Practice believing that you are enough.
Believing that who you are and what you have is enough is a huge step towards accessing joy. When we believe that we are enough we can stop judging ourselves or comparing ourselves with others. This, in turn can allow us to feel comfortable in our own skin and stop doing things we don’t want to do just because we feel we have to. We move from FOMO to JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) because we are clear about what works for us!
Focus on what you have not what you lack.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of dwelling on what we don’t have enough of, or what we do wrong or lack somehow. A good alternative is to practice the daily habit of thinking of one thing every morning that you DO HAVE. Notice what you have that you are glad about. Learning to fully appreciate and value what you have is a great way of putting yourself into a state of gratitude which can feel joyful.
Be fully in the present moment.
So often our lives tug us into worrying about the past or thinking about the future, and this can rob us of what is really happening in the here and now. Learning to sit and be aware of our experience in the present is a great vehicle for allowing us to access joy. Focus on your breath, or how you feel in your body. Zone in on your emotions, on your senses and allow your attention to fall onto what is here for you now. The more we practice this, the better we become at doing the next tip…
Appreciate the little things.
When we are able to savour what we have, right now, in the present moment, it can feel delicious. And this doesn’t have to be a big event. The small, everyday things can bring us just as much joy. So, whether it’s a cup of tea, the way the light is streaming through a window, or a daffodil in spring, learning to notice and appreciate the little things brings us to a sense of joy in the moment. What can you see or feel right now that you appreciate?
First published in My Weekly
