Would you say Joy comes easily for you?
For me, absolutely not. I've had to do a lot of healing work to find joy, because I had a pattern of allowing circumstances to constantly dictate my happiness. I knew I needed to shift my thinking but I didn't quite know how.
But first, what's the difference between happiness and joy?
Happiness is an emotion that is connected to temporary external circumstances versus joy is a state of being and is connected to our faith in God.
How I found Joy:
Finding joy began when I started therapy in 2017, and honestly it changed my life. I went to therapy thinking I was going to talk through specific part of my childhood, but instead we talked deeply about how abandonment impacts the brain. My therapist was faith-based, so she taught me how to reconnect with myself, since I had spent so many years disconnected from myself. And then she had me practice inviting Jesus into the beliefs and lies I believed about myself and others. We did this healing work centering on abiding with Jesus. A reminder and truth, that as long as I stayed connected to the vine, everything I needed would be provided for....I don't mean monetarily either. I mean I would get to experience the fruits of the spirit, one being joy! Practicing abiding with Jesus is how I found my joy.
I love to journal, so I began writing down 3 joys everyday as a spiritual practice. I wanted to learn how to sit in the tension of both the hard and good, the highs and lows of life....and all these years later it's a practice I still do. So while joy exudes me now, know that it once didn't. I'm so grateful for this tool and healing work that helped get more connected with God.
Reflections/Journal Prompts
Write down 3 joys everyday. They can be anything, small or big, good or hard things. Just give yourself permission to write it down and acknowledge it.
Here's my 3 joys for today:
1. A hard medical day.
2. Cuddles and laughter with my girls. (the fact they want to still cuddle with me as teens and a tween is huge, and I'm all for it.)
3. Folding laundry as I shared on IG stories about a business task I needed to delegate.
Come join me, Starting on Dec 1st, I'll be doing a "30 Days of Joy," challenge in my stories on IG: @yourfriend.jasmine. It's simple....just write down 3 joys for the day. If you'd like, you can tag me so we can hold each other accountable.
I hope to see you there!
Responses