You are the author of your life story. Make it a powerful story.
Start Now and take full responsibility for your story! Your life is in your hands, and you have the power to shape it into a powerful narrative.
Find your joy, happiness, and passion to make every day extraordinary. And as you find your way, you will inspire others around you – to make their day. Today, we explore finding your perfect day, a day that lingers with you and satisfies you. It could be the joy of watching the sunset, holding your child’s hand, or spending time with those you love. Are you paying attention? Do you recognize these moments of joy? The bouts of passion. The feeling of happiness? Embracing these moments can fill your life with inspiration and hope, motivating you to seek more of these moments in your life.
“What is an Extraordinary Life? A life of meaning, a magnificent life, a life of joy, happiness, love, passion, success, and fulfillment. Life experienced on your terms.”
– Tony Robbins
What makes life worth living? What is it that makes our days good? Was this a perfect day? I have finally reached a point in my life where I experience many days that I consider to be perfect. Part of it is living your life on your terms. Making conscious decisions to control your life to find the small things, the small joys that bring you happiness. The other part is learning to appreciate and be aware of these moments. In August, I will explore the significance of living an extraordinary life, finding joy, and embracing passion.
If you have read my blogs, I often discuss that life is messy. Things don’t always work out the way we like. Some days are terrible, and sometimes those bad days extend into months. Life happens. But if we can change our mindset, perspective on life, and view of the things happening in our lives, we can build a better life. Learning to appreciate life is a skill, and the skill includes seeing through optimistic eyes.
How Resilience Helps You Cope With Life’s Challenges, by Kendra Cherry, MSEd
What does joy look like? Have you watched someone playing a musical instrument, singing, or dancing? You will see pure joy on their faces. It shines, and the smiles light up. You can feel their joy. Watch a parent looking lovingly at their new baby. That’s pure joy. I watched two young boys on their bikes with a cord tied between them. The first bike pulled the second, and they were immersed in the experience, with joy written all over their faces. Children know joy. We need to reclaim that feeling for ourselves. Other moments of joy could be a warm cup of coffee in the morning, a delightful book, a walk in nature, or a conversation with a dear friend.
Today, in the early morning, I took my dog to the park. We have had a lot of rain for July, and the grass is lush, and the scent of wet earth is floating in the air. It was a picnic for my eyes and senses. As I watched more rain clouds moving in, bright white clouds peeked through. Then I saw the rainbow. These are moments you want to pay attention to and embrace. Look for the good parts of each day. These moments are the building blocks of a perfect day.
I don’t think joy is something necessary we go after, but we should learn to recognize it in our lives. Become aware of the things that bring us joy. These moments or times can override many of the challenges and setbacks we have in life, the dark days, the days of doing things we don’t want to do.
Passion is when we’re fully engaged with someone or something. Are you passionate about your work or a cause, with your church or your faith? Passion is a powerful driver of productivity, innovation, and creativity. Passion can bring joy and happiness.
Living authentically and becoming the best version of ourselves takes learning how to enjoy life. It is about not compromising who you are for the sake of others.
The Power of Authenticity – Becoming Your True Self, by Linda L. Pilcher
Defining joy, happiness, and passion
I am including these three subjects in the August blog because they symbolize the positive aspects of life. Embracing the really good parts helps us to weather the times that are not so good or ho-hum days. Adding spice to our existence. Making life fun!
Joy is an intense pleasure that resonates deep within our souls. It is an emotion evoked by well-being, success, good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. It is a source or cause of delight. Joy can burst forth in small moments of your day. It is a fleeting moment of pleasure.
Happiness is a positive emotional response to an external event or circumstance. Happiness is a feeling of contentment or satisfaction in the present moment; it is about what we do and how we behave. It is often fleeting if based on external factors. At times, it is a reflection of something happening to you. For example, when achieving a personal goal or having a wonderful time with friends, happiness leads to an overall sense of fulfillment in one’s life. We can achieve happiness by finding a purpose or meaning in our lives. Our physical, mental, and social health are also tied to happiness. Finding happiness is a part of our journey toward self-discovery.
Passion is a powerful feeling or emotion that could be associated with a person, enthusiasm, or an intense desire. A person could be enthusiastic about horses or chess. We have passionate relationships. A significant number of people feel deeply committed to advocating for a cause. So, passion is usually directed toward something. My passions are writing, art, teaching, gardening, and supporting social causes.
What are two things you are passionate about? What makes your day better? What brings you joy and happiness? What matters most? Are you doing the things that make you happy? These are important questions. Passion fuels personal growth and fulfillment. Passion is on full display at the Olympics in Paris. Each competitor has passionately followed their dreams through hard work, focus, and determination. We design the life we want by the choices we make. Choose to have a perfect day!
Conclusion
So, joy and happiness are emotional states, and passion is about inner fire and dedication. We do have much control over our lives. Last week’s blog was about taking responsibility, so we’re extending that because now we will take responsibility for the joy we find, the happiness in our lives, and the passions we embrace.
Today is a perfect day to just be happy.
Make this one of your affirmations. Say it to yourself each day when you wake up. Post it on your wall, where you can see it every day. Live your life differently. Make it the best life possible.
Recommended Reading
A Perfect Day – Becoming the Best Version of Yourself, by Linda L. Pilcher
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams
The Perfect Day Formula, How to Own the Day and Control Your Life, by Craig Ballantyne
Kick Start Your New Day: How To Take Control Of Your Day With Positive Thinking: The Perfect Day Formula, by Scott Ansbacher
Citations
Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash
Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Photo of the rainbow and flower are from my camera