Are your actions leading you to joy? It seems like a selfish question to ask as we navigate the stress and frustration of international conflict and struggles in our own personal lives, but joy matters.
Since reading Ingrid Lee’s book Joyful, I have learned that joy is a state of mind that can be found even in times of grief or uncertainty. Choosing a colorful outfit, redecorating a physical space, hula-hooping, pouring coffee into your favorite mug, planning a celebration…the tiniest joyful gestures add up over time and can provide long-lasting health benefits. In her most recent Aesthetics of Joy newsletter, Lee wrote about revealed preferences – an economic theory stating that our behavior reveals our true preferences. It’s a topic that I resonate with today and back in 2018 when I wrote We Are What We Do in our Spare Time. From Lee: What preferences do your daily actions reveal? You might avoid the things you say you want to do out of fear, or inertia, or because you're unsure of how to start. But regardless, getting curious about these revealed preferences can help us close the gap between the life we dream of and the one we have. Another way to look at it: If an anthropologist analyzed a log of how you spend your time each day, what would they conclude is important to you? Does that match what you believe is most important? If not, you've just uncovered a golden opportunity to create more alignment with your values and your joy. Her inviting us to get curious is powerful advice. So often we judge ourselves for our behaviors or bad moods, but that doesn’t help us figure out what’s going on. Taking time to reflect on our preferences and values is the path to experiencing more joy. This past Sunday, in my sacred few hours of weekend child care (thank you grandparents!), I considered coming home to relax and finish a half watched movie or show, but instead I hit the trails. And I am so glad I did. Time spent immersed in the elements, sounds, scents, and beauty of nature is restorative. And in our tech-dominated lives, spending time in the outdoors gives our eyes a much-needed break from our constant focus on screens (another area of preference I am trying to be mindful of). Beyond the health benefits, today’s run helped me connect to joy - something we all have a preference toward, but sometimes lack the energy to seek. Fortunately, Ingrid Lee shares some great tools to find your joy in her Joyful Toolkit! Starting a Joy Journal is one activity I highly recommend, tracking the moments when you smile or laugh, when you’re tempted to say “Yay!” or “Wow,” or even just when you become aware of a subtle, pleasant feeling. Let me know if you give it a try! Forever and always I am grateful for the many small joys. Thanks for joining me on the journey! P.S. For more joy inspiration, check out this video with Matthew McConaughey (thanks for sharing sis!). Beyond him being a joy to watch, his insight on joy as a process is quite poignant.
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AuthorHello and welcome! My name is Andrea Notch Mayzeles. I am a Certified Health Education Specialist, Mom, and Master of Public Health dedicated to the path of well-being. As a wellness professional I am committed to continued learning and am here to share research, recipes and musings on health, psychology, personal development, and parenting. I hope you enjoy! Categories
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