#HOWTO: Choose Joy
- Imani B.
- Oct 2, 2017
- 4 min read
Y'all mind if I celebrate for a bit? It's the first Monday of October, meaning I've been uploading content to this blog for 3 months. Some blogposts have been easier to write than others, but the process still remains. I hope you're growing with me during this journey and enjoying the content along the way. So here's to 3 months of Girls That Glow!
*AND NOW BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING*
Okay girls, this one's for you!
Have you ever been so realistic to the point of pessimism? Have you ever let life get to you so much that it's hard to see the light in any situation? Have you ever let a boy rob you of your happiness, your peace, your sanity? Have you ever let outside circumstances change the your outlook on life? Have you ever let another person dictate your worth or value? Have you let unforgiveness take root in your heart? Have you ever let anything, minuscule or monumental, steal your joy?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, today I encourage you to say: NO MORE.
Girls, I know we like hanging onto feelings and emotions because that's just who we are, but sometimes we hang on a little too long. Please stop me if I'm lying! I mean, There's no reason we should let someone who didn't say, "thank you," when we held the door open for them to influence our attitude for the rest of the day. There's no reason we should let what anyone says about us dictate what we think about ourselves. There's no reason we can't smile in the mist of chaos, and dance in the rain - well not really dance in the rain but you know what I mean. There's no reason for us not to choose joy every day when God wakes us up - that's a testimony within itself, because a lot of people didn't even get that privilege.
Disclaimer: just because you choose joy doesn't mean that life is going to be peaches and cream. In fact, it might seem like all the cards are stacked against you once you start choosing joy - but don't let that stop you. Choosing joy doesn't mean you're being fake either. For the longest time, I thought the most joyful girls were phony. How can she always be happy? Always smile? Always express gratitude?
Easy! She chose to. She's in touch with their emotions, but she doesn't let them run the show. She takes mistreatment for face value. She counts their blessings. She separates herself from the negative perspectives of this world, and models her lifestyle and attitude after Christ.
With that being said, here are five tips on #HOWTO choose joy each day:
1. REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE NEVER ALONE: It's a lot easier to be joyful in life when you know that God will never leave nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). When others let you down. When your circumstances say ISSANO. When you look at the world and all you see is unrest and chaos. Have faith and trust in the Lord that He will always be there with you. God's rooting for you girl! So go out and choose joy no matter what!
2. DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE: Joy is kind of contagious. If you can't muster up the energy to choose joy for yourself - do something kind for someone else and I can guarantee your spirit will be lifted. This act of kindness can be as small or as big as you want, and it benefits both parties.
3. DANCE: I've been a fan of this one recently. The sun has been out in Michigan for the past week and I've been living it up while I can. I like dancing in the sun because it's a reminder that God wants us to shine, glow, thrive in His plans for our lives. He's got it under control, so why not bust a move real quick? Ladies, it's okay to crank up the tunes and dance like nobody's watching.
4. LOOK YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR: This one is the toughest because us girls like to be very hard on ourselves. Especially if we've had someone condition us into believing that we aren't enough or worth anything. Well that stops now! Look yourself in the mirror and speak these affirmations: I AM ENOUGH. I AM BEAUTIFUL. I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. I CAN'T LOSE. I AM THAT DEAL. I CAN MAKE THE BEST OUT OF MY SITUATIONS. YESTERDAY DOES NOT DEFINE ME. TODAY, I CHOOSE JOY.
5. SMILE: Smiling is actually another one of the tips that I'm preaching to myself about because I'm the girl with the "natural" mean mug. Genuine smiles and laughter actually lift the mood and shines a light that can't be seen otherwise. NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T GLOW WHILE SERVING FACE BECAUSE YOU DEFINITELY CAN!! But, it's alright to let your smile be the first thing people notice about you. *SIDE NOTE: Catch that good light when you can, and I promise you'll feel like a million bucks.
Y'all, I've been working on choosing joy recently, and I can really say it's a lot better than living in life of negativity and snarky remarks. It's okay not to be the girl with the attitude (Ouch, I'll take this one). It's okay to forgive others. It's okay to smile, to dance, to laugh. Why not make this short time on earth the best by choosing joy every step of the way?
Peace +GLOW Always,
"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy
and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with
confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
-Romans 15:13 NLT
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