Make Time to Joy!

Life can feel so serious all the time. With the challenges, stressors, demands of our time and attention, and concerns of the world around us, it’s so easy to constantly feel weighed down and like life is just a matter of gritting our teeth and bearing it. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, there are always going to be those things that cause us discomfort, pain, concern, and angst. They will always be a part of life. But it isn’t all doom and gloom. There are always reasons to joy, to be grateful, to exhale and release the tension and remember that this too shall pass.

Perhaps you can’t remember the last time you truly felt joyful; the last time you laughed a belly laugh; the last time you set aside time to simply have fun. If that’s you, I understand. I feel your heaviness. I understand feeling like the weight of the world is constantly pressing down on your shoulders and suffocating your spirit. I understand that perhaps the idea of making time for fun feels like a ridiculous, impossible notion. But I encourage you not to feel burdened by it or feel like it requires a secluded vacation on a beach somewhere in order to find joy. Joy can be found in the little every day moments; in a bird’s song, in the flowers pushing up from the dirt, from the slow, gentle fade of a sunset. It can be found in the smile of your children or a conversation with a friend or in your favorite song. It can be found in a walk outside or a delicious meal or even just being still and breathing deep.

So today I ask you to consider, what makes your soul sing? What fills your heart and lifts your spirit? What makes you laugh? Not a polite, measured laugh but a deep, from-your-belly laugh? What delights you and reminds you once again that there is still good to be found in the world, in your life, in this moment?

Now that you’ve identified those things, I invite you to prioritize them. MAKE time for them. Don’t wait for time to make itself available to do them; that time will never come. There will always be endless things trying to snatch away our time and if we aren’t diligent in how we choose to spend it, it will be stolen right out from under us. So come up with a plan. Decide how and when you are going to make time to joy. Sure, joy is technically not a verb but let’s make it one! Let’s make it something we do and not just simply something we feel. Even if you just set aside five minutes of your day, dedicate a few moments to something that stirs your soul. Something that lifts your spirit, fills your heart, and reminds you that life truly is a gift to be treasured and enjoyed. Happy joying!

I’d love to hear what brings you joy!

Share your thoughts, comments, and what lifts your spirit & brings a smile to your face.

You never know...Perhaps your ideas will ignite joy in another’s heart!