Life can get messy and unpredictable sometimes, and some things are out of our control. How we react to specific triggers and situations and how we show up in life determine how joyful or miserable our lives can be. It takes intentional action to make life joyful.
As the famous quote goes, "It's not what happens to you, it's how you react to it that matters." -Epictetus.
Happiness Index
Find and Prioritise Your Purpose
Letting Go of Things That No Longer Serve Us
Learning to be Kind and Compassionate to Yourself
Strategies for living a joyful life
Find and Prioritise Your Purpose
If you want to live a joyful and fulfilled life, finding a purpose is critical. Some people may find meaning in their work and job. Still, you can also find it outside of paid work, such as doing something for the community's or society's good.
Look inward and think about something you feel passionate about that gives back to the world, can bring in some income, and is something you are good at. This is likely your calling. When you find and prioritise your purpose, you have something to look forward to and wake up to every morning. It gives you a sense of purpose and joy when you fulfil your purpose, leading to a happy and satisfied life.
Nurturing Relationships
When we look at the centenarians from the Blue Zones, they highly prioritise and nurture their social relationships with friends and family. They live a simple life where one focuses on building and nurturing supportive relationships.
Even at 90, these people are seen to be fit, healthy, happy, and free of chronic diseases due to their lifestyle and familial support. Therefore, it is essential to learn a lesson from the people of the Blue Zones that nurturing healthy relationships has a positive impact on living a happy life. We all need support, a shoulder to cry on, and like-minded friends to share the joys of life with.
Letting Go of Things That No Longer Serve Us
Life is full of different phases, each requiring a different and more evolved version of you. To live a joyful life, learn to let go of things, people, situations, and memories that no longer serve you, and be clear on who and what deserves to move forward into the next season of your life.
This can help you let go and embrace release, leading to a happier life. To live more joyfully, learn to let go of perfectionism and how you think life 'should be' or what 'could have been.' Embrace the present moment fully and declutter your life of habits, negative mindsets, toxic relationships, and feelings of regret, guilt, or shame from the past. Learn to let go of any emotional baggage that may deter you from living a joyful life.
Learning to be Kind and Compassionate to Yourself
Self-care is an integral part of living a happier life. This can mean being kind and compassionate to yourself by not talking negatively to or about yourself. It could also mean practising self-care, like taking time out of work to rest and wind down instead of overworking yourself, improving your mental and emotional well-being, taking care of your body, and whatever else you prefer as self-care.
To be happier, you should ditch the negative self-talk, rewire and reframe your mindset to be more kind to yourself, and see how your life shifts from misery to joy.
Joy can look different to every person. What you perceive as joy may not be the same for someone else. Some may find joy in nurturing relationships, while others may prefer some 'me time' in solitude.
Discovering your version of joy is important to live a happier life. Lastly, remember to fill your cup first to pour it into others. You can't pour from an empty cup, so find your purpose, do activities that enrich your life, let go more easily, lean on others, and laugh more to live a joyful life.
Back to Top
Further Resources
-
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Offers a variety of resources for those dealing with mental health issues, including crisis counselling, finding healthcare providers, and information on mental disorders. It emphasizes immediate help in a crisis through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for confidential support and the Veterans Crisis Line for veterans.
-
Mental Health America (MHA): Provides comprehensive help for mental health issues, including crisis resources, warmlines for peer support, mental health tests for self-assessment, and guidance on finding mental health treatment and professionals.
-
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI offers support and educational resources, including a helpline for teens and young adults and guidance on supporting someone with a mental health condition. It also provides information on early intervention and resources for family members and caregivers.
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The CDC lists tools and resources for finding treatment, including specific lines for older adults, veterans, and finding treatment for substance use disorders and mental illness. It also offers directories for finding psychologists, psychiatrists, and child and adolescent psychiatrist finders.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a confidential, free, 24/7 service providing support for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. It includes referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organisations.
United Kingdom
- NHS (National Health Service): Provides comprehensive information and support for mental health, including urgent help options, talking therapies, and self-help advice.
- Mental Health UK: Offers mental and financial health support, peer support through Clic, and resources for young people's mental health resilience.
- Mind: Offers support for people with mental health problems, including information on various conditions, ways to get involved, and how to access support.
- Mental Health Foundation: Provides resources on mental health topics, prevention strategies, and how to support mental health at work, school, and home.
Australia
- Beyond Blue: Offers information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
- Black Dog Institute: Dedicated to understanding, preventing, and treating mental illness. They offer a wide range of resources and support for people affected by mood disorders.
Canada
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): Provides advocacy, programs, and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all Canadians to flourish and thrive.
- Bell Let's Talk: An initiative by Bell Canada aimed to break the silence around mental illness and support mental health across Canada.
These resources offer a broad range of support for individuals seeking help with mental health concerns, from crisis intervention to finding a healthcare provider or treatment.
Discover MoreStart your Self-Care Journey with my FREE Planner! Download your copy here.Learn how to create your own Safe Haven from the stresses and strains of an uncertain world here.Find out more about My Safe Haven here.Head back to On The Blog for more reading here.Meet me on Insta here.Back to Top |