Joy

1. Pay attention to what you are paying attention to.

Do I think more about my disappointments or my blessings? Am I focusing more on what is going WRONG than what is going right?

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Neuroplasticity – moment by moment our brain is changing based on what we consume, what we think, and what we do. What we dwell on helps us or hurts us. It’s gradual – just like weight gain!

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We are sponges!

We soak up what we see, hear, and think! (Kids are even more spongy than adults.)

Proverbs 4:23: “Be very careful what you think. Your thoughts run your life.”

It’s easier to ‘magnify the minuses’ than to ‘promote the positives.’

It’s EASIER to Notice the Negative – this is why we need to be aware of it and pay attention to our thoughts.

Those lacking joy are paying excessive attention to the negatives.

The solution — read, watch, and think on the good stuff.

Glance at problems, glare at God!

Tommy Newberry

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2. Continually remind yourself of your blessings!

Meditate on the good. It’s easy to take for granted the blessings we’ve had the longest:

• Fresh water,
• our marriage,
• a home,
• heat and air conditioning,
• blankets and a bed,
• enough food to eat.

Keep a gratitude list/journal and add to it each day. Review it when you are feeling down!

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3. Each moment is a new beginning

Each day, even each moment, can be a fresh start.

It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed,
Because His [tender] compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23, Amplified Bible

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You don’t need to be mad about something or someone you were mad at yesterday. In fact, when we are thinking negatively about someone, we are actually poisoning ourselves. We can’t feel good about ourselves when we feel rotten about others.

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Hate is a boomerang. If you spew it toward others, it comes back and creates self-loathing.

Joe DeSena

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4. Spend time with people who make you better.

If you want to become better in something, hang out with people who are better than you. Spending time with people who are consistently negative will rub off on you.

Years ago, I had a good friend who regularly talked negatively about her spouse. I found myself trying to find things in my spouse that were negative just so I could relate to her. Yikes!

Hang out with people who love you but challenge you to be the best version of yourself.

• As I’m trying to be a good mom, I talk to moms who I admire or who have raised good kids.
• Because I want a good marriage, Ted and I spend time with those who fight for their marriage.

Proverbs 27:17: “Iron can sharpen iron.In the same way, people can help each other.”

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5. Our current Emotions are not FACTS, they are FEELINGS

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What are emotions?

Emotions are subjective indicators of objective events. 

You are not your feelings – you are more than that. Life is a mixture of good and bad. Emotions may want you to feel bad when life, in general, is really good! Focus on the good that happens.

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Allocate your thoughts to the following categories:

• Blessings
• Things that I can fix (what CAN YOU do)
• Scripture memorization
• Service / contributing to others

 “…The cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

Proverbs 15:5

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6. Have an Early Morning Joy Ritual (EMJR)

Joy needs to start first thing in the morning.

EMRJ is one habit that will elevate your joy.

Start your day with:

– Writing down 2-5 things that bring you joy.

– Reading/memorizing a positive quote,

– Daily declarations, or

– Reading, quoting or memorizing Scripture. 

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7. Finally, be on the LOOKOUT for good!

We have approximately 50,000 thoughts a day – 90% are repeats.

What I’m thinking about today predisposes me to repeat those thoughts tomorrow. If I’m thinking mostly negative today,  I’m more than likely going to do the same tomorrow.

In a previous post, I wrote about how we use our “Awesome Jar” to help us notice the GOOD that happens each day. We put notes in the jar of things that are “awesome” The jar forces us to look for what is going right and to talk about!

You will always find good if you look for it.

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Continue to think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.

Philippians 4:8

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Author Tommy Newbery, the inspiration behind this post!

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Do you need a daily dose of JOY!? Here are a couple of products I recommend:

1. The Joy Challenge for Moms

An easy, daily, devotional-style book – written by women and for women! Read this for a little “joy boost” each day.  NOTE: Order this book and receive 40 days worth of inspirational daily JOY builder videos! A $40+ dollar value! 

2. The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life, by Tommy Newberry

3. Love Does, by Bob Goff 

This book will just make you laugh the whole way through, and sometimes, you just need a laugh! I could listen to and read Bob’s stuff all day every day! I just purchased the one for kids so I could read it with them!

Which of these tips resonates with you?

What are you reading/watching/listening to that brings you joy? Please leave a comment by clicking on the little comment box by the title of this post.

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Struggling with fear? Here are 12 verses that build your faith and fight fear.

Here is a Daily Declaration that we have printed on the fridge.