Hello My Friend!
Do you know it’s one of the most regretted things of the dying? “I wish I had let myself be happier” is what people who were dying shared with a palliative nurse in London. Her other findings are here. [How to Avoid the Top 5 Deathbed Regrets]
Living with more joy doesn’t come as naturally as you would think. We have to make a deliberate effort or we can easily get sucked into the routine of living day-to-day, taking care of the necessities and ignoring what feels to many like a luxury; joy. Joy is a necessary part of living and loving and giving, and we have to make a conscious effort to grow it in our lives.
You’ll find as you take these steps, you will grow in a multitude of ways – joy opens the door to so much more.
Here are 10 actions you can take today to save you from regret, by increasing your joy: (Joy lasts, happiness comes and goes)
1) When in the midst of an experience and you catch yourself thinking about what it reminds you of, or about future and past events, park those thoughts and get lost in the sensations of the present event (will grow: gratitude, presence, inner peace, mental focus, self-discipline)
2) Get present by listening fully to what is happening and who is speaking. Listen with your eyes, your ears and your heart (will grow: listening, loving)
3) KNOW what brings you joy..yes, many of us don’t even know what that is, so how can we seek it and increase it? Make a list of your top 5 sources of joy (will grow: self-awareness)
4) Seek out those joy creating sources regularly – at first, you will need to plan it and schedule it as it is probably not part of your regular routine. Like make time to laugh, dance, play with babies, plant flowers, help others, give gifts, play on the beach…some of my own. (avoids deathbed regret #2 and will grow: time management, goal-setting)
5) Watch those ROUTINES – they can rob you of your joy! Do the routine things you do with fresh awareness and gratitude (will grow: gratitude, awareness, presence, creativity)
6) Spend time with your loved ones regularly – schedule it if it is not the norm (this happens to be deathbed regret #4 – not seeing friends more; will grow relationships)
7) Exercise daily – get the adrenaline pumping, create those happy hormones called endorphins, and get fit all in one 30 minute session 4-6 times per week [add an extra layer of joy and work-out doing something you love –like Zumba for me – WITH someone you love] (will grow; a healthy mind and body, self-discipline)
8) Allow yourself 15 minutes a day of imaginative play time. Imagine all the dreams, hopes and passions of your life being pursued. See all the details in full color and sound (will grow: your powerful imagination, creativity, goal achieving, self-discipline)
9) Take at least one step each day towards fulfilling your top dream – it doesn’t matter the size of the step, just the consciousness of pursuing your true self will fill you with deep joy (this avoids deathbed regret #1!; will grow: self-discipline, confidence, productivity)
10) Give joy. Spread love, help someone, do an act of kindness, make someone laugh, laugh with them, roll down a hill with a child, be of service, love others as you love yourself and as God loves you. Give joy, sow joy and you will reap joy. (will grow: LOVE in you and in the world)
With every one of these actions, joy grows and takes root in your soul. With consistency, joy will be the norm. Your joy-creating activities will be a natural part of your day.
Of course an argument can be made to stop with the regrets completely because they are a waste of even more time. I agree with that!
We don’t want to have regrets as we die and we really don’t want any as we live! So let’s live to avoid them and even if we have a few, don’t bother! Just keep it moving and be sure to not waste this present moment – which gives you something more to be tempted to regret!
Live fully now, with only accountability for the past – no lasting and ‘energy sapping’ regrets. We just need to know that we are fully responsible for our lives, accept that and move on.
Regrets quickly progress to blame and guilt. Don’t get on that slippery slope; just refuse to do regrets! Live fully, NOW.
Wishing you an abundance of joy,
∞♥∞
