Create the Life You Love
Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about what life could and maybe should look like? It is easy to daydream about life when you are a child because the naivety of life leaves you looking through the lens of life through possibility. As life progresses, we tend to allow disappointments, disadvantages, and reality to discourage us from dreaming. Today friend, I want to encourage you to dream again. Not in a way that leaves you scrolling through social media complaining and discouraged because someone else seems to be living your dream, but in a way that you draw on the encouragement that absolutely nothing is impossible with God. No matter what life and circumstances have served you to this point, with Jesus there is nothing that can stop you from creating the life you love. Now hear me when I say that if you are defining your dream as perfection you are going to become frustrated quickly. The perfect life is not defined by a perfect spouse, job, or bank account. A life you love is found in the everyday joy of living.
A few years ago, my niece gifted me with a cute tray from one of my favorite stores. I displayed it in my bathroom where I see it every day. The tray says this in French, “Joie De Vivre.” In English, this phrase is translated, as “the joy of living.” This phrase has become my life mantra. There is joy in living! There is joy to be found in the everyday, mundane aspects of life. If you are waiting for joy to manifest when everything is perfect, good luck. You can have joy now, today!
Psalm 1 reminds us that those who meditate on the Lord produce fruit in every season! Every season that you are in throughout life has a sweet gift to offer. Living a life you love starting now doesn’t require much from you other than daring to dream with God. Take an inventory of your life. What are the areas you believe have room for growth? Write these areas down in a journal. Not in a complaining way, but rather define what growth would look like in this area. Then, submit your requests to God. Thank Him that if He gave you that desire (Ps 37:4). He has full intention of bringing it to pass—and through His wisdom, He will teach you how to make investments and changes to see these things come to pass. Choose joy by then jotting down what you are grateful for in this season. As bad as things may seem --there is good if you choose to mine for it! Gratitude is a way to honor God and invite Him into your circumstances. Thank God not only for the good things but for the great things He is about to do in your life!
Start cultivating joy in the little things! Discouragement comes when we are waiting for things to change- however, there are small things you can do every day to cultivate joy and start loving your life today! I have things that I do every single day. I lovingly call these things my every darn day list. Some things on my list are disciplines and some are for pure enjoyment. I thought I would share my list with you to inspire you to start loving your day today!
1) Prayer & Bible Reading: This is number one and for me a must! Everything—and I mean everything unravels if I don’t anchor my day in the Lord. Whether it is five minutes or an hour—begin this habit! Pick a new version of the Bible, a new devotion, or even a pretty journal to spice things up!
2) Coffee in a pretty cup: What sparks more joy in the morning than caffeine in a pretty cup? The next time you are at an antique/thrift store or at TJ Maxx grab that cup that you just love—you deserve it!
3) Lighting Candles: Candles set an atmosphere of peace and cozy. Every morning I light my candles or turn on battery ones. It is like I am waking up the house for the day! I love seasonal candles too! The smell of pumpkin in the fall or cinnamon in the winter makes me happy!
4) Music: There is almost always music in the background of our house. Mainly worship music but also instrumental and some good old-fashioned jazz around dinner time.
5) Get ready: Never underestimate the power of a good shower. For me showers and getting ready seem like a lot of work at the time, but always make me feel like a million bucks! Splurge on seasonal scented shower gel or use your favorite leftover from a hotel you recently visited. I like to convert my “getting ready” time to a makeshift spa experience as much as I can!
6) Make the bed: Everything good in life starts with a made bed. This one discipline will change your life—just try it for a few weeks. I promise it will kickstart your day in a way that you get lots of stuff done!
7) Podcast/Audiobook: Invest in yourself! When I started implementing this habit it was as if I had jumpstarted my brain. My desire to learn and grow took off! Find a subject you are interested in and dive in! Right now I am reading several books and brushing up on my French (Lol) Just because I want to and it makes me happy! Audio versions make learning so convenient. Multi-task and you will find time to grow!
8) Walk outside: Personally, I try to get outside as much as possible. Never underestimate the power of 10 minutes! I can almost guarantee we all can find ways to waste 1o minutes. Throw on your tennies and realize a 10-minute walk is good for your body, soul, and spirit!
9) Put the phone down: Phones are the number one thieves of finding joy in life. Spend less time scrolling and more time living! Take time away from the screen to think, to be present, to engage in meaningful conversation with the people you love—(the real-life people around you that you love..lol)
10) Sit down to eat: I used to eat on the run or standing up at the island. Recently, I have been intentional to sit down while I eat. I find that the experience is more enjoyable and peaceful. You deserve to take five minutes to sit and enjoy your food!
11) Wear your pretties: Stop saving your best things for special occasions and make every day special. Put on the earrings, add the lipstick, spray on your perfume and invest in you—not to impress anyone else but to make you feel special!
12) Random acts of kindness: I love the opportunity to show kindness to others. This act slows me down and reminds me that joy is more than about me. An opportunity to hold the door for a stranger or drop a word of encouragement to someone who needs it—this is a sure fire way to fill your joy tank!
Stop waiting and start creating! Life is for the living, God wants you to experience joy every day. Take the limits of life off of you that try to define and restrict. Joy is now, joy is today—joie de vivre!