Happiness is a buzz word, (at times) an elusive concept— and so different for all of us. Especially in times like these, cultivating space for finding joyful moments, taking time for self-care and making sure we find balance in our day to day is all the more important for our mental health and overall wellness.
Rumi said, “when you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” The follow practices are not a magic fix-all, or instant gratification. However, they are practices that allow you to be present with yourself and mindful of your needs, which in turn, gives you the ability to cultivate more of what you want, need and seek today, tomorrow and in the long run.
In the process of taking on these practices, give yourself permission to commit to them for 60 days, so that you have the room to try them on, adapt these practices as necessary and manage your expectations of creating new routines. When putting these habits into practice, remind yourself that it is okay and normal to go through a full range of emotion in any given day. This is a sign that you’re allowing yourself to access your emotional space. This also means that you can help yourself along through the toughest moments, observing what comes up and holding space for it, while also trying to put habits into place that give you mind, body and soul-centered space for cultivating deeper meaning and joy.
We can internalize behaviors that reinforce the moods we’re in. If everything is going well, it can be easy to sit with joy. However, when family health concerns, financial stressors and dealing with trauma, falling into patterns that reinforce the pain or sense of disconnection. When this happens, it is crucial that we identify our triggers, notice our environments and take meaningful steps for coping and healing.
What can you do to help yourself cultivate deeper joy? Here are 5 practices that can help you adapt mindful and intentional habits for greater everyday happiness:
- Gratitude
Say what you mean so people know who you really are. Reflect on the things in your life that are going right and the people who mean the world to you on a daily basis. This allows you to take on habits that train your mind into looking at the positives, which in turn can make the hardest parts of life more manageable.
- Manage your Expectations
Setting mindful expectations is the foundation for cultivating both joy and happiness. Being able to manage our expectations, anticipate challenge and navigate failures and unexpected outcomes is part of remaining proactive about how we navigate our lives. This is by no means as easy, but it is absolutely key for enhancing our ability to cope and to identify external triggers, deep-rooted challenges and in turn, to find the keys to what will give each of us our unique version of deeper fulfillment.
- Protect your Boundaries
Our mental, emotional, physical and psychological boundaries aren’t just part of our individual landscape—they are what protects us in the world and allows us to connect with others in a meaningful and safe way. Noticing triggers and challenges to your boundaries or personal safety is so important for protecting your overall health and honoring your individual needs.
- Maintain Healthy Habits That Keep You Present
Being in flow requires presence—our intentionality of being mindful of the moment we are in. Living in regrets of the past or anxieties about the future allow us to indulge a busy mind. Present mindedness gives us space for cultivating habits that help us find joy. You know what’s important—we all do—eating well, exercising, having meaningful social supports and a balanced life with fulfilling work, interests and opportunities. Give yourself permission to get back to the drawing board and revisit at least 5 commitments you’d like to make to your week, tuning into mental, emotional and physical health.
- Set Goals & Revisit them Daily
We are naturally more aligned to look at and work towards personal progress when we goal set and reflect on our progress daily. We can see advantages and disadvantages of our habits with much more clarity when we put this into practice. Allow yourself to take on smaller challenges with deeper commitment. Maintaining progress and holding space for reflection will allow you honor the work you’re doing.
What practices work best for you? Adapt and fine-tune these practices to best fit your needs.
Stay well & kind!
Delia Berinde, MS, LPCC
Looking Forward Counseling, PLLC
delia@lookingforwardcounseling.com
720.649.4600
www.lookingforwardcounseling.com
Lakewood, CO