What brings you joy?
When you sink into negativity...
When we feel overwhelmed by life and can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, we tend to fall into a bottomless pit of negativity... has that ever happened to you?
How do we get out of that dead end?
How do we reconnect with joy and the moments that make us feel alive?
Listening to a friend's advice
During my first sabbatical, when I felt a bit lost about my future, I remember a friend suggesting that I reconnect with activities I loved when I was younger.
The very first thing that came to mind was doing puzzles!
Reconnecting with childhood pleasures
So that's exactly what I did when I got home: I went to pick some up from my parents' place and spent hours rediscovering that childhood joy!
I didn’t even see time passing - I was so absorbed and focused on the puzzle pieces in front of me.
Once those were finished, I went out to find new ones... until I finally satisfied that craving for puzzles.
Joy: a habit we can lose
Returning to the small pleasures of my childhood made me realize how easily we lose the habit of enjoying simple activities - even something as ordinary as doing puzzles.
The weight of daily tasks
Our days fill up with tasks, some heavier than others, whether personal or professional, and we forget the importance, even the necessity, of experiencing joy for our health.
Bringing small pleasures back into our day
Sometimes we're so focused on the goal we want to reach that we forget the journey can be sprinkled with small moments of joy.
Find the little pleasures that make you feel good and bring a smile to your face throughout your day!
The benefits of joy on your health
Joy has significant positive effects on our health! For example, joy:
Allows our body to release endorphins (hormones that create a sense of well-being, like after intense physical activity)
Protects us from the harmful effects of stress
Strengthens and regulates our immune system
Improves our mood
Joy vs. distraction: an important distinction
But be careful - it's important to distinguish what truly brings us joy from what is simply a distraction (like watching TV or playing video games).
Joy helps us feel fully present, alive and conscious in the moment. Distraction does the opposite - it pulls us away from the present moment.
That said, there is a time and a place for distraction, but it shouldn't replace moments of genuine joy.
Your turn!
So, what brings you joy? What activities did you love when you were a child?
A few ideas to bring joy back into your life
Listening to music
Playing an instrument
Singing
Going to a comedy show
Dancing
Doing yoga
Giving a hug to your children or your partner
Volunteering
Having a pet and spending time with it
Doing an outdoor activity
Grabbing a coffee with a friend
Chatting and connecting with friends
Need a little support?
Coaching and visualization exercises can be powerful tools to help you bring joy back into your life.
Feel free to reach out if you're interested! The first introductory session is free!
