Do you ever long to experience joy but feel like it takes too much work to make it happen?
In today’s episode, I reveal one of the keys to clearing the space for joy to come in!
Just like cleaning out a cabinet before we organize things inside it, it is necessary to clear out the junk in our head before we can allow something else in.
What junk is that?
Great question! It’s your own thoughts and never ending loop of what you should be doing that you haven’t already.
In short, when we don’t keep our promises and commitment to ourselves, to God and to others, we allow a sort of distracting white noise to take over inside. In fact, it can become so loud that it completely blocks our joy receptors!
Here are a couple of areas where you can clean that up and make way for joy:
1. Keep your promises to yourself.
Self care- what areas have you decided need attention that you are continuing to ignore?
Convictions- where in your life do you hear a nudge to change every single time you open that game, flip that phone, watch that show?
Often we think there is wisdom in putting these things off- we’re busy with something else, there are good reasons to keep the thing, I might wish I did it differently later…
But if the nudge to take action is there, you’re clogging up your ability to absorb joy while you beat yourself up about what you aren’t doing.
2. Keep your commitments to others.
Just do it- when you make a commitment and follow through, it frees your mind to consider other things and people around you. Joy becomes easier because you are distracted trying to avoid or procrastinate the thing.
Re-negotiate- some days, we simply have to be honest and realize we bit off more than we can chew. In those moments the best thing is to figure out how to renegotiate the commitment. When we go ahead and get that potentially uncomfortable conversation handled, it frees us up to enjoy the relationships, the events, and the beauty around us because we aren’t spending all that time and energy on resentment, frustration, or procrastination!
Three verses I appreciate about this topic are:
Romans 14:5
Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
This reminds me that when I am fully convinced, that is the time I am most likely to take action. If I’m not fully convinced it’s either time to put it down, or do what’s necessary to get to a place where I’m clear about what I’m choosing. That brings joy.
Proverbs 15:23
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply and how good is a timely word.
I’m encouraged to have difficult conversations because of this verse. There is a sweet relief that happens when we finally acknowledge elephants in the room. Once we’ve admitted it’s there, we can focus on other things, which almost always include joy!
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in you to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
One of my favorite verses here, but in this context it’s a reminder that every promise and commitment is a choice that we made. No one forced them on us, we give them. They are a gift. And as we remember that our commitments are gifts we give to others, we can be inspired to continue giving and fulfilling those promises with joy and gladness!
Now, what one next step will you take towards joy today?
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