During a morning walk, I got caught up in thinking about the changes that had happened in recent months. From our long-term neighbors selling and moving away, to a dear friend that passed unexpectedly, to my long-term grocery store closing, it brought my spirit down.
Have you found, like I did, how easy it is to get caught up in the stressful issues about change? While I know some people say, "Change is good," there is also the flipside of how it disrupts our habits and then our mood.
According to author and poet, Maya Angelou, "If you can't change it, change your attitude." * So, it got me thinking of ideas to help do that!
Try this: Make Room for Joy & Smiles
For all of us, focusing on our scheduled day can lead to stress or distraction. To get your happy back on, here are a few simple ways to jumpstart your joy:
- Music - Create a playlist of upbeat songs and play it until you're smiling and dancing around the room.
- Gratitude - Start the day with 3 things you're grateful for and say them out loud with a focus on how much you’re thankful for in your day.
- Create - Clear a space on your desk of clutter and grab a piece of paper to write, draw or color, even if you use stick figures, just play!
These simple things work to help me smile. My playlist is showtunes and I enjoy dancing along. Another way I focus on joy is crafting a collage of fun images and words with my daughter to hang where I see it and smile. Then, touching trees and bushes thanking them for their shade and beauty as I walk each morning, is my gratitude practice.
* 52 Thought-Provoking Quotes on Managing Change Effectively https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/quotes-on-managing-change#