Finding Joy in the Simplicity of Life
Since when did life get so complicated? What happened to the days of being carefree and not having to worry so much? Even as I’ve gotten older, it’s still fun to remember the good old days and the simplicity of life.
But truth be told, you and I can still have that feeling. With some daily effort, our lives can be balanced between joy and simplicity. Finding joy doesn’t have to take a ton of effort or time.
What most people don’t realize is that their daily stressful lives are stressful because of themselves. They’ve booked themselves solid, ran themselves ragged, and planned way too many “to-dos” to keep up.
This was me and if it’s you too, like me, you don’t have to accept it as your fate. I sure didn’t!
We can easily change our daily path and get back to the basic simplicities of life with just a few small changes. I started with thinking of several little things that bring me joy and thanked Jesus for them. When I was ready, I added a few of these strategies to help me slow down and savor every single moment:
- Stop putting yourself on the backburner. Do you spend your time doing things for others and not doing anything for yourself?
- For just a few moments each morning, do what you need to do for you in the calm of solitude before you are exposed to the day’s demands. Smile at yourself in the mirror, tell yourself that you are enough, and start off your day with your thoughts and feelings in mind.
- For just a few moments each morning, do what you need to do for you in the calm of solitude before you are exposed to the day’s demands. Smile at yourself in the mirror, tell yourself that you are enough, and start off your day with your thoughts and feelings in mind.
- Slow down and smell the roses. This means both physically and mentally. It’s important to avoid rushing through your day and missing out on all the little moments in life.
- The moment that you stop rushing and start appreciating, you’ll notice all the things that you’ve missed throughout the day.
- Read a book just for fun. Sometimes being an adult means that you have to read books and articles that you just don’t want to read.
- Instead, head to your local library and pick out book that you want to read. When you have a book in hand that you’re excited about, reading becomes a whole new world.
- Instead, head to your local library and pick out book that you want to read. When you have a book in hand that you’re excited about, reading becomes a whole new world.
- Expand your family with a dog and preferably one from your local rescue/humane society. Having a dog is a great way to have a loving animal greet you daily and make you feel as though everything you do is perfect. Plus, dogs give some of the best snuggles and kisses, too.
- If dogs are not your favorite, having a different pet can also bring many moments of simple joy to your life.
- If dogs are not your favorite, having a different pet can also bring many moments of simple joy to your life.
- Allow yourself to say no. When you spend all day saying yes to others, it leaves nothing in your reserves left over for you. It’s time to change our self-talk of saying no is being selfish to saying no is necessary for spiritual, physical and mental refueling.
- It may take some time, but your family and friends will get over this change and will more than likely understand.
Allow yourself to fall in love with the idea that life is simple and wonderful. Your life holds so much joy if you let yourself see it.
