The 5 Foundations You Need to Maintain Vibrant Joy
People often ask me, what is joy? They’re uncertain if it means being happy or if there is some deeper meaning. In fact, in trying to define it, they often compare it to some emotion. Joy is more than emotion. It is an irrepressible wealth of light. It oozes from your pores, bursting out into the universe for all to see and to feel. Unless protected, however, darkness can eclipse the sunshine within. To maintain vibrant joy, paying attention to these five foundations is a must.
Vibrant Joy Foundation #1: Pay Attention to What You Consume
Joy is within each person’s reach. In fact, it’s a good book or a silent moment away. To tap into vibrant joy, you must be careful what you allow into your psyche. What’s the first thing you engage with mentally when your brain wakes up: the news, your email, celebrity gossip, an argument? To bring your joy out from behind the clouds of life, make a conscious effort each morning to let the sunshine in.
- Meditate
- Exercise
- Pray
- Seek spiritual guidance
Take this foundational principle to heart because it is the starting point on your journey to joy.
“Just as much as you watch what you consume, be mindful of the company you keep. Your inner circle says a lot about you so surround yourself with people who elevate your thinking and behavior.”
Vibrant Joy Foundation #2: Pay Attention to the Company You Keep
Just as much as you watch what you consume, be mindful of the company you keep. Your inner circle says a lot about you so surround yourself with people who elevate your thinking and behavior. Befriend as many light focused, joy driven people as you can. Now, does this mean you’ll never interact with negative or joy-challenged individuals? No, but keep the pessimism in your interactions with them to a minimum. The idea is for you to infect them, not the other way around.
Vibrant Joy Foundation #3: Pay Attention to Your Gratitude Level
This one is fairly simple. Express gratitude EVERY DAY! Are you thankful for the pizza? That last breath you took, aren’t you glad you were able to? Sure you’re sitting in traffic, but aren’t you grateful to have a car? Not another Zoom meeting! But, it’s nice to have people to interact with. If your husband…
We can find all kinds of things to complain about. But we can just as easily follow it up with an expression of gratitude. There is always something, somewhere, to be grateful for. Find it and express it. You’ll soon find that vibrant joy is only a “Thank you” away.
Vibrant Joy Foundation #4: Pay Attention to Your Smile
Your face is the gateway to what you plan to give to the world. An authentic smile communicates openness and light, but it doesn’t always come easy. Once you’ve established Foundations 1-3, however, this one (as well as other joy-driven behaviors) becomes almost effortless. As a side note, while it can be tempting to simply “put on a happy face,” that’s not what I’m suggesting. When issues arise that can wipe the smile off, make sure you take time to address them so that your internal light can make a genuine appearance on the corners of your mouth!
“Vibrant joy may take time to achieve. But with the right foundations in place, if you build it, it will come..”
Vibrant Joy Foundation #5: Pay Attention to Your Words
Last, but not least, your words matter! Just as much as what you consume can impact your joy, so can what you allow beyond your lips. Achieving vibrant joy starts and ends with words…the words you let in and the words you let out. Joy Speak (see what I did there?) EVERY DAY!
- Compliment your neighbor
- Write a card to your husband
- Look in the mirror and “Big-Up” the person you see
- Encourage your son or daughter
- Tell your plants how much you love them
There are a lot of things you could say today. Why not say something that spreads a little…or a lot…of joy!
Vibrant joy may take time to achieve. But with the right foundations in place, if you build it, it will come.
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