I am continuing to get inspiration from the book How to be content by Dr. Arlene Unger. One way to feel happier is to dance. She cites studies such as an Australian one which found that "going to tango classes can help reduce levels of anxiety and stress". Hah! Read next week's blog article to see what I think about that! But I am a great believer in more of a free-form approach. Put on some music you would like to dance to (my top pick is "Shout" by the Isley Brothers), and "dance as though no one is watching". (Presumably no one is, but if you have family around, an impromptu dance party would be fun.) Dr. Unger has some specific advice on how you can do a happy dance, but it all comes down to: "Whatever feels right to you is what is right for you."
Today's article isn't just about finding joy in dancing, but about finding joy in life. Have you heard of Marie Kondo? She has built an empire with the goal of helping people live a life that sparks joy - through decluttering! You look at all your possessions; you hold them. Do they spark joy? If not, get rid of them. Of course, even Marie Kondo admitted that when none of her kitchen utensils sparked joy in her, and she threw them out, she may have taken things a bit too far.
It is not a big leap to apply Kondo's philosophy to all parts of your life. Does your job spark joy? (Mine does!) Maybe your job is more like a kitchen utensil - something useful, even necessary. Find a way to bring joy to what you do. Maybe your job is more like an infestation of termites - not useful, but harmful. Find a way to leave. Do the people around you spark joy? Do your everyday routines spark joy?
I try to live a joyful life. No surprise, books bring me joy. And photography - that's a picture that I took many years ago of a friend who danced with the American Ballet Theatre. Just one dancer in a double exposure. And being with the people I love. And if I keep going on like this, thinking about all the joyful things that fill my life, the day will almost be over.
Do a little dance, think about all the things that bring you joy, and read some of these books:
The art of living : a guide to contentment, joy, and fulfillment /Bstan-dzin-rgya-mtsho, 294.03 BST
The joy of living: unlocking the secret & science of happiness/Yongey Mingyur, Rinpoche. 294.34444 YON
The single mom's guide to finding joy in the chaos / Colopy, Elsa Kok. 248.8431 RR COL
A life at work: the joy of discovering what you were born to do/Moore, Thomas. 158 MOO
Joy at work : a revolutionary approach to fun on the job /Bakke, Dennis. 658.3 BAK