When I was studying spiritual psychology, one of our assignments was to create and follow a weekly action plan for bringing more joy and well-being into our lives. To be honest, I wasn’t really excited about the idea. It was just one more thing I had to do.
Being the little rule follower that I am, I actually followed through on the assignment and started creating moments designed to invite in joy and well-being. After a few months, it became a habit and I noticed that I felt more positive and, dare I say, even happy. Really? Me?
What we focus on is what we get and the more time I spent on self-nurturing and well-being, the lighter I felt. I learned that everything we need to nurture happiness and well-being is always with us. We just brush it aside and choose to focus on other things.
Taking time to cultivate a practice that supports joy and nurtures well-being can bring you back in touch with your natural good feelings. You need this. I need this. Everyone does.
This is how you start:
Look for Magical Moments
They are already there, all around you. You are just rushing by too fast to see them. Magic can be found in a beautiful flower, a child’s smile, or a gentle touch. My favorites include seeing how excited dogs are to be walking in the park or raindrops on the leaves of my plants. (I actually think my plants smile after rain, but that may because I live in California.)
I used to recommend my clients journal daily what they are grateful for. Now, I have them write about the magical moments they experience each day. I can feel their energy shift as they get more grounded in the daily blessings of their lives.
When you pay attention to moments of magic, your heart opens and your soul starts to sing. These beautiful moments open the door to a magical life and sense of well-being in the world. And that, is why it is so important to notice and celebrate them.
Create and Use a Joy and Well-being Menu
Because creating joy filled lives often gets set aside as we go through our days, setting up a framework to make the practice easy will help us stay focused on what we want to create for ourselves.
The first step is writing a list of all of the things you can think of that will help you feel joy and well-being. It might include things like.
- Getting a massage
- Walking in the park
- Painting or coloring
- Dancing
- Cooking
- Reading
This list will become your Joy and Well-being Menu. Every week, choose at least one thing from this menu to take action on. When you do, you will be creating the habit of nurturing yourself and bringing more happiness into your life.
Make cultivating a joyful life and a sense of well-being a priority. You deserve it. Living this way will not only enrich your life, but make you more effective in it. You will feel lighter and your energy will shift. And, you may inspire people around you to do the same.
Now, wouldn’t that be a magical world to live in?
Please share your comments below. I would love to hear what you have to say.
You may also enjoy: How to Cultivate Inner Peace
Hi Linda,
I love the idea of a Joy and Well-being Menu. Some of the things you suggest are on my list, but others make me feel like I’m goofing off when I do them.
You’re right on point, of course, that we must pick something that feels nurturing to us. That will differ from person to person. One thing you suggested that I love but don’t do often anymore is dance and listen to music. I’m recommitting to doing more of both. Thanks.
I really enjoyed this post, Linda, and can certainly relate. I’ve spent the past couple of years in salaried positions (my joy comes from entrepreneurial activities) and in what I’ve lost (not for long – planning a move and resurrection of prior businesses by the end of the year) has been huge, but have been trying to integrate little me things (cooking, getting back to drawing, moments connected with nature) to maintain my sanity. Love your idea of recording magical moments vs. journaling (which tends to be – at last for me – negative when times are challenging). Thanks for the idea and nudge.
Hi Nanette: My journaling has evolved over the years. In the beginning it was more letting issues out on paper and then I focused on gratitude, but after awhile that began to feel stale so now I focus on magical moments and it has been a blessing for me. Congratulations on your commitment to self-nurturing, listening to your heart, and return to the entrepreneurial world. I sense big magical moments coming your way! You might enjoy my business blog as well: http://simplesmartbusiness.com
I love the idea of the joy and well-being menu. This weekend I had to force myself out for a hike and then warmed up with a big mug of tea, and it really helped me feel better. I struggle particularly in the winter so I need this especially right now as the cold and clouds have begun to take over.
Hikes and tea are two of my favorites, but I live in So Cal so winter isn’t usually much of an issue. I hope you enjoy creating and using your Joy and Well-being Menu.