Four ways to Find Your "JOY" now!

I can't believe that January 2018 is already in the history books. And if you are like 80% of the population so are your New Year's Resolutions. But no worries, every day is a brand new day so let's start the New Year off right with just one simple resolution - bring more JOY into your life. Joy - a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Who doesn't want to feel that every moment of every day of every year. Perhaps you are already there - good for you! But, if you are like most of us, you spend the majority of your day trying to complete an endless list of tasks that frankly aren't so joyous. Cleaning toilets, doing laundry, planning meals, come to mind for me - but perhaps if I could figure out how to do these tasks with joy - I would embrace them! Then again probably not. Just not where I want to spend my time.

So how exactly do we bring more JOY into our daily lives? I use four different methods to get the creative juices flowing: 1) brainstorm, 2) meditate, 3) journal and 4) play. They all have one thing in common - you have to stop and step off the high-speed train that is your life and spend quality time asking and answering a few questions and truly listening to your inner voice. What activities do you get lost in? Who do you spend time with that you truly enjoy? What yearning is buried deep within you screaming to be expressed? What are your dreams?

Your passions are calling you right now, but if you don’t take the time to listen, you can’t hear them! In both his books and speaking engagements, Dr. Wayne Dryer said that: Your music is your dreams and he urged us: Don’t die with your music still in you. And it’s not just about what you want to do right now, but how you want to live your life daily, weekly, monthly and on into the future.

I urge you, take the time to write down that which brings you joy, there is no wrong answer, but you need to write it down. Another idea generator is to try something new. Sign up for that dance or Tai Chi class you have been thinking about, join a book club, visit a new park, start a garden, volunteer at an animal shelter or school or call your best friend whom you haven't spoken to in a year. Do something new and different to see if it brings you joy. At least you can laugh at yourself which really is a truly joyous event!

Below is a short list, completed in 2 minutes - in no particular order of some things brings me joy:

• Doing Projects (I am embroidering a jean jacket right now)

• Going places with my kids and grandchildren (the park, the zoo...)

• Training and completing with my dogs

• Traveling with my husband (we love cruises)

• Talking to my Mom

• Learning Spanish

• Playing the Piano

• Working out

• Walking on the Beach

• Hiking with my dogs

• Reading

• Taking on line courses

• Learning anything new

• Doing Yoga

• Sleeping in

• Making cookies

• Go to a good movie

• etc.....

Once you have your list - make a conscious effort to plan one or more of your joyous activities into your life every day, or every week, month, year. You can do this!

Every year at Christmas I create a family photo calendar for the upcoming year. I spend hours reviewing all the photos I have taken and those my children and daughter-in-laws have sent to me. I upload all the photos into a website and create collages for each month. I then add the birthdays and anniversaries and important family event dates. Print and send to each of my kids. This process brings me pure joy and has become a favorite Christmas tradition. I love this activity because it is a way for me to review the year that has past, to reflect on everything we did and shared and to feel those special moments with family and friends. Then I set goals for the upcoming year to include both old and new activities so the joy just keeps growing.

One thing I know for sure - the older I get - the more important it is for me to spend my time doing what I love, with the people that I love spending time with. So today, I chose to write my blog and not call the phone company, yet again about our screwed up internet bill (I can do that tomorrow - maybe).

I urge you - create your list and spend time every day, week, month, year doing that which brings you joy. And please - Don’t die with your music still in you!

Read more about the four methods to identify and clarify your goals in Chapter 3 - Finding your Passions in Your Next Best 50 Years