Incredible Ways to Squeeze More Joy Out of Every Day

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Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Living a joyful life is important. Not only do we feel healthier both physically and emotionally when we’re joyful, but we are also better people. When we’re authentically happy, we’re more compassionate towards others and can truly celebrate life because we see the joy and beauty in our own. We no longer look to external factors to generate our own happiness. We begin to discover that true is a state of mind, and a state of being. It’s time to unblock what’s holding you back from authentic joy and happiness. Unfortunately, so many people neglect to cultivate their own happiness because they don’t see the value in their own joy, or are so broken, they don’t know where to begin. Here are five incredible ways to squeeze more joy out of every day.

Do Small Things to Overcome Fear

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One of the number one things that hold individuals back from authentic joy is the ability to overcome fear. Fear is hard-wired in all creatures for the purpose of protection from danger, but our ability to distinguish between real fear and artificial fear can be tough because many of us read them all the same. Fear can lead to increased anxiety, declined productivity and major relationship setbacks among other things. One of the ways we can overcome fear is by consciously declaring you will no longer allow fear to dictate your life. You will no longer allow fear to keep you from speaking in front of a group of colleagues or peers. You will no longer allow fear to stop you from achieving goals you’ve always considered unachievable. You will no longer allow fear to keep you from taking your relationship to the next level. Get out of your head about whatever it is that’s holding you back from succeeding. Declare it, and it is yours.

Remember Your Setback is a Platform For Your Comeback

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Another major thing that holds people back from authentic joy are setbacks. A setback could be not getting into the school you wanted to get into, not getting the loan you thought you’d be approved for, or an even smaller daily life hurtle – anything that delays or stops progress. The reason setbacks sabotage is because people see the setback as a personification of their own failure. They think they didn’t get into the school they wanted to get into because they weren’t smart enough, or involved enough which makes them a failure. The reason they didn’t get the loan they wanted is because they have a poor credit which makes them a failure. But we are not failures because of our circumstances. We are so much more than our setbacks. Remember, your setback is the platform for your comeback.

Try to Build Your Self-Confidence

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Many people lack self-confidence and are unsure why they do. They just know that they get uneasy when they are in the presence of others, and it makes them uncomfortable. This lack of confidence can stem from a number of things including an inability to see beauty in yourself, your position in life, your educational status, and your lack of wealth, among other things. There’s no way to be authentically happy and find joy when you’re not happy with yourself. You can build up your own self-confidence when you stop listening to the voices in your head that are attempting to sabotage you and acknowledge that you’re a person of value. If you try at something and you mess up, don’t let it stop you because what you didn’t accomplish today, you can try and accomplish tomorrow.

Let Go of Jealousy and Envy

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Too many people lack authentic joy because they gauge what happiness is based on the lives they believe others are living, and as a result develop a sense of envy or resentment. Envy, by definition is a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions or qualities. They think happiness comes from external things – they may envy other people’s positions, their successful friend’s looks, their favorite celebrity’s lifestyle, or even the new car zooming past them on the highway has. They think if they just had more, they would be happier. However, happiness comes from the wholeness of our soul. We are not adequate as a result of what we have, but adequate because of the lives we live.

Spend Quality Time With Family and Friends

Countless studies show that spending quality time with family and friends is important. In the age that we live in, it can be incredibly difficult to find time in our busy schedules to make time for an extra thing. However, when the things we have going in our lives take up so much of our time that we can’t make time for the people that are most important to us, it’s time to look inward. An incredible way to squeeze more joy out of your every day is to make family time priority. Not only will it strengthen your familial bond and friendships, but it will also help facilitate positive memories. Make it a point to set aside for family time whether that be during mealtime, or for family outings. The same goes for your friendships.