Have the cares of life beaten you down until the point where you feel you can’t get up again? Do you long to feel happiness and joy and look forward to living your life? Thankfully, some simple habits can bring back the pleasure and contentment you desire.
Karen was a mother of four who lived for her family. She was married for 15 years to a man she adored. One day, her husband left her for another woman, and she was left to raise the children alone. Her once perfect suburbia life turned into a nightmare.
Not only was she struggling to take care of the children, but she worked full time and needed to run the household. Everyone around her noticed a difference in her overall demeanor. She didn’t smile anymore, and she always looked like she was running on empty.
Karen decided that she has wallowed in her self-pity and shame long enough. She found that by incorporating some simple habits into her life, she could get back everything stolen from her by the cares of life. Though this story is hypothetical, can you relate to it?
Has your life become so busy and chaotic that it’s ruling you? You can take charge and change things. Yes, it’s possible to smile even when your world is falling apart.
Simple Habits to Restore Your Joy
He was a successful lawyer and part of a large firm in the city. However, in 1871, the great fires of Chicago turned the town to ashes, and he was broke. After cleaning up the mess and rebuilding, his family left the city for a vacation in England.
According to Phillips Library Finding Aids, they set sail on the S.S. Ville du Havre. Spafford was going to finish some business, and he would follow later to meet them. On November 21, 1873, the ship collided with a British vessel causing the boat to sink. Tragically, there were 226 people killed aboard this ship, and this included his four children.
Anna, his wife, was picked up by a carrier boat, and she made it to England. With no way to call him and let him know what happened, she sent a telegram that said, “Saved Alone.” He immediately rushed to his wife’s side, and as they embraced and grieved the loss of their children, he wrote the song “It Is Well with My Soul.”
The words of this hymn are life-changing when you consider the inspiration behind it. How powerful to think that losing almost your entire family could birth something as beautiful as a song that talks about peace like a river.
Ten Simple Habits That Can Bring Back Your Joy
What could the sad times in your life help you to bring to fruition? Here are some simple habits that can help you to restore your joy.
1. Give Back
The Golden Rule states that it’s always better to give to someone than to receive. You don’t know true joy until you give to someone who is in need. It’s also hard to worry about your troubles when you’re helping someone worse off.
Sure, your heart may be broken, and life hasn’t been kind, but do you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and a car to drive? There are so many people much worse off than you, and giving back to those folks can help remind you of your purpose.
2. Be Grateful for What You Have
Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Many people act like the Universe owes them something. You’re blessed beyond measure, and it’s time you start being thankful for your blessings. While you may not live in a million-dollar mansion and drive a $100,000 car, you still have a home and car to call your own.
Changing your attitude can change your entire outlook on everything. When you have an attitude of gratitude, it puts a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Things could always be so much worse than they are, but you still receive abundant blessings.
3. Keep A Manifestation Journal
If you don’t journal or keep a diary, it’s time to get started. However, there’s a new radical type of journal that has everyone buzzing. Rather than just writing random thoughts, why not write the things you want to see manifest in your life?
For instance, if you want to see yourself with a new job or a new home within the next five years, manifest it in this book. You can use it as a guide to set both short-term and long-term goals for you and your family.
4. Practice Self-Love
Did you know that self-love is essential for your overall happiness? According to the Simi Psychological Group, things like maintaining happy relationships, taking time out from the stressors of the day, and putting yourself first, can have a dramatic impact on your overall wellbeing.
5. Learn It’s Okay Not to Be Okay
Too many people beat themselves up when they feel they fail. You know what, everyone has disappointments. It’s not the falling that matters so much as the getting back up and going again part.
It would help if you learned that it’s okay not to be okay, life will change, and the entire world will be different in a couple of months. Chances are you won’t even remember the troubles you face today as they will be long gone.
6. Learn To Ask for Help
Do you overwhelm yourself because you don’t know when to ask for help? You can feel overwhelmed at work or home. If you need your spouse to do the dishes or take out the trash because you’re exhausted, don’t be afraid to ask.
It’s better than letting the trash pile up in the corner and then getting into an argument because you feel like you shoulder the burden.
7. Buy Yourself Small Gifts
It would help if you spoiled yourself on occasion. It would be best if you bought yourself little gifts or splurge a bit on yourself. Of course, you know how it always feels great to get a new outfit or something extraordinary that can lift your spirits.
8. Limit Social Media
While you might think it’s silly to limit your time on social media as that’s your way to connect with the world, it’s not always a positive experience. You see people taking pictures and posting the good stuff, but you don’t see all the behind-the-scenes scary stuff.
Social media has become a way for people to hide behind a façade and portray the perfect family. If you’re already having issues with your level of happiness, then watching everyone else’s seemingly perfect life isn’t going to help. You need to follow more inspirational stuff like Ted Talks and sites like The Moth.
Here, you will find people who overcome the unthinkable and testify to others about how they made it.
9. Learn To Say “No.”
This is a big one! So many people are afraid to use the word “no” unless it’s their children. As an adult, you must learn when to say that your plate is too full, and you can’t possibly take on one more thing.
Telling your boss “no” might not be the best move, but you can tell them that you’re overwhelmed and want to do a good job and know you cannot. Sometimes, enough is enough, and you must know when you’ve reached your maximum capacity.
10. Get A Hobby
A hobby is a fun way to connect with other people and get some great exercise. There are tons of sports that you can get involved in to help with your fitness and playtime. You can choose from things like bowling, pickleball, hiking, basketball, crafting, water sports like kayaking, and a hundred other things. The key is to get out there and have some fun.
Final Thoughts on Simple Habits to Bring Back Happiness
There’s no way around the bad times in life. The good news is that in Psalm 30:5, you will find that passage that says: “Weeping may remain for the night, but joy is coming in the morning.” Whatever you’re going through that has destroyed your happiness can be fixed.
If you suffer from panic or anxiety, which is common when you deal with a lack of happiness, you know it’s worse in the evening. Many people who have mental illness notice how much more challenging it is at nighttime. However, the good news is that joy will come in the morning.
It would be best if you got through the night season of your life, but the sun will shine tomorrow. Using some of these simple habits to change your mindset and handle life, you can alter yourself for good. Life is never going to be perfect, and there will always be storms.
However, you’ve got to stop focusing on all the things that are so bad and start seeing all the good that’s around you. Change your pessimistic mindset to optimism, and you and everyone around you will notice the difference. What simple habits from this article will you use?
