Find Your Joy

The blues.
Bad days.
Bummers.
Stress.
Crazy life.

We’ve all experienced them at some point. If you ever catch yourself saying “I just need” or “if only I had…”, “what’s my purpose in life…”, you’re probably there now. And you’re looking for a way out. But how?

Find your joy.

Several years back, I was down on a physical therapy table being told that I was “holding back” in life as the self-proclaimed self-help guru stretched my tense crunchy body back into malleable human form. I was so bound up in my shoulders and neck from the stresses of every day life, sitting a computer, worrying, holding up the weight of the world. All the time. And now, the internal stresses started to take shape physically.It got ugly.

I learned from the experience – I hadn’t combated stress with joy. I hadn’t conquered worry with peace. And I hadn’t taken my health into my own hands. I hadn’t taken any time or responsibility for my own well-being. This was my daily life and it was so very wrong. I remember that moment every day – the day one unsuspecting stranger gave it to me straight. Who knew this little nugget would change my mind about how daily life should be?

Stress is a killer. It causes symptoms that you may not realize, pain you won’t notice and it hinders you in more ways than you can imagine. Maybe you already feel these effects, maybe they’re in your future.

So what does this have to do with “finding your joy”?
Only absolutely everything.

Start here…
Here’s the advice that was given to me, and I now pass it on to you:

  • Take twenty minutes to yourself.
  • Clear ALL distractions: put the cell phone away, walk away from the computer, lock your door and take time for yourself.
  • Lie flat on the floor releasing every inch of your body.
  • Close your eyes.
  • Clear your mind.
  • Take three slow, deep breaths.

Your joy is almost here.

Now think:

Seek with your heart – what is the answer to:

  • “if I won the lottery and didn’t have to work, I’d do…”
  • “maybe I should quit everything and do…”
  • “one day I’m just going to…”
  • “as a kid, I always wanted to…”
  • “I regret not…”

What’s holding you back?
What are you putting off?  What are you denying?  Is it healthy?

What can you do on a daily basis to find your joy?
Does this mean you should quit your job, sell your house, become an ex-patriot and buy that yacht? Maybe for you, that’s the answer. Or maybe it just means you need to take a vacation now and clear your head for a while. Perhaps twenty minutes of sitting down away from distraction is enough for you to recharge your batteries and get back to your currently-fulfilled life’s purpose. Try writing a gratitude journal, counting your blessings every day and see where that takes you.

The simple answer is, it’s time for your to take control of your stress level and put yourself in the driver’s seat of your health, stress level and overall happiness.

You have amazing powers.

Find your joy. Try not to lose it.

And, take a vacation.  Vacations are awesome.