In this turbulent and stressful world we live in, it can be difficult to have joy in our lives. The past 6 years of Trump, then Covid, and now a potential war, have been stressful for many of us. For me to have peace and joy, I have to make it for myself.
Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.
— Wayne W. Dyer
The first thing I did was stop watching the news most days.
Several years ago, a friend called, and when I answered the phone, she was hollering at the TV in a high-pitched, angry voice. When she started talking, they were all complaints. The same thing happened when I called a relative.
Each time I said, “Whoa, stop, take a deep breath.” “I’ll talk to you later.” I didn’t want all that negativity coming into my space, even over the phone.
In addition to trying to keep negatives out of my space as much as possible, I find joy and peace in giving gratitude for all that I have.
When I take a bath, I don’t jump in, bathe and jump out. I sit, relax, and give thanks to the universe for:
providing me with the sense to listen (which I didn’t do in my younger life) to my inner voice/my guidance that guides me to do what I think is best for my being.
having a nice apartment with heat and air, hot and cold water,
having a bathtub in my bathroom
giving me the physical and mental ability to get in and out of the bathtub
giving me the ability to hear the jazz music that is playing while I’m in the bathtub
giving me the ability to see the lit candles while I’m in the bathtub.
When I’m relaxing in a hot bubble bath I feel as rich as Oprah Winfrey is.
Although her bathroom and bathtub are far richer than mine, she can’t possibly feel any better than I when she’s relaxing in her bathtub.
I don’t need several homes, cars, or yachts to be happy. All I have to do is look around my living environment at how I have designed it to make me feel at peace
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow — I have still joy in the midst of these things.
— Confucius
I find joy in grocery shopping, experimental cooking, and laughing with a loved one.
These are all good things that I am receiving from life.
I try to have a good belly laugh every day.
If I can’t find something during the day to laugh about, I’ll think of something that happened in the past.
For example, a few months ago I was in my eye doctor’s waiting room dressed in all red. Red pants, red top, red scarf, etc.
This elder gentleman walked by and looked at me and said “Little Red Riding Hood, you sure are looking good” and I said “And I’m everything a big bad wolf could want” and we all had a good laugh.
That was my belly laugh for that day but every time I think about it, I laugh.
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
When we acknowledge the little things in life that bring us joy, and think about what we have and not what we don’t have, life becomes less stressful and we become more at peace.
I recognize that a lot of people are living with heavy burdens, stresses, and Illnesses for themselves and/or loved ones and it may be difficult to find joy in life.
Perhaps you can design a health plan that includes making a list of what makes you happy or feel peaceful. Then throughout the day think about that. Just thinking about it can make me feel better. It doesn’t matter how small. it’s the little things.
And take a little time for yourself to do it.
Acknowledging the good that I already have in my life is the foundation for all my joy and peace.