Happiness and joy are closely related to feel-good feelings that often occur simultaneously. However, these two feelings are synonymous. On the one hand, happiness is a feeling that is typically associated with bursts of satisfaction, excitement, and intense pleasure; whereas, joyfulness is a more powerful emotion characterized by a feeling of contentment and inner peace. In other words, it is a long-term state of mind. In general, it is easier to manifest joy than it is to manifest happiness. More specifically, virtually anything from a funny movie to a good cup of coffee can create happiness. In contrast, joy is more challenging to attain, requiring time and continuous effort to achieve a goal. With this in mind, here are four ways to find joy in everyday life
Pursue Your Hobbies and Interests
Recent research shows that pursuing your hobby can work wonders for your overall well-being, provided it does not become an obsession. In essence, when you follow your hobbies and interests, you’re actively choosing to dedicate more time to your passions, which is particularly vital if your nine-to-five is full of responsibilities. Pursuing your passions would allow you to:
• Improve your work-life balance
• Build healthy relationships
• Develop new transferable skills
• Help you prepare for the future
• Make you more interesting
In essence, pursuing your interest and hobbies will allow you to live a more purposeful life, and therefore, manifest joy.
Confront Your Past
Bad experiences in life can easily cause your life to come to a standstill, denying you the opportunity to experience joy and happiness. One of the best ways to get over the pain and negative thoughts is to confront your past. However, it is essential to note that this is often more difficult than it sounds. For this reason, you should find a counselor or therapist to help you overcome your bad memories. By healing your past, you would grow, evolve, and thrive, allowing you to experience joy.
Volunteer for a Worthy Cause
Every year, millions of Americans across the country donate their time and resources to worthy causes. To give you an idea, around 30% of Americans volunteered in 2019 alone, with each volunteer contributing about 50 hours of their time, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. Beyond benefitting your chosen cause, volunteering can have long-lasting mental health and wellness benefits. For example, a recent study found that acts of altruism tend to decrease stress, leading to improved mental health and lower stress levels. Moreover, volunteering can help you live a purposeful life, allowing you to find and embrace joy.
Connect with Positive People
Your mood may be negative because you spend too much time with pessimists. Experts say that happy people can make others connected to them happier. If you are generally bonding with people who have a negative approach to life, consider reconnecting with people who have a more positive outlook. Try to form an attachment with people who are more considerate of your feelings. Happier people tend to create stronger social connections.
Finding joy in everyday life can be easier with these ideas. In addition to embracing joy, there are other things that you can do to take care of yourself. For instance, you should secure the right personal insurance. For assistance with all your coverage needs, contact the experts at Gant Insurance Agency today.
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