you are grateful for or make you feel like you were showing up in life as your best self. When we take the time to bring attention to the things in our lives that are going well or bring us joy, our brains will be more likely to tune to that train of thought and we tend to look for more throughout the day.
Thank You Letter - Write a meaningful, genuine, heartfelt thank you letter to someone who means a lot to you, and you maybe haven't told them enough, or shared the intimate details of why you appreciate them.
Random Acts of Kindness - Do 5 small acts of kindness to randomly improve life for someone or multiple people. This does not have to involve money and sometimes the small things are the most powerful. Research showed that doing 5 random acts of kindness all in 1 day as opposed to spreading it out over the course of a week had far more of an impact on not only the level of joy a person felt but also how long they sustained that state of bliss they felt for being of service for another being.
When we allow joy to be our north star, it doesn't take away all the struggles and challenges that we come across in our daily lives, it just allows us the grace to weather the storm because we have filled our love tank and our beliefs know that another moment of joy is waiting right around the corner for us. Remember, a belief is nothing more than a thought we think repeatedly. Imagine the impact of choosing joy over defeat or self-loathing. That choice is always waiting for us in the stillness of the present moment.
When we get to the point that we truly believe deep in our hearts that life is always working out for us, even when it seems challenging or upside down, the faith that we are held and supported by life, is immeasurable. It then also frees up our self-obsession and allows us the true joy of being there for another. It is in our nature to need support and be supportive of others. Let's free ourselves of the burden of struggle and all choose joy so that we can elevate ourselves and all of those around us.
All the love,
Pamela
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