6 Simple Rules For Making The Most Out Of Your Life, No Matter What Crappy Cards You Were Dealt
Oliveshadow | Shutterstock There are so many things to stress about in the world today, which might leave you wondering, “What can I do to feel more joy?” That is a great question. I’ve been working with intuition for over thirty years, and the message I often get about something that’s been troubling me sounds so simple.
I’ve heard, “Feel more joy” as the solution. Unfortunately, my guides and angels don’t tell me how. What I've learned since is that setting an intention is a great start. From there, I become more open to the big and small ways to feel joy every day. I asked if there was one thing I could do differently every morning that would work. Several ideas popped into my head at the same time, which was wonderful.
These six rules are about learning to play your cards wisely, even if you were dealt crappy ones, and create a life that still feels full, even when the odds aren't exactly in your favor.
Here are six simple rules for making the most out of your life, no matter what cards you were dealt:
1. Keep faith in something beyond yourself
Feeling more joy and making the most out of my life has been a consistent theme throughout this past year that has come from several different sources. In the spring, I was meditating and asked, “How can I feel happier?” I was told to spend more time doing the things I enjoy. OK, that makes sense.
One way to lighten up and feel more joy is to tune into divine energy. I close my eyes and imagine that I am connected to the vastness of the Universe and feel like a part of everything. Yes, that works.
2. Get outside
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In the summer, I was in the garden intuitively connecting with the deva of the honeysuckle vine. To my surprise, she told me I was missing out on opportunities to feel moments of joy during the day. Really?
I can focus more on nature, whether I’m outdoors or looking out the window. This simple mindfulness exercise always lifts my spirit. A study exploring the psychological benefits of spending time in nature showed improved life satisfaction and positivity, as well as emotional well-being.
3. Remember what's working
In the fall, I took a workshop about talking with your angels, and during the guided journey, I got another message that I should find ways to feel more joy. Clearly, this is something I need to pay attention to. Yet, I wasn’t given the specifics about how to make it happen.
Gratitude practice raises my vibe quickly. When I invest time in feeling grateful for what is going well in my life, my heart expands, and I feel joy. Research explained that there's massive potential to improve your well-being by fostering gratitude.
4. Jam out
Apparently, I was going to have to try things to figure this out for myself. That was a little frustrating, but I took on the challenge. I spent time journaling about what makes me happy and what could bring more joy into my day. I play my favorite music, sing, and dance. A study on music and mood explored how music is a powerful mood elevator, so dance, dance, dance — especially when no one is watching.
5. Stop resisting joy
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All of these ideas work, but for some reason, I didn’t keep up with any of them. That made me wonder, could I be resistant to feeling more joy? What is that about? That seems strange because who would not want more joy?
Maybe the research on happiness and intentional activities was true since I didn’t follow through with any of these simple ways to feel joyful daily. Could I be bored with these ideas, or was I just lazy about bringing joy into my life? Honestly, I started to worry about myself. Then the answer came to me in a flash.
What if I just set an intention to feel more joy? That’s one thing I can do every single morning. It’s quick, easy, and simple. Just say to me, “Today, I intend to feel joy easily.” I could do that, right?
6. Choose a direction
If I set an intention to feel joy, then I’ll be positively inclined toward that experience. I’ll start to expect that joy will come my way, which means I’ll have a greater awareness of seeking joy. This alone is a giant step forward. Setting this intention daily, I can use any technique that comes to mind to feel joy. Nothing that I must do over and over. I can make it up as I go along or use a trusted method to raise my vibe.
I’m happy to report that setting an intention is working. Now, I am an active seeker of joy. Nothing intense — the process is more like allowing joy to find me. Because I expect opportunities for joy to show up, I have raised my consciousness, which makes it easier to attract joy. This is basic Law of Attraction stuff.
Today I am grateful for moments of joy, including laughing with my husband, feeling the sunshine on my face, and seeing the squirrels in the bird feeder. Yesterday, I felt joyful and grateful because I installed my new printer without a hitch.
As it turns out, joy is everywhere if you expect it. Joy doesn’t hide, but you have to be open to noticing it. That’s my advice for you today. Set an intention to have more joy, and then you will. How amazing that something can be so easy, right?
Ronnie Ann Ryan is an Intuitive Coach, Past Life Reader, and author of six books. She’s the creator of the free audio course How to Ask the Universe for a Sign and Get an Answer Within 24 Hours, and the host of the popular metaphysical podcast Breathe Love & Magic. She's been published on ABC, BBC, and NPR.
