Want to Create Joy in Your Life? Here Are 17 Ways to Get Started

Want to Create Joy in Your Life? Here are 17 Ways to Get Started

I have read a lot of articles and blogs about finding joy in 2020.

I don't have an issue with joy. I have an issue with finding it.

I don't believe joy is simply found.

Joy is created. By us or by others.

More often than not, we aren't doing our part to create joy for others or ourselves.

So, with this in mind, here are some quick, easy tips to create joy for yourself and for others for the rest of 2020 and leading into 2021 (and beyond)!

1. Don't pretend to love people, really love them. We all know when someone is being fake. Truly love people. Show them love in tangible ways. Just don't be fake about it. If you can't muster up true love, then move on to someone else.
2. Hate wrong. I can't believe this needs to be said, but here I am. If you see something which is clearly immoral or unethical or, simply, "wrong," then don't condone it or cover up for it. Even if good ends up coming from it, call out what's wrong and evil in the world and try to do better.
3. Cling to what is good. The reverse side of number three. Celebrate, reciprocate, accept, and hold on tight to the good in this world. There's not enough time to cling to all the bad in the world. Instead, let's hold fast to all the good we can.
4. Go out of your way to encourage and honor others. Maybe this is typing up a public post about your mom or dad or siblings. Maybe it is commenting on someone's post about how proud you are of their accomplishment. Maybe say it to someone's face. Take the time to recognize the good people are doing, the accomplishments they are making, the world they are changing and encourage them!
5. Don't be lazy. Rest is good for every single one of us. But laziness is a disease. Laziness is being able or even willing to do something and choosing not to follow through. Choose to follow through. Even a little. Baby steps will step help you walk across a football field with enough time. Getting SOMETHING done is better than doing nothing. You can do this!
6. Celebrate hope. We all have something we hope for or in. Maybe you hope someday things will be better in our world. You might find hope in the mission of a non-profit organization. There may be a reason to hope in your religion. Whatever this hope is, choose to celebrate it. Better yet, celebrate with those who share in your hope or support your hope and make it a big deal. Party on in hope!
7. Be patient when things are bad. Don't worry. Things don't always stay bad. At some point, they have to get better. Well, either that or the world ends. That's the only time things get to the ultimate worst case scenario, I guess. So, be patient and know things will get better eventually. Find comfort in the fact many of us are waiting patiently for the next best thing, too.
8. Be ready to help someone. Don't wait for someone else to do it. If you are able to help someone out, then go for it! What on earth is holding you back? You need a billboard with your name on it telling you exactly what to do? Be prepared for someone to ask for help and be willing, ahead of time, to say yes!
9. Be eager to show hospitality. In a world of social media where everyone is your worst enemy it is refreshing to see someone who wants to say hello. I think this is why certain online communities are growing. They are offering a space and community online to be nice to you, talk with you with kindness, and offer support when we can't seem to find this kind of hospitality with the people right next door. Think of it as a chance to excitedly be nice for no other reason than to be nice. It's easier than you think!
10. Love your enemies. Now, I know this sounds like a cliché, but it's so true. It is ridiculously hard to hate someone and be enemies with someone when they are kind and caring toward you. It's hard not to find joy in a world where you can be so mean to someone and they smile back at you and ask you how you are doing instead of cussing you out. Don't do it in a condescending way. Be genuinely interested in them as a person, and, like we said in number one, don't be fake about it.
11. Practice empathy. Far too often we think when someone is upset our response should be to try to fix their problem. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the bad going on in our own life we eclipse someone else's joy. Be happy with people who are happy. Don't negate your own emotions by any means, but be happy with them and for them. Be sad when someone else is sad. Don't try to fix them right away. The best gift you can give someone who is experiencing strong emotions is to sit in their emotion with them before diving in and resolving their emotion alongside them.
12. Live in harmony with others. This doesn't mean to not disagree with someone. What it means is to make sure those you interact with know from the beginning you will love and care for them no matter the outcome of the conversation, no matter how strong the disagreement is. You can't control how someone reacts, but you can control if you will live a life modeled by harmony with others. This one takes a lot of practice, but I believe in you!
13. Don't think for a second you are better than anyone else. Again, I can't believe I have to say this. You are no better than anyone else. We are all human beings. Let's treat each other like we are all human beings. Show respect to everyone like you would want to be respected.
14. Also, don't act like you know it all. Go into every single interaction and conversation telling yourself, "I could be wrong, but..." and people will find a lot more joy around you. You will probably find a lot more joy in yourself, too.
15. No revenge! Ever heard "an eye for an eye makes the world go blind?" Well, there's a reason why it's a popular saying. Revenge is ultimately pointless. See any of the thousand movies where revenge is a major plot point and ends up not satisfying any of the characters and, in fact, ends up making everything worse. Come on, everyone, stop being silly. Revenge won't bring you any sort of healing or help you process. Also, let me be clear, revenge and justice are two very different things. Don't confuse them, though.
16. Keep your head held high. When it comes to being hurt by someone else, be the better person. No one will think less of you by choosing to come out the other side of your hurt as a better and honorable person. Again, don't confuse this with letting justice slide. There are consequences for our actions, but there is also a way to maintain your perspective and be a genuinely good person in the midst of the hardship.
17. Share peace. Spread your peace around. Help other people find peace. Don't know what I mean? In the shortest way possible, learn to be "okay" with whatever happens in your life. Don't ignore or downplay anything happening to you. But find confidence and comfort in the knowledge you will be okay. You might need support and you may need a lot of help. But you'll be alright, so it's not worth getting so worked up over that your life will end on the spot. And, if it does, well, at least you finished your life exuding peace and sharing it with others.

Well, there you have it. Follow any and/or all of these and I can almost promise you will find more joy in your life or create joy for others in your life.

Take a couple of these at a time and practice them. None of these are a one and done type of experience. They will all take time and practice. Practice means you will need to overcome some opposition, so be prepared for it.

I hope you create joy and love doing it.

For yourself and for others.

...

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I am a freelance writer with a background in Ministry and experience everywhere from technical document writing to copy writing to creative writing. I have interests and knowledge in Ministry, Marketing, Parenting, Leadership, and Technology. If you are looking for someone to work with and like what you see, then email me at [email protected] or check out my portfolio at dylmill.contently.com.