How to Tap into Your Inner Joy

Sharon Moore March 11, 2015

Joy is an emotion that we all want to experience. Joy manifests in our actions and words, and positively influences our relationship with others. When we feel joy, we feel great about ourselves. Joy let us experience feeling confident, powerful, fulfilled and loved. It keeps us motivated and inspired to carry on with our lives.

There are many good reasons to feel joyful. But it’s not every day that we experience it. Nonetheless, you can invite more joy into your life by following these simple steps:

It all begins in the mind.

Joy is not something you get from external forces. It is something you experience within you. Even though you are with the people you love or at a very beautiful place, when you are bombarded with negative thoughts and emotions, you can’t experience joy. If you want to feel joyful more often, you’ve got to start changing your perspective. When you allow positivity into your life, you also allow joy.

Play.

Engage in an activity that feels like play. Let the child in you have fun – pure fun. Activities that don’t have any purpose but keep you relaxed and engaged can greatly boost positive feelings and happiness. Do something you really like. Whether it’s baking, playing soccer, writing or painting – make it a habit to find time for recreation no matter how busy you are.

Express your sadness.

When we are sad, it is impossible to experience joy. So it is important that we deal with sadness constructively. Do not ignore it or conceal it. Express your sadness by allowing yourself to cry. Tackle your issues appropriately. If needed, seek professional help from a therapist. Do not allow negative thoughts to take control of you.

Seek joy through inspiration.

Another great way to add more joy into your life is to engage in activities that stretch our perceptions. Meditation and prayer are two powerful ways to promote joy and happiness, and peace of mind. Go out and interact with nature, and let it wash away the worries, sadness and all those unwanted thoughts and emotions. Seek joy through inspiration.

Give yourself a break.

To be more joyful, you need to nurture yourself. When you are stressed, you are more likely to experience anxiety and irritability, rather than joy. Joy comes easily when we focus on our own needs in a caring and loving way. Don’t feel guilty about pampering yourself. Go to a spa and get yourself a soothing massage, dine out with friends, travel with your loved ones, take a nap. Scheduling a downtime gives your body and soul a chance to feel pure joy.

Close your eyes.

When things are getting a little tougher, close your eyes. Picture yourself in a beautiful place. Reminisce the good old days. Take a deep breath. Smile. You’re about to experience joy.

Sometimes, even painting a smile can get really tough. However, finding happiness is possible. Even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment. Try out these tips for tapping into your inner joy, and see which among them work best for you.