30 Simple Activities To Seek Joy

Being a joy seeker is a full-time job of sorts, but the rewards will fall on you!  True from time to time, joy just might alight upon your lap, but in general it is best to cultivate creating and  seeking that which brings you joy!

I often tell patients to ask themselves in the morning what would bring them pleasure that is easily obtainable. By that I mean is does not have to depend on the will of another person. Wanting and wishing that another person will make you happy might be “normal” but can be a real trap.

When your happiness and well-being becomes dependent on other people, which is not fair to them , you become enslaved and deprived of obtaining other sources of joy.  It is a very unhealthy way to approach life and relationships, almost guaranteed to leave you wanting and waiting forever.

We all must learn to become  a generator of our own happiness. The old adage that in the end, we are responsible for bringing happiness to ourselves is true.  Let me make it clear, that does not mean to avoid bringing joy to other people too!

Being benevolent towards others can and does bring us happiness, but in doing so you must be remindful that not everyone you do good deeds for is going to be reciprocal!  So having realistic expectations is essential here, otherwise you can end up feeling used and unappreciated for all that you do.

I compiled a list of rather simple, generic and for the most part inexpensive activities to seek out  joy.  They are not in any way listed in significance or importance.  That is for you to discern according to your own needs.

I would love to hear from your own experiences so as to enrich us all with ideas.  I could have kept listing, but would risk making it  overly personal.

1. Get out of the house and walk!  Everyday, even though it will take a lot of discipline. I can guarantee that just getting outside of your familiar walls will make you feel more alive whether it is rainy, cold or not.
2. Seek and hang around positive, accepting people!
3. Play, cuddle and pet animals of your choice!
4. Chose one activity a day that has brought you joy in the past.
5. Cultivate gratitude, by saying out loud to yourself that you are grateful for what you do have, and be specific!
6. Seek laughter, by going to a funny movie or being in the presence of humourous people.
7. Go to a garden center full of flowers and walk around sniffing the perfumed ones and herbs.
8. Drive out to a forest, sea or lake, mountains or field of wild flowers and walk in nature!
9. Plant anything you would like to see bloom and grow.
10. Buy your self flowers to bring inside the house.
11. Eat good chocolate that is rich in coco butter, not sugar.
12. Eat citrus fruits, and berries that have soaked up a lot of sun.
13. Eat a lot of tomatoes and peppers, especially the hot ones for the capsaicin.
14. Stay away from any processed or boxed food period, especially white bread, sugary cereals, store-bought sweets ,sodas,and fast foods.   Eat real food as fresh as you can get it.
15. Get a massage now and then.
16. If you have access to a pool,water spa, jacuzzi or aqua gym, go and take advantage of being in the water.
17. Take aromatic bubble baths.
18. Lavish yourself with perfumes or cologne.
19. Drink green tea, especially jasmine.
20. Enjoy wine with your meals.
21. Light candles at night to creat a soothing ambiance.
22. Sit or walk outside in direct sunlight.
23. Participate in spiritual activities!
24. Listen to music that uplifts you.
25. Read or listen to inspirational  material.
26. Bake your own bread.
27. Seek out any art form that you find beautiful to look at from paintings, sculpture, photography and so on.
28. Talk to children!
29. Tell your friends and loved ones how much you appreciate them.
30. Last but not least hug yourself for being a joy seeker!