The Secret to Discovering a More Joy-Filled Life

Joy: Many of us know what joy feels like—the sunshine on our face in the morning, a warm cup of coffee in our hands, the giggle of a baby, the moment we reunite with a loved one after time apart. It’s a feeling many of us know—and also a feeling that can seem difficult to find in our fast-paced world.

I often find myself trapped in cycles of stress and worry, especially in today’s cultural climate. I also know that I (and I suspect I’m not alone) spend so much time trying to do it all by myself—trying to be the perfect wife, mother, friend, and employee—and trying to make it look like I have it all together, that I spend less time in conversation with others and with the divine, and I often miss small moments of joy in daily life. It’s easier to turn inward than to reach out to others, and once turned inward, it’s challenging to break the cycle.

So how can we create a more joy-filled life, despite everything going on around us? Perhaps the secret to joy isn’t actually found within ourselves, but through a life of connection and intentionality.

A deeper sense of connection might come through the relationships around us, but it could also come through building a more personal relationship with the divine. No matter your vision of the divine—be it God, the universe, or the power of intention—prayer and meditation can be powerful tools that help us connect more deeply through sacred conversation and dialogue. Some of my favorite meditations are rooted in Indigenous spirituality, which offer a unique opportunity to connect with the divine through the natural world around me.

What is most sacred is usually right in front of us,
Right where we live.
The holy is in the everyday, the common, the simple.
It is hidden in places that have become so routine for us
That we hardly notice them anymore.

(Excerpted from “Mystic of the All-Night Diner” in Spirit Wheel by Steven Charleston.)

It’s easy to move through the motions of life and not really notice what’s happening around us. Recently I read the book The Joy Document: Creating a Midlife of Surprise and Delight. This book chronicles the author’s journey during her fifty-fifth year as, each day, she jotted down impressions of simple, everyday things that struck her as beautiful, humorous, or intriguing. It was in these ordinary moments, moments that often pass us by, where she found joy and gratitude. Though I’m not in midlife myself, this dedication to mindfully notice small and seemingly ordinary moments is a practice I am now intentionally doing in my everyday life, as I think it’s a practice that can make life at any age just a bit richer.

What would happen if I attempted to approach each day and each interaction with joyful intention? In other words, how might my life—how might all our lives—like chocolate éclair cake, grow more nuanced and richer as we grow older?

(Excerpted from The Joy Document by Jennifer McGaha.)

In these moments of meditation and intentional noticing, I’m finding that joy is no longer something elusive and fleeting, but rather a daily companion. As you explore ways to build more connection and intentionality into your life, I hope you discover a joy that allows you to live fully and freely.

For more information about resources on intentional living, connection, and joyful thriving, click here.