Have you noticed how easy it is to become caught up in responsibilities?
There are emails to answer, errands to run, appointments to keep, and endless to-do lists waiting for our attention. Somewhere along the way, many of us stop doing things simply because they bring us joy.
As children, we didn’t need a reason to play. We climbed trees, colored pictures, danced in the living room, rode our bicycles, laughed until our stomachs hurt, and explored the world with curiosity. We naturally understood something that many adults forget:
Joy is not a distraction from life—it is an essential part of living.
Joy Is Healing
When we experience joy, remarkable things begin to happen in both the mind and body.
Our muscles relax. Our breathing becomes deeper. Stress begins to soften. We become more present and connected to ourselves. Joy helps quiet the constant chatter of the mind and reminds us that peace is available in this very moment.
Joy also replenishes our emotional energy. Instead of constantly giving to others until we’re depleted, moments of joy refill our own cup.
Think of joy as nourishment for your soul.
Just as your body needs healthy food and restful sleep, your spirit needs laughter, creativity, beauty, wonder, and play.
When Did We Stop Playing?
Many adults unknowingly believe that play is something we outgrow.
We tell ourselves:
- I’ll relax when everything is finished.
- I’ll have fun after I retire.
- I don’t have time.
- There are more important things to do.
But the truth is, the to-do list is rarely finished.
If we wait until life slows down before choosing joy, we may wait forever.
Instead, joy becomes a choice we make today.
Remember What You Loved as a Child
One of my favorite exercises is to ask clients:
“What brought you joy as a child?”
Often, the answers come with a smile.
Maybe you loved:
- Riding your bike
- Drawing or painting
- Reading books
- Collecting shells
- Building forts
- Swinging at the park
- Dancing in your bedroom
- Playing music
- Hiking through the woods
- Baking cookies
- Flying a kite
- Gardening with a parent or grandparent
Those childhood experiences often hold clues to what still nourishes your soul today.
The activity may look different now, but the feeling is the same.
Create Your Joy List
Take out a journal and make a list of at least twenty activities that bring you happiness.
Include simple things as well as bigger adventures.
Your list might include:
- Watching the sunrise
- Walking on the beach
- Watercolor painting
- Listening to your favorite music
- Sitting under a tree
- Visiting a botanical garden
- Calling a friend
- Taking a scenic drive
- Knitting or crafting
- Trying a new recipe
- Watching birds
- Reading in a cozy chair
- Dancing while making dinner
The purpose isn’t productivity.
The purpose is simply to reconnect with yourself.
Schedule Joy Like an Appointment
Here’s the secret:
Don’t wait until you “feel like it.”
Choose one activity from your Joy List and place it on your calendar every week.
Treat it as an important appointment—because it is.
Even thirty minutes of intentional joy can shift your mood, reduce stress, and remind you that life is about more than checking boxes.
Small moments practiced consistently often create the biggest transformations.
Joy Is a Form of Self-Care
Many people think self-care has to involve expensive vacations or spa days.
While those are wonderful, true self-care often looks much simpler.
It is giving yourself permission to laugh.
To create.
To explore.
To rest.
To wonder.
To enjoy.
When you choose joy, you’re sending yourself a powerful message:
My happiness matters.
This Week’s Invitation
This week, I invite you to ask yourself:
What brings my soul alive?
Then choose one joyful activity and schedule it before the week ends.
Notice how you feel afterward.
You may discover that joy isn’t something you have to chase.
It’s something you simply have to make room for.
Because joy truly is medicine—and your soul deserves a healthy dose of it.
Ready to wake up feeling happier each day?
If you’d like to create a peaceful, positive morning routine that fills your heart before the demands of the day begin, take a look at my Wake Up Happy Every Morning audio program.
In just a few minutes each morning, you’ll learn simple practices to reduce stress, cultivate gratitude, and begin your day with greater joy, calm, and intention.
Because happiness isn’t something you find someday.
It’s something you practice—one joyful morning at a time.