In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) theory, joy is the emotion linked with the organ of the heart. The heart governs the blood vessels but also houses the mind or the spirit. It expresses in the complexion of the face, the color of the tongue and its season is summer.
In Western medicine we hold the view that “laughter is the best medicine” because it reduces stress and releases happy hormones in our bodies.
If joy energizes the heart and laughter releases stress by reducing cortisol, increasing serotonin and dopamine for improvement in mood and feelings of pleasure, then how do we create more of this for ourselves?
Its easier said than done isn’t it. Joy is hard to come by but isn’t impossible to find if we can try a few simple tips that can help us.
In May this year I lost my father to cancer and I experienced the heaviness of that loss and accompanying grief. This made me appreciate the feelings of happiness and joy that disappeared over this time in my life and for which I had taken for granted. I had to dig in a bit deeper to try and find the joy and create some space for laughter again. At difficult times in our lives we may struggle to laugh with the ease, or feel blocked to create joy.
As simple as it may seem, these few things have helped me reconnect with my own inner joy and I hope they will help you find yours too.
- Get out doors in fresh air, look up at the sky, the trees, the nature that surrounds you, something so simple as noticing the small things brings us into the present moment, hear the birds, see and smell the flowers.
- Exercise, if possible with friends, nothing like a good run with some mates to help us laugh with each other or an exercise class with the other equally uncoordinated.
- Try something new, out of your comfort zone, sometimes we feel locked in by our emotions and need an escape that takes us “out of our thinking”.
- Gratitude for what you have, make a list and make it long
- Be kind and gentle with yourself don’t criticize or judge yourself too harshly
Wishing you all a bit of joy this summer.
Yours in health,
Sandra
