When you’re asked to clarify what brings you joy, you may assume that you already know. Yet, once you take the time to reflect and re-evaluate your goals, you may be surprised to see that some things have changed.
Sure, there will always be things, people, and activities that consistently bring you joy throughout your life. And those don’t change.
Yet, some of the things that once brought you joy may no longer align with your values and are actually holding you back. So how can you get unstuck and find what truly brings you joy?
Start With Self-Care
If you’re in a state of frazzled exhaustion, it’s going to be difficult to start this journey to understanding what brings you joy. After all, if you’re burnt out and running on reserves, you won’t have much energy for anything else than basic survival. This is when self-care often takes a hit.
So what does self-care look like? It’s a complete regard and appreciation for your whole self – body and mind.
First, consider how you treat your body. (There is no judgment or indictment here. This is a simple observation.) Do you partake in any sort of exercise? More importantly, can you find a way to make exercise enjoyable rather than drudgery? Consider doing something you enjoy such as yoga or Pilates, taking a walk in the woods, or playing a sport with friends and family.
Second, take a look at what you’re putting into your body. Are you nourishing it with wholesome foods? Drinking plenty of water?
After you look at what you’re putting into your body, consider what’s coming out. Is your speech stressed and unkind because you’ve latched onto unhelpful coping mechanisms? How willing are you to practice a little noble silence and challenge yourself to learn new things? Are you open to new ideas?
All of this can feel overwhelming so just take it one step at a time. For example, perhaps you set out to drink more water, eat at least one vegetable, and practice mindful listening for a few minutes each day. Find your own realistic and manageable combination of things.
Declutter Your Life
In this consumeristic society, it’s easy to acquire too much stuff.
While logic dictates that we shouldn’t have more than what we actually need, that’s just not realistic. Yet, many of us have so SO much beyond what we need that we feel weighed down physically, emotionally, and mentally by it all.
Decluttering can be liberating; resetting your environment to clear space for what’s next. But it can also be guilt-inducing. It’s hard (sometimes REALLY hard) to let go of things that have sentimental value. So much like practicing self-care, start small. It might be a junk drawer, a desk, or even the corner of a room.
Make a List to Clarify What Brings You Joy
Okay. Now that you’ve set an intention for some self-care and decluttering, it’s time to clarify what brings you joy.
Grab some paper and a pen or pencil and just start writing down every activity you enjoy. Some activities will come quickly and others you’ll need to consider. If you get stuck, think about what you loved doing as a child. How much of that do you still do? (Of course, blowing milk out of your nose may not apply. Then again, why not?)
Then add to the list things you’d like to do but haven’t.
Your activities – both those you love and those you’d love to do – could include creative ventures such as baking, playing music, making art, painting, etc. There’s tremendous power in creativity. Or they may be more physical in nature, such as gardening, riding your bike, taking a long walk, golf, yoga, or any other physical activity that speaks to you.
Whatever the case, they are the activities that put you into a flow where you lose all track of time. And having them all written down on a list helps you to see more clearly what’s important to you.
Now Commit to the Flow
Most of us will find that our lists have a combination of both creative and physical activities. This is a sure path to stimulating both mind and body to create a heightened sense of awareness.
Yet, just as you want to dip your toes into self-care and decluttering, the same can be said for prioritizing joy. If you decide that you’re going to do one thing on that list every single day, you may be setting yourself up for failure. And there’s NO joy in that.
So if a daily activity isn’t realistic, start with 2-3 activities each week. This could playing the piano for twenty minutes one day, taking a hike in the woods on another, and gardening for a half an hour on yet another day.
You’ll find that each time you get into the flow – no matter how long you’re there – you’re feeding your soul. Taking these little breaks to prioritize joy in your life will leave you feeling more energized and less overwhelmed. And once it becomes a habit, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!
How Much Do You Prioritize Joy?
Once you’ve started to clarify what brings you joy, you may still find it challenging to prioritize it. That’s okay. Many people feel his way.
A life coach can help guide you on this journey while also acting as a source of accountability.
So if you’re ready to make joy more of a priority but are feeling overwhelmed about the direction you need to take, contact us today. Together, we’ll uncover what brings you joy and create the map to take you there.
