Finding the Joy

Life is difficult and each of us will experience a season in life when joy seems unattainable.  We are left wondering if God is listening, does He care, what does this mean.  During the holidays the family unit is placed with high expectations on gathering and making memories.  It’s an opportunity to take time out of the normal schedule to visit with loved ones.  Difficulties arise when members of a family are no longer present at the dinner table.  Others still dread seeing their family due to fractures and hurts from the past.  The emptiness could be overwhelming.

It’s also one of the busiest seasons of the year with a host of commitments, purchases, and demands, one can feel…well, exhausted and wishing Christmas were over.  Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness or rejoices.  Is that how you are feeling right now? Are you feeling happy?  How can someone find joy in the midst of this hectic season you may wonder? 

During the next year, I will be learning to be a health coach.  One of the things I have learned so far is that health begins with other things that are not food…such as relationships.  A loving relationship can bring joy; in contrast, one that is toxic brings turmoil. Here are some ways to try and find your joy:

• Pray. Deep relationships with Christ will open doors that will otherwise stay closed.  He cares for us and wants to know every detail we are dealing with.  He has the answers and there is something wonderful about turning our troubles over to Him.   
• Be grateful.  Practicing gratitude is important in finding joy.  Be thankful for the many blessings in your life.  Everyone has blessings.  Living in the United States is a blessing.  We don’t have to worry about bombs going off today.  Be thankful for family, food in the refrigerator, work, health, family, and the lists go on.  Even a warm house on a cold winter night is a blessing.  Think on these things throughout your daily, and joy will come.
• Say “No.”  Self care is important. We are conditioned to help others, lend a hand, give care to family, work hard, etc.  We sacrifice ourselves and end up exhausted and sick.  Take time for you.  You are important to many people….they will understand.  Get enough rest so your body can deal with all the things that come at it; and get a massage.

One more thing to consider is that constant negativity will steal not only your joy, but the joy of those around you.  Our brain naturally moves toward negativity.  We find fault and judge others, because that’s our tendency.  That negativity creates anxiety in both parties, which blocks access to higher cerebral functioning.  We will then have difficulty with problem solving and ultimately our relationships with others will suffer.  You may know someone who is negative and you may know someone who is positive.  Which person do you want to spend your time with?  How do people view your position?  Not sure?  Maybe you should ask someone you are close to.

Joy is obtainable.  “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—mediate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9.

Health bite: Joy is inner peace...find yours

Simply Live

Ever wonder why some people seem to have everything while others struggle to make ends meet? Or people who should be happy really aren't.  Instead they are bitter, angry and broken. What's up with that? There is a saying that happiness is wanting what you have, not wanting what you don't have.  I believe this is true to find joy and being content.  I've often found myself running around looking for just the right item...sometimes driving myself crazy, only to start the whole process over in a couple of weeks.  Could it be, I was looking for something that wasn't tangible? 

We are so very blessed here in the U.S.  We have plenty of everything!  Fresh fruits and vegetables are available year around.  We can drive to the grocery store and purchase fresh lettuce or grapes anytime we want them.  We also indulge is other pleasures like dining with friends or attending sporting events.  As Americans, we spend $2,000 to $3,000 a year on recreational activities...that's a lot of dough.  I guess we are bored and want to be entertained. We go to concerts, sporting events, movies, theaters, and I can't leave out dining out at restaurants.  All of these are luxuries that cost money.  

I tend to be a high energy person that checks things off of my to do list.  My late husband, though, did things differently.  He got around to it, whenever.  Opposites attract and he certainly helped me to stop and smell the roses, and for that I am truly grateful!  He enjoyed entertainment, especially television.  He watched many programs at the same time..a channel surfer, if you will. He would tell me often, "I just haven't had time to get that done."  One day in frustration, I informed him I was going to give him the gift of time.  He asked me how I was going to do that?  "I'm cancelling cable!" I declared.  I didn't, of course, and he continued to spend a lot of time watching television.  I digress...

Could it be that the more we have the more we want? Plus the more we gain, the more time we spend taking care of, guarding, or obsessing over our stuff.  I'm now in a phase of life with aging parents.  Years of tangible items that are important to one is not so important to another.  Wouldn't be better to let go of those things we can do without?  This year, I lost two people in my life.  The reality of going though things happened and it allowed me to minimize my own material items.  When I went through my mother-in-law's house, I found that in each of the closets in her three bedroom duplex where coats and clothing.  She was just one person, and I wondered why she kept all those coats.  I mean no disrespect to my mother, as she was a very generous and kind woman.  She had four closets full of clothes and continued purchasing clothes up until a month before she passed away.  It just makes me wonder what we, as humans, keep chasing.

Could it have been that something else was missing?  Perhaps a relationship or an experience left us feeling out of control, so consumerism filled in the gap. 

How can each of us be more content without consuming so many material possessions? This is an individualized decision and journey.  If you could just make one change toward simplifying your life, what would it be?  Write it down and do it.  I think you will be surprised by how freeing it is. After the first one is accomplished, write down another and then another.  Free up your life and find contentment.

Health bite:  Living simply is freeing and allows one to simply live.