8 Joy Ideas and Why They Work

Some people say that I'm a naturally joyful person. And while it is true that I'll laugh at the dumbest jokes, I've been learning the tough reality that joy is in fact a choice and not a roller coaster ride. I've seen so many self-care to-do lists, so many happiness blog posts, and so many recipes for joy. Funnily enough, they all boil down to this: celebrate life. And I agree. Wholeheartedly. All the way. Unanimously. Purposefully do something in order to rejoice. Purposefully take a bubble bath in order to find joy in the silly luxury of something different. Go for a walk. Listen to music. Wake up earlier. Take a look at what you have been given and rejoice because you have it. If that's not a perfect paraphrase for a pretty important theme in the Bible, I'll eat my hat. Doesn't it make you happy just knowing that the truth of the Bible has been acknowledged? That the method that God prescribed has been confirmed, even though he is not given credit for any of it?

As I've been working my way through my 90 day Bible reading challenge, I was amazed at the importance God puts on celebration. True, there are a lot of thou-shalt-nots and sacrifice laws, but the rejoice commandments seemed to me to really balance everything out. I love this commandment:

"--and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to." Deuteronomy 12:18

 "...in EVERYTHING you put your hand to." Celebrate life.

I'm gonna jump out on a limb here and wonder why all of these self-care posts work. Could it be because it's celebrating the life and things that God has given us?

Sometimes you've got to slow down, stop the gears in your brain from turning, and enjoy something simple. I get caught up in the whirlwind of life so often, and my worn out brain easily succumbs to tired grumpy thoughts. So, I keep practicing making time for the small rituals that remind me of contentment. Rituals that bring a grin to my face because I have this, or I can do that. Practicing joy is purposefully recognizing what we have.

-Read: I have the entire Harry Potter series.
-Take a shower: I have hot water and heavenly suds.
-Face mask: I have a face.
-Take a nap: I can take a break.
-Yoga: I can be strong, but I can't be strong and think. Two birds with one stone on this one...I can be strong and not think. :)
-Pilates: I can achieve goals.
-Journaling: I can communicate my thoughts and feelings in at least one language.
-Sewing: I can create.

And then, you ask yourself while doing these things: "Why do I have this?" Or, "Why can I do this?"
The answer is of course because H E gave it to you, and friend, T H A T  is something to be glad about.
.
-Kae-