Joy is a obtainable. You can have joy. There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is based on circumstances but joy is based on the Lord.
Have your morning cup of coffee in sight of the sunrise, or make it a point to see the sunset. Nature brims with the miracle of life — get outside and soak it in. Walk through a park listening for birds, watch clouds in a robin’s-egg-blue sky, go barefoot in lush grass, skip stones. Stop to smell those roses, and while you’re at it, buy some fresh flowers for the house
Don’t allow anger and rage to rule your life. Misdirected anger isn’t healthy. Consciously replace churning emotions with serene thoughts. Think of a particularly tranquil time at the ocean, or imagine yourself in a favorite soothing place. Find healthy ways to let off steam: exercise, make music, garden, paint, write out your thoughts in a journal. If you continue to feel overwhelmed or undermined, you can turn to prayer or professional assistance for help in handling upsetting feelings.
Before you get out of bed in the morning, think of something that makes you smile. Before you even brush your teeth, get your mental and visual focus on something that will warm your heart. Try putting a favorite picture — hospital photos of your newborns, the brand-new kitten, a perfect moment on a family vacation — on your bedside table. Look at it first thing in the morning. Starting off your day in a positive frame of mind will set your spiritual metabolism for the rest of the day. Smiles not only exercise muscles that fight frown lines, they actually boost your immune system.
Be forgiving. Forgiveness is an act of the will, an action you can take even when your heart and feelings seem to be lagging behind in bitterness. It might be impossible to forgive actual perpetrators, but you can hope and pray for transformation in them. In your own life, give up grudges and let go of old toxic memories. Reconcile with estranged friends and family members if you can, and commit yourself to giving others the measure of forgiveness you would like extended to you. Don’t sweat small grievances.
Nurture your family spirit. We live in a different world now, a world that needs love more than ever. Show your commitment to those you love in word and deed. “I love you” means a lot, and so do the actions that make the words more than greeting-card sentiment. So say it, show it, and hug a lot. Strengthening family ties cultivates stability in your home. See and call out-of-town family and nearby relatives more often. That family feeling can grow well beyond your natural kin.
via Elev8.com
