This week I’ve been thinking a lot about joy. I’ve been trying to notice the things that bring me joy, and the things that steal my joy.
It’s crazy how when you focus on something you start to see it everywhere. Like when there’s something you want to buy and you see it all over the place. Or when your phone shows you adds for something you didn’t even think your phone knew that you wanted? …That’s just scary, right? Haha but you know what I’m saying. It’s like the entire “universe” knows what you’re looking for.
Basically, the more that we focus on something, the more we invite it into our lives and the more open we are to seeing it pop up everywhere until we eventually get it.
This has been my experience with joy this week. I’ve been trying to look for it. Where do I find joy? Where do I loose it? How can I keep it? Etc…& it’s been amazing how God has shown me joy this week in so many ways.
There’s a scripture that says; Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have JOY. 💛 (2 Nephi 2:26)
God created us to have joy. Why is that something that we often forget about? inviting more joy into our lives? God created all of this that surrounds us to cover us in Joy daily. Just look outside for a moment and try to see if you feel Joy looking at nature. 🫶🏼 It’s amazing how many reminders of joy He has covering us daily. He also created our families that we may have joy and our posterity and in our unity as families. And He gave us a Savior to guide us back to the Father. A savior who is filled with Joy. His entire plan for us on earth is based on us experiencing and finding Joy. It’s just that we forget to see it and recognize it.
But just as God created us to have Joy. He also allows us the amazing opportunity to CHOOSE FOR OURSELVES. We get to CHOOSE what we want to think about, focus on, and invite into our lives. So, do we “WANT TO INVITE MORE JOY into our lives? Are we willing to LOOK FOR JOY more intently?
If this is your goal, then you can PRACTICE that this very moment. Try to take a moment to just breathe and to find joy right here and right now. Regardless of what is going on around you. Recognize that even in the hardest moments of your life, you can re-focus your joy not on your circumstances but place your joy directly on the Savior, Jesus Christ, and on everything that God provides for you.
Gratitude and Joy are connected. So, being grateful in this very moment can bring you joy. Notice how Joy really isn’t really connected to possessions, power, accomplishments etc. We have a misconception that if we have more we’ll be happier, but that’s not true. Maybe we’ll have more “COMFORTS.” But true happiness and joy goes deeper than that. That’s why the richest people in the world can be extremely miserable and the poorest people in the world can be extremely joyful.
Joy is a state of mind. It’s a practice. We have to want to see it, and invite it regardless of what we have or not have. Our joy has to be attached to our creator. Not to what we have or not have. Our joy in the ups and downs of life should be attached to our Savior Jesus Christ and the God who gives a LASTING JOY in abundance. There’s nothing better than connecting to this DIVINE JOY.
So, how can you invite more of that divine joy to be in your daily life? Besides, slowing down our thoughts and expressing gratitude for what we have today, we can take some time to pray and speak to God with a sincere heart, having a true desire to listen to him and making time to read his words and learn of Him.
Joy can also be with us as we meditate or give service to others. & by service, that can mean GIVING JOY TO OTHERS. Did you know that giving joy to others is one of the most powerful things we can do for a person? And one of the things that can increase our joy the most?
Take a moment to think about how you are around your family or those closest to you. Do you try to bring them joy? Or is it the opposite? As we take a moment to recognize and be aware of what we want to work on or change, we show God that we’re willing to try harder and do better. We want to be polished by Him, so that He may help us reach a higher and more joyful way of living. We have to be intentional. We have to want to try and practice Joy, love and peace daily. Just one hour at a time.
God has taught us that “When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God,” & Don’t forget that God will repay your kindness generously.💖
Besides the time that we can spend with God, the moments that we spend in nature, the gratitude that we express to our creator, and the service we provide. We can also invite Joy by recognizing that we only have THIS DAY to focus on joy. We don’t have to do everything today. We don’t have run faster than we have strength. It’s ok to let go of some things and MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY TOO!
Sometimes many of us who are moms completely lose ourselves in the daily tasks, in the running around and the responsibilities that we completely forget about ourselves. 🥺 We forget about the things that brought us joy or that can bring us joy. We put ourselves last and we don’t take the time to take care of our bodies, minds and spirits. We don’t even make time to socialize with friends, try to learn new things or give ourselves the little TLC that we need.
So, remember that you are way more important than your responsibilities, tasks, or the things to clean and to do. Prioritize yourself a little bit more and try to give yourself way more love than you have been giving yourself. Do something good for your body, your mind and your spirit daily. Set new goals for yourself and work toward them. Always remembering that true joy is found when you recognize the type of God that you have in your life and how willing He is to help you, to comfort you and to support you each hour and each day of your life.
I invite you to look for joy in this very moment and to focus on joy one day at a time. Remembering that even during the hardest times your joy can be centered and focused on Christ. He will provide for you and help you one day at a time.
I hope that you can make it to class tonight at 7pm to do something amazing for your body mind and spirit and to give yourself the priority that you need today. We will feel joyful in our time that we have together and we will feel joy in what we get to do for our bodies and practice inviting even more divine joy during our meditation. Hope that you can make it and invite others to benefit as well. ❤️
Love,
Lili
