Last week I shared with you 3 ways you can increase your joy. You can find them here. This week I want to finish up that list. So let’s jump right in.
4. Stop comparing
Nothing kills your happiness more than comparison. Where do you think you compare your life to someone else’s the most?
I bet it’s when you’re scrolling through Facebook or Instagram.
You’re having a perfectly fine day until you were on social media and saw your friend on a vacation that you decided to postpone because you couldn’t afford it. You weren’t feeling particularly negative about your kitchen until you saw someone post a picture that “discretely” showed their kitchen in the background.
Joy isn’t the emotion we would identify in those moments. It’s probably closer to envy.
I bet you’ve never spent an hour scrolling through social media and thought… “Wow! I feel so relaxed and refreshed. I feel better about my life and where I’m headed. I need to do this more often!” Nope. Instead we usually finish a scroll with something like… “Honey, did you see their post?!? Can you believe they…”
Your evening isn’t filled with joy and gratitude it’s filled with discontentment, envy, and judgmentalism. Don’t ask me how I know.
Try an experiment. Delete Instagram and Facebook off your phone for 3 days and see if you don’t feel more joy.
If you want more joy you have to stop comparing your reality with someone else’s posed and filtered snapshot.
5. Control your thoughts
Our emotions are often a reflection of our thoughts.
Typically when we lose our joy we are thinking about things that make us fearful. We are thinking about things that make us anxious. We are thinking about all of the things that could go wrong. All of the “what if’s”.
The more creative you are the more creative you tend to be with your worry. You can imagine all kinds of scenarios the rest of the world would never think of.
You really do have a choice about what you dwell on. You can dwell on the negative and all of the worst case scenarios or you can choose to exercise your faith and think about what this might now make possible. You can start by saying, “I’m excited to see what God is going to do!”
If you’re worried about something try it…say, “I’m excited to see what God is going to do about _______!”
You have a long legacy of God’s faithfulness and this is just another chapter in that story. So what do you have to be negative about?
I’ve never met a joyful person who was negative. What you choose to dwell on WILL determine your emotional state.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. -Philippians 4:8 NLT
6. Greet everyone with an affirmation
Saying “hello” is certainly better than ignoring people. Smiling while saying hello is even better. The best is when you can greet someone with a smile and an affirmation.
For example…
I’m so glad I get to serve with you today, you always make it more fun!
I’m excited you’ll be leading the meeting today you make them engaging!
I’m glad you are here your smile brightens up a room!
If you are sincere and appropriate it lifts their mood AND yours. Literally the environment around you begins to change.
The only thing required is for you to add something positive to your greeting.
Most people add something about the weather (usually something negative). “Good morning! Can you believe the rain?” You could say something about the weather or you could infuse your environment with joy by saying something positive and affirming about the person.
Imagine if your spouse or children did this to you when you came home. Why don’t you go first and model the behavior?
The most joyful people I know create joyful environments where ever they go. You can too! Be a carrier of the joy virus. Your work, home, and church can all be more joyful…because of you!
