The ABCs of Joyful Living
by Starcat
Wouldn’t it be great if your life came with a user’s manual? It doesn’t, of course, and even if it did, you change and grow so much that the updates would be nearly constant. Luckily, your heart is wise, and you can follow its intuitive urges. It brings puzzle pieces of wisdom to you all the time.
Sometimes these pieces of wisdom come in the form of lessons that other people have learned and then share with you. They can provide new inspiration and clues to living more joyfully.
In the spirit of sharing puzzle pieces with my fellow spiritual travelers, I’d like to share these ABCs of joyful living. The list begins with my Word of the Year for 2016, which is Authentic, and from there I’ve followed the trail of the lessons I’ve been learning so far this year.
If you’re in the mood for sharing, we’d love to hear your own recent puzzle pieces!
A is for Authenticity. Being your true self makes life more fun, and besides, the world needs your unique gifts and talents.
B is for Boundaries. Boundaries protect your sacred space. They help you feel safe and held in a good place from which to share yourself.
C is for Compassion. Having compassion for yourself and others allows you to keep your joyful focus, rather than getting all judgy.
D is for Delight. What brings you delight in life? You know, those little pleasures that make life more fun – embrace them.
E is for Encouragement. Offer it to everyone around you. It will flow back to you when you need it most.
F is for Fun. We get trapped sometimes into thinking life is a serious matter. Remember to relax and have fun, regularly.
G is for Gratitude. This is one of the best ways to bring more of what you desire into your life – by being grateful for the people, things, and experiences that already surround you.
H is for Hugs. Share at least one hug every day, like a multivitamin for the spirit.
I is for Imagination. Use it or lose it! Let yourself daydream, doodle, and create.
J is for Joy! Have you lost yours? It’s time for a quest. See letter Q, below.
K is for Kindness. As my Mom says, it doesn’t cost anything to be kind to others. I would add being kind to yourself to the top of the list.
L is for Love. We’re all made of it. Open your heart and share your love with the cosmos!
M is for Mindfulness. Be present in the moment as often as possible. Remind yourself when you forget.
N is for No. Sometimes, in order to say yes to what you want, you have to say “no thanks” to things that just aren’t quite up to snuff. Use your “no” power to fuel your joy.
O is for Open. Stay open to what shows up in your life. Expect the unexpected, and leave room for miracles.
P is for Play. It’s not just for kids, you know. Playing is vital to cultivating fun, joy, and imagination in your life!
Q is for Quests. A friend and I have a definition of “quest” as a mission that only you (or you and your chosen companions for the experience) care about.
R is for Rest. Get plenty of it. Seriously. This means you.
S is for Superhero. You are one! Now, what are your superpowers? How will you use them to help the world be an even better place?
T is for Trust. When you let go and trust the Universe, things flow more smoothly. You don’t need to micro-manage every little thing. It’s pretty much impossible – so relax and enjoy the ride!
U is for the Unknown. Embrace it! You can’t know everything that will happen, but why assume that’s a bad thing? Magick is just around the corner.
V is for Visualizing. Just five minutes a day of envisioning what you want more of in your life will bring amazing results.
W is for Wishes. Make them everywhere you go. Chuck pennies in fountains. Blow out the candles. Wish upon a star. If you already feel abundant, make new wishes for your friends and loved ones!
X is for Xylophones, pianos, drums, guitars, bass, voices raised in song – and dancing to the music that carries you along. If you don’t already have a soundtrack for your adventures, it’s time to make one. Try our Positive Playlist as a place to start.
Y is for Yes! Follow your heart’s yesses to more adventure and fun!
Z is for Zest. Cultivate your zest for life, and your joy will continue to expand exponentially.
What would you add or change on this list of ABCs? Leave a comment and let us know what you’d include.
P.S. Are your days full of stress and not enough time for yourself? Get our Guided Meditations for Self-Care and nurture your spirit in just ten minutes of relaxation. A perfect start to a new daily spiritual practice…