A simple way to add joy into your life
Week 36 update is all about questioning yourself questions to add more joy to your life that doesn't take too much effort but just more understanding of oneself.
As we get older, we forget that we change, and so do the things we like, need and desire. Sure, nothing everything changes, but sometimes adjustments should be made.
However, we forget to take time out and reflect on the things we no longer like. We sometimes forget to let them go, and that’s because we do not practice self-reflection as a quarterly or yearly practice to understand ourselves MORE better.
If we did make more time to process the things in our life that take up our time, especially those that bring us joy, we probably would make more effort to do the things we like.
We would also make it a habit to let go of the things we do not like anymore. By doing this simple practice more often, we would get better and better at living a life filled with MORE joy!
The definition of Joy!
joy
(noun)
A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
A thing that causes joy.
Success or satisfaction.
If joy is a feeling, that means, as a human being, we have to create it from a place within our mind, body and spirit.
It is a specific and unique feeling for each of us as human beings.
Something that sparks joy in one person may not in another person.
Therefore, being joyful, happy and feeling success and satisfaction is something we all need to define and figure out for ourselves.
And yet… the majority of adults I know have never learnt how to define their joy, let alone ask themselves what makes them happy.
We have figured out what makes us somewhat happy unconsciously throughout our adult life.
But it’s not too late… you can review all the things in your life you do like today by doing this…
Relearn What You Like!
Start Asking Questions!!!!!
About everything… simple questions to start off
But then go into specifics…
Do you like eating Italian, Indian, Indonesian, Mexican, Greek, Japanese, Chinese and more?
Do I like running, walking, hiking, swimming, yoga, pilates, gym, or cross fit?
Do I like surprises or planned events?
What kind of holiday do I like? Luxury, Beach, Planned, Adventures, Spontaneous, Retreats
Do you like reading a book or on an e-reader (maybe you have never tried one before)
Do you like playing musical instruments, collecting records or going to live music gigs/concerts
Do you like camping or glamping, or lodging?
Do you like DIY crafts, home renos or buying and doing interior styling
Do you like gardening veggies or just flowers or want indoor plants or not at all
Do you have a hobby? Do you still like it or need to get back into it or change it?
There are a thousands of questions you can ask yourself that are more specific your likes now…you add more to the list as you want.
More complex questions that can bring MORE joy into your life
Do you like social media, or does it consume too much of your time? Should you put a time limit on it or even delete it for a while?
Do you make enough time for the things that bring you joy, or are you compromising on them?
Do you like your job or business/company you work for, or do you want a change?
Do you make time for friends or family?
Do you like your friends still? Do they motivate, inspire, and support your values and vision? Or do they constantly talk negatively, leaving you feeling even more down and low?
Do you make time in your relationship for things you like together and things you individually like by taking turns?
Example of how I answered some of these kinds of questions
Do I like eating pizzas? What kind of pizzas
YES, I will always love Margaritas… but now I love making my own homemade pizza bases from scratch and preparing all the toppings like mushrooms, red onion, pineapple, and jalapenos. For so many years, I have just been a plain cheese pizza girl (Margarita with FRESH basil on top) and never ordered anything else in a restaurant.
Now I prefer to make pizzas at home, putting on my apron, getting my big flour jar out and making a mess in my kitchen with Italian music playing in the background. Since making my own pizzas it has been so much more fun experimenting with toppings because if it doesn’t taste good I can make another pizza that does. But they always taste good so far
Do I like hiking?
I wish I did more hikes in nature as I love it when doing it, but it is something I have not made time for many years now. It is something that I would love to bring back into my life and share with the boys this spring and summer.
Do you like reading a book or on an e-reader (maybe you have never tried one before)
I love reading a physical book but I also love my kindle as it is easier to read books faster when find ones I really love. I am pretty sure I have about 5 books right now that I am reading. 2 physical books, 2 audiobooks and a one on my kindle. I have also started going to the library for childrens books and discovered the cooking book section so have a few or them and 2 gardening books. I have gone a little overboard with my reading lately, but it brings me so much joy, so I don’t get that I have about 20 books checked out on my library card.
Do you like social media, or does it consume too much time? Should you put a time limit on it or even delete it for a while?
I have a time limit for an hour set on Facebook and Instagram when I have been on the app; my iPhone locks me out of it and asks me if I want one minute 15 minutes or the whole day. I LOVE THIS setting because it has stopped me from getting sucked into it.
I know when I post content that, I will need more than an hour, and I allow myself the whole day as it takes over an hour sometimes to post a reel or any content.
But if I am on social media just watching or catching up on stuff and I go over my hour, I usually only hit 15 more minutes and stop.
I have never deleted the app as I have always felt I add more inspiring content to the platform. I have a healthy balance of adding more content than consuming too much.
Do you make time in your relationship for things you like together and things you individually like by taking turns?
Before we became parents, Tony and I had a pretty good balance at doing things we both like individually. We love doing things together as quality time is our love language.
Since Tony started working FIFO, things shifted for us as time was limited, and now, with kids even less time for ourselves, we do not make much effort to do anything for our individual needs or together.
However when we do… like we get to go watch Deadpool and Wolverine in the cinema it is a pretty big deal as we both get super excited talking about it before and we discuss it after for weeks.
I’d love to go to a Paint Your Partner art class with Tony as I know he would probably feel totally out of his comfort zone and I would be in mine but I think the end result of the paintings would be so amazing to see. I’ll put this on my wishlist and report back if we ever get to do it.
There is so much in life to be JOYFUL about, so make sure you take the time to stop and reflect on a few things to make sure you are using your time wisely each day to fill it with things that make you happy versus just doing things from an unconscious routine or habitual place.
Remember we only got ONE life and then we are gone forever!
Make it a habit or practice to self reflecting on what brings you JOY
Do not be afraid to let go of the things that aren’t bring your JOY anymore
Joy is a feeling that you create so ultimately you control your own happiness, so it is always up to you to take 100% responsibility. Do not wait on someone else to create it for you.
When you wake up in the morning it always your choice to cultivate a feeling of joy
Before you go to sleep at night it is always your choice to feel happiness, which is why so many experts have recommend writing a gratitude journal in the evenings.
Anyways, I am off to bed now…
I hope you take the time after reading this article to answer 5 of these questions for yourself in detail to discover how you can add more joy into your life.
Sending lots of love and light
Kim