What brings you joy? Or, to put it another way, what brings more than a smile to your face and makes you laugh out loud? Our ability to return to joy is vital to the quality of our lives. Of course, we all experience sadness, disappointments, and many other strenuous things, but how do you go beyond these and grow on?
So, what exactly is a joy bucket?
“Located in the front part of your brain is the right orbital prefrontal cortex, which is called the joy bucket. The joy bucket basically is the part of your brain that grows with the experience of joy and rest. An example of this is when a baby locks eyes with you and gets really excited. You share joy.” ~ Dr. Marcus Warner. https://www.yourbrainonjoy.org
God created us in His image; we are made for love in a life-giving relationship with Him and other people. Therefore, the first step to filling your joy bucket is to find satisfaction through a vital connection to God. In the Bible the book of beginnings, Genesis, displays how God created the heavens and the earth over the course of 7 days, the last being a day of rest. All of creation was subject to rest before any busy activity began.
Jesus said, “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
~ Matthew 11:28-29
For joy to be compelling, it must be coupled with times of rest. There are seven types of rest details Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, author and board-certified internal medicine physician, in her book Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity. Among the types of rest: sensory rest, creative rest, social rest, and passive physical rest (sleep).
You can take a FREE Personal Rest Assessment here to learn what type of rest you may be missing. https://www.restquiz.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/
As human beings, providing restorative rest and building joy are significant for reducing stress, solving problems, and forming successful relationships with others.
Need some ideas for building joy?
Here are some suggestions:
Take a brisk walk in a new park
Go bird watching with others
Plan a garden and plant seeds
Discover a new recipe with a friend to enjoy
Take a relaxing detox bath
Give yourself 30 minutes or more of reading each day
Join a bowling team
Hike a new trail
Share a tandem kayak with a friend
Sketch, paint, or photograph an inspiring scene
Gather 3 or 4 friends and have a potluck dinner
Sign up for the great backyard bird count https://www.birdcount.org/
Visit a local farm to get milk, veggies, and fruits
Check out landscaping at a state park
Get a goldfish or a betta fish
Gather friends for a game night
When you make it a priority to build joy and rest into your life, you’ll reap a harvest of overflowing joy that will spill out into the hearts of other thirst souls.
And be encouraged that beyond life’s challenges, we have a loving Creator God Who
walks with us, No. Matter. What.
Got some suggestions for Joy Building and Rest?
Please share them with us below in the comments.
We’re eager to learn from you!
Gleanings From Heaven's Gate 