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Finding Joy In The Journey of Life: How to Actually Do ItWe've all been told at some point to "find joy in the journey of life."It's great advice, but it can be frustrating to actually do. What if you're in a terrible place? What if you hate your job? What if you're stuck? Finding joy in those times can be especially difficult.  Yet, finding joy during the journey is the key to happiness. What are we rushing for? At the end of the journey we die. The journey and this present moment is all we really have.Here are a few tips I've collected along the way to help find joy in the journey and flow of daily life. Enjoy! Cultivate Gratitude: Being grateful for small things can transform your life. Whatever it is - being grateful for a meal, a walk, or simply breathing - finding things in the present moment to be grateful for quickly shifts your mood. Try it. To train yourself in gratitude, practice listing things you're grateful for, start a gratitude journal, or learn heartmath meditation. Be Present: The past is gone and the future's not yet here. The present is all you really have. If your mind wanders and you find yourself somewhere besides right here right now, ask yourself "What is happening right now?" That question will snap you back to present moment awareness. In addition, cultivating mindfulness can help you learn to focus in the present moment. Appreciate Beauty: We see beautiful things every day, yet we rarely "stop to smell the roses." Learning to see beauty everywhere can help you find joy in the journey, instead of merely rushing to the end. Go With the Flow: From my days kayaking, I've learned that life is a lot like a river. It's hard to paddle upstream - you can't really succeed, and you usually just exhaust yourself in the process. But, when you understand how the river flows and learn to navigate skillfully you can have quite a ride. And, there are times when you look up and just find yourself in the middle of an unexpected rapid. When that happens, the only thing to do is to keep your hips loose, keep your paddle in the water, and smile and enjoy the ride. Be Curious: Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it sure makes life interesting and worth living. Spend more time asking questions than giving answers and you'll find all sorts of interesting things. Laugh: Life is meant to be enjoyed. Take time to laugh and express joy. There are a lot of funny things out there. If you need some inspiration, try googling "funny." (I suggest setting a timer, because that's an endless source of amusement :) Forgive Yourself and Others: Everyone's just trying their best and trying to be happy the best way they know how. By forgiving yourself and others you lay down great burdens and allow yourself to enjoy the present moment. And that's all we really ever have. There's my "two cents" on how to find joy in the journey of life. For more on happiness, please see my recipe for happiness, based on positive psychology research. To end, I'd like to share with you a little poem I came across some time ago. I think it applies to finding joy in your journey. Take time to work.
It is the price of success. Take time to think. It is the price of power. Take time to play. It is the secret of perpetual youth. Take time to read. It is the foundation of wisdom. Take time to be friendly. It is the road to happiness. Take time to dream. It is hitching your wagon to a star. Take time to love and be loved. It is the privilege of the gods. Take time to look around. The day is too short to be selfish. Take time to laugh. It is the music of the soul. -Author unknown Leave Joy in the Journey and Return to Happiness Main Page Leave Joy in the Journey and Return to BPGR Main Page Related Articles:
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