As we get swept up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, experiencing joy can seem like it's always just out of reach.
Does it often feel that everyone else's lives are full of fun and happiness, yet you are always struggling?
They're living their best life, while you feel constantly overwhelmed by everyday life.
We know exactly how this feels, and that's why we created Joy on Tap.
Because we came to realise that joy isn't a final state we're aiming for, but a collection of ordinary moments that we appreciate throughout our lives.
Some of our favourite ordinary moments
- the calm that settles with the first sip of your favourite coffee
- that warm fuzzy feeling you get when kittens pop up on your Instagram feed
- the sun shining through the autumn leaves on your daily walk
- that perfect moment when you curl up in fresh, clean bedding
- the spark of happiness you feel when your new favourite book could have been written just for you
- that sensation of your heart bursting when you watch a video of your nephew giggling for the first time
... and as you notice these moments, you begin to realise that joy is all around, no matter what you're living through and you are in charge of cultivating it!
But what does that word really mean?
Cultivation isn't just for your garden
While most commonly used to refer to farming and working the land (a great visual representation btw!) dictionary.com dives deeper into the alternate meanings, which are way more relevant to what we're discussing:
- to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine: to cultivate a singing voice.
- to promote the growth or development of (an art, science, etc.); foster.
- to devote oneself to (an art, science, etc.).
So instead of it simply being the hard work we associate with farming, gardening etc. we can cultivate joy in softer ways so it's never out of reach...
Through Learning Embrace new experiences—whether it's a hobby, career change, or journey of self-discovery. Learning becomes fun when you choose the subject.
Through Sharing Help others notice joy in their lives. Ask about their happy moments, celebrate their victories, and spread positivity in your interactions.
Through Practice Document your small wins, capture special memories, and journal about what brings you happiness. Transform ordinary moments into extraordinary memories by honouring them.
Let's look a little closer...
5 Fun Ideas for Cultivating Joy in Your Life Today
1. Embrace the Silly
Our favourite Taylor Swift song lyric embraces the silly
As adults, we often get caught up in the adulting rules and routines of life.
But we forget to embrace our inner child and let our silly sides shine.
Try dancing in your kitchen to your favourite childhood banger, building a fort and having a movie night or getting your child to choose your outfit for the day.
You may feel foolish doing this, but the freedom you'll experience as a result is totally worth it!
2. Be Thankful
Practice gratitude for the moments of joy that often pass us by...
Someone making you your favourite drink or meal, the gorgeous smell of the roses on your daily walk or someone letting you go ahead of them in the supermarket queue.
As you notice these moments, focus on the gratitude that surfaces. If it helps, you can keep a record so when you're struggling to find the joy, you have little reminders of those ordinary moments.
3. Create a Happy Place
Most people have a happy place - a holiday destination, a loved one's garden, an imaginary place they've dreamt up - but they are unlikely to get there everyday.
Find and create a space in your home, or near it, that you can access daily or when you feel like it.
Maybe you could use a corner of your bedroom as a reading nook with cute plants, comfy cushions and a blanket.
Maybe it's the bath with your favourite album on the speakers.
Or a bench overlooking the lake on your favourite local walk.
Wherever it is, get there often. Breathe and relax.
4. Learn Something New
Set aside time to learn the hobby you've wanted to master for years.
This could be crafting, DIY upcycling, gardening or cooking.
YouTube is full of tutorials on anything you could possibly want to learn.
Give something a try and if you don't enjoy it, let it pass you by. Life is too short to be doing anything you don't love in your free time!
And if it's crafting you're wanting to learn, sign up here [include link to email sign up] to be notified when we release our crafting tutorials.
5. Celebrate small wins
We accomplish SO MUCH MORE than we give ourselves credit for on a daily basis.
And yet we can get to the end of the day and nothing has been crossed off the to-do list.
But what about getting your family fed each day, remembering to brush your teeth or getting the laundry done?
The more you realise that these "basic" tasks are still an accomplishment, the more joy you invite into the daily grind.
Making Joy a Habit
As you explore these practices, pay attention to:
- How joy feels in your body
- When it appears most naturally
- What triggers make it easier to notice
Consider, how you can make sure you include this more in your everyday life?
Remember: Building new habits takes time. Start small, be patient, and celebrate your progress.
Joy is a Mindset
Finding ordinary moments of joy in the everyday doesn't have to take over your life.
Once we begin to tap into it, we'll no longer look at everyone else, thinking Why is their life so much better than mine?, allowing comparison to steal our joy.
We want to stress again what we said in the opening:
Joy isn't a final state we're aiming for but a collection of ordinary moments that we notice throughout our lives.
Joy is all around you. And within you. Simply becoming aware and noticing it is the first step to successfully cultivating moments of ordinary joy in your life.
Joy on Tap Pick of the Week:
Need a little help getting started with cultivating joy?
Treat yourself to one of our Ordinary Joy Colour Block Notebook.
The perfect daily companion to remind you to appreciate the small things in life and get your new gratitude practice started.
Our notebook's compact A5 size, strong spiral binding and handy document pocket make them a great portable notebook.
Choose lined paper for traditional writing or graph paper for added flexibility in your journaling.
Get your Ordinary Joy Notebook HERE.
=============
Share your email to receive the latest blog post straight to your inbox and receive our beautiful 5 Days to Joy digital guide.
We'll also be sharing some ordinary joy moments on Pinterest and Instagram so make sure to follow us and turn on notifications to get some inspiration and motivation.