I googled “How do I find joy?”
Shockingly (HA!) merely reading advice about finding joy didn’t cause me joy.
So what was said? What did I read? What did I learn?
Advice for finding JOY is rather similar to advice for fighting depression.
Like depression - sadness and despair are total fucking assholes and one needs to go at them with all guns blazing and just annihilate the utter livin’ crap outta them.
Tho that probably sounds really exhausting to anyone who’s sad or depressed or despondent...
Let’s try something simpler.
1. MOVE.
Move Your Body.
Ideally you would walk around in the sunshine with birds chirping and puppies frolicking and children laughing- but just walking around the block or even up and down some stairs or through the halls of your building is a start.
If it’s raining or very cold or you just don’t feel like getting dressed.
Climb stairs.
Roam around your apartment building in your pj’s or sweats- you can tell people you are “getting your steps in” and that it’s just too gross to go outside.
(This works ESPECIALLY well if it’s a beautiful sunny gorgeous day because it renders nosy meddling people momentarily speechless and then causes them to either push for more info or give up and leave you alone) (HA!)
I also like to remind people to EAT and HYDRATE.
Have a healthy snack and drink a full glass of water!
(Granola bar, piece of fruit, nuts, trail mix, cereal with or without milk, crackers, string cheese, etc)
2. LAUGH
Remember your favorite funny story.
Call or text a friend to remind them of that story or tell them a terrible joke or funny scene from a movie or tv show or play.
Watch a funny movie or show or vid on teh inter-webs.
Read funny books or URLs.
3. DO
Do something.
Get active.
Find a task and accomplish it!
The internets say
“Volunteer! Do good! Help others!”
and that is great and true and wonderful but also takes time and planning and maybe you are not up for that right now because you are mourning the loss of a loved one - or several loved ones - (bc everyone seems to die (or be dead but have a birthday) in February and it’s a bit overwhelming) ) (or you are just not feeling it for whatever reason).
Where were we?
We were DOING.
If you are ready to graduate from walking around or exercising or dancing (Shake Shake Shake your booty!) to accomplishing small tasks - BAM! - #3 is for you!
Buy some flowers!
Sing a song!
Do the dishes!
Vacuum!
Dust!
Clean the bathroom!!!!!!!!!!
(Ok - I was mostly kidding with those last 4- housework can be a chore - but it’s can be great bc it’s usually FAST and you see your results immediately and feel accomplished!)
Things to do:
Craft
Make something with your hands
Cook
Bake
Draw
Read a great book
Read a trashy magazine
Play a game
(With friends or on your own)
(Lots of great game apps out there)
Reorganize a small junk drawer
Clear off the coffee table
Clean out a small section of closet/ basement/ garage/ attic
Neaten up your room
Re-home all the crap on your kitchen table/ counter/ dining room table/ couch etc
(Did I mention I’m also a personal organizer) (shameless plug)
Post on social media!
Side note: If you are feeling down avoiding the news and social media may be BEST. All that info can be overwhelming and depressing!
But there are also cat videos and Fiona the baby hippo and April the baby giraffe so it’s a toss up.
4. SMILE
That’s it. Just practice smiling.
Make ridiculous and whack a doo faces in a mirror.
Smile big.
Smile small.
Smiling has the potential to change your whole day!
(You can also meditate or do yoga or just relax)
5. FORGIVE
Forgive yourself.
Accept yourself.
Forgive your them for dying too soon.
Forgive yourself for out living them.
Cry with total abandon.
Sob.
Wail.
Keen.
Wrack your bodies with waves of sobs and grief.
We usually feel better after a good cry.
Make yourself a hot drink afterwards.
Hug yourself.
Reach out to a friend or loved one if you are up to it.
And then MOVE YOUR BODY!
Birth Life Death
Joy Sadness Joy
It’s all a cycle.
Just don’t get stuck in sadness too long.
The joy is out there.
In abundance.
Seek it out. 🤪
Thank you for reading.
I’m off to have a snack and move my body and meet friends and frolic in the
open air 😍
I’m a Life Coach, Personal Organizer, and Professional Joy Finder.
Let me know how we can help you find your JOY. ❤️👍