Hello!
Do you know it’s one of the most regretted things of the dying? “I wish I had let myself be happier” is what people who were dying shared with a palliative nurse in London. Her other findings are here. [How to Avoid the Top 5 Deathbed Regrets]
Living with more joy doesn’t come as naturally as you would think. We have to make a deliberate effort or we can easily get sucked into the routine of living day-to-day, taking care of the necessities and ignoring what feels to many like a luxury; joy. Joy is a necessary part of living and loving and giving and we have to make a conscious effort to grow it in our lives.
Here are 10 tips sure to save you from regret by increasing your joy:
1) When in the midst of an experience and you catch yourself thinking about what it reminds you of, or about future events park those thoughts and get lost in the sensations of the present event
2) Get present by listening fully to what is happening. Listen with your eyes, your ears and your heart
3) KNOW what brings you joy..yes, many of us don’t even know what that is, so how can we seek it and increase it? Make a list of your top 5 sources of joy
4) Seek out those joy creating sources regularly – at first, you will need to plan it and schedule it as it is probably not part of your regular routine (avoids deathbed regret #2)
5) Watch those ROUTINES – they can rob you of your joy! Do the routine things you do with fresh awareness and gratitude
6) Spend time with your loved ones regularly – schedule it if it is not the norm (this happens to be deathbed regret #4 – not seeing friends more)
7) Exercise daily – get the adrenaline pumping, create those happy hormones called endorphins, and get fit all in one 30 minute session 4-6 times per week [add an extra layer of joy and work-out doing something you love –like Zumba for me – WITH someone you love]
8) Allow yourself 15 minutes a day of imaginative play time. Imagine all the dreams, hopes and passions of your life being pursued. See all the details in full color and sound
9) Take at least one step each day towards fulfilling your top dream – it doesn’t matter the size of the step, just the consciousness of pursuing your true self will fill you with joy (this avoids deathbed regret #1!)
10) Give joy. Spread love, help someone, do an act of kindness, make someone laugh, laugh with them, roll down a hill with a child, be of service, love others as you love yourself and as God loves you. Give joy, sow joy and you will reap joy.
Of course an argument can be made to stop with the regrets completely because they are a waste of even more time. I agree with that! We don’t want to have regrets as we die and we really don’t want any as we live. So let’s live to avoid them and even if we have a few, don’t bother! Just keep it moving and be sure to not waste this present moment – which gives you something more to be tempted to regret!
Live fully now, with only accountability for the past – no regrets. We just need to know that we are fully responsible for our lives, accept that and move on.
Regrets quickly progress to blame and guilt. Don’t get on that slippery slope; just refuse to do regrets!
Wishing you a abundance of joy,
♥~