Finding joy: a journal exercise for enjoying life more
Here at The Know, we’re all about that news-life balance - so here’s a journaling exercise to help you maximise joy.
Most people go through chapters in which they don’t feel much unbridled joy, even when there’s nothing specific weighing on them. When I’m deep into one of those periods, there’s a little nagging voice that follows me through the motions of daily life: “What’s wrong?” echoes in my head. “Why am I not happier?”
It’s only recently that I started to turn the question around. It’s not about what’s wrong - it’s about what’s right.
Feeling joy isn’t about subtracting problems - you’ll never be completely free of them. But one of the things we can do to give joy a chance is to add - add opportunities for genuine fun.
In Catherine Price’s fabulous book The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again, she wrote that flow, connection and play are essential components of fun. Flow is a sort of non-feeling: not noticing the passing of time, not judging yourself or the situation - just living in it with complete attention and commitment. Playfulness involves bringing a lighthearted and exploratory spirit to what you’re doing. And connection is about relating to others, yourself, or even pets in a genuine way. So to put it simply: you’re having fun when you’re in a lighthearted, engaged state that makes you feel true connection. And fun is the main gateway to joy.
Want to bring more joy into your life? We’ve put together this journaling activity to help you figure out what does it for you. Answer the questions in order, and don’t worry about writing full sentences - it’s all about reflecting in your own way!
When is the last time you were in flow (ie. completely engrossed in an enjoyable activity?).
When was the last time you felt playful?
When was the last time you felt true connection?
Were they all the same occasion? If not, has there been a recent occasion where you felt all three?
Can you think of two more occasions when you’ve felt all three?
Do these three occasions have anything in common? (the same people, the same activity, the same location? etc.)
How frequently do you participate in the three activities you’ve listed?
Are there opportunities for you to do those activities more often?
If not, are there opportunities for you to participate in similar activities more often?
Are there any activities you haven’t tried yet that you think might lead to true fun?
What did you think of this exercise? We’d love to know! Drop us a line hello@theknowmedia.co