5 Ways to Embrace Joy

Happy Self Care Sunday! Last week we talked about how to take care of ourselves when we are over-run by emotions, important stuff! Today we're going to talk about things that you can do to embrace joy.

Joy: A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

We can find joy within (and outside of) ourselves in a variety of ways. You should know yourself inside and out. You should know how to take care of yourself, how to make yourself happy, and how to do sweet things for yourself. You'd be amazed at how delighted you can make yourself feel.

1. Wake up in the morning and ask yourself. "What do I need today to make me feel happy?"

Sometimes the answer to that is so easy and simple. Maybe it's a coffee from Starbucks, or a chat with a really good friend, or an hour snuggled up in bed underneath blankets with a romance novel. Most of the time the things that give us the greatest amount of joy are simple. Hugs make for wonderful moments of joy as well.

2. Spend an extra amount of time in bed.

Sometimes spending extra time in bed is a sign of depression, but other times it's a great way to unwind, relax, and languish about as the world spins madly on. Take a nap in the middle of the day. Lay there and allow your mind to wander to wonderful, fantastic, daydreams. Cuddle up with someone, a child, a partner, a pet (or a gigantic, fluffy, pink, stuffed Unicorn...). Affection is great! Go to sleep a little bit early, waking up feeling well-rested and not wanting to bash in the alarm clock is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

3. Let go of the past.

The thing that most stops us from feeling joy, is being hung up on the past. Even if you aren't consciously thinking about it, sometimes we have the habit of believing that we don't deserve to feel joy. You make excuses about not having the time to do things that make you feel joy. Let it go. You deserve to feel joy. You deserve to feel happy. I promise you that you are deserving. Cross my big ol' heart. Forgive yourself.

4. Wear something today that makes you feel confident and sexy.

When you look in the mirror with a big grin on your face it makes your day about hundred times better. You walk around with a swing of the hips and a gleam in your eye that lets the world know that you believe in you, that you love yourself and they should love you too. Want to know what makes me feel sexy? My baggy pajama pants and a tank top. I just feel like I'm completely being me.

5. Stop comparing yourself to others.

What makes you happy may not be what makes other people happy and that's totally okay. I know women that would absolutely be in 7th Heaven if you gave them a credit card and a shopping spree, or sent them out to a club with their friends, someone else might find joy going rock-climbing, or taking a nature walk, or camping out in the living room with a movie. Your definition of bliss is yours to create. You don't have to conform, you don't have to feel guilty or weird about what makes you happy. Just because you're on a spiritual journey doesn't mean you can't be happy about a new pair of shoes! When you let go of that hang-up of I am "thisway" so I have to like "thisstuff", joy flows so much more easier!

So there you go! Five ways to help you embrace joy, believe me, there are tons of other ways and you can definitely expect me to share them in the future!

What is your favorite way to embrace joy? I'd love to know what makes you happy and joyful!