What will bring you joy today?

by Heidi Peterson, MHC outreach team member + ambassador education and orientation

I have an aha! moment to share.
It's truly making a difference in my life.

While I do think I’m mostly a positive person, I find I'm being hard on myself when it comes to some of the habits I want to change or add in my life—getting rid of stuff, eating healthier, getting more exercise, or not turning to chocolate when I’m stressed are a few habits I'd like to change. Because when I don’t succeed in changing, I shake my head at myself and feel a bit defeated, telling myself I have to do better the next day.

Can you relate?  
Well, I recently became disappointed that I hadn’t accomplished something and I asked myself, “What will I do today to fill my soul with joy?” instead of beating myself up about what I didn't manage to do.

A light bulb went off in my soul!
I had a whole new positive approach to change.

I’ve began answering myself with things like, “It will fill my soul with joy to clean out that bookshelf in the bedroom,” and “It will fill my soul with joy to make a healthy salad for dinner instead of grabbing a premade meal,” and “It will fill my soul with joy to create a donation pile” instead of berating myself for not getting things done.

A simple change in the way I look at things gives me a light and happy desire to accomplish several tasks. It was so simple yet had a profound effect on me.  

I've always found myself feeling the weight of disappointment on my shoulders until my recent revelation about myself. There's so much pressure on each of us to achieve at high levels of production every day with constant expectations to produce and be efficient—be the best at everything we do at all times. Society places such high value on perfection and pure self-discipline that few of us can live up to those expectations.

Today I'm choosing instead to ask myself “What will bring joy to my soul today?”  
It makes me smile.
I’m actually accomplishing some tasks.

May you find what brings joy to your soul every day!

Photo by Alex Alvarez on Unsplash