Finding Joy And Peace In Simplicity

I have often heard the phrase “simple is better”. I was not sure I understood it before, but I now have an idea of what that might mean for life in general.

I want to live a life that isn’t full of heavy footprints I can’t follow. I do desire a simple, more fulfilling life. I do desire joy and peace in every way they can be expressed, rather than the chaotic, often crazy, worldly life and pleasures.

This then brings me to the question of what, exactly, in life brings me the joy and peace I often desire more than anything else?

Many of us search for this constantly. It’s so often on social media. Finding Joy and peace in everything. But sometimes it’s for rather the wrong reasons. Sometimes the motives behind it are for material things.

If I could get this bigger house, my favorite car, household items, and so many other things, then I could be happy and at peace. But it’s definitely not the case.

If you ever defined joy and peace as having more things, then I promise you that it will not last beyond the initial excitement that you felt for the item you acquired.

So, I’m here to shed light on how to live a truly joyful and peaceful life without all the fancy ‘stuff’ we believe will bring us that deep fulfillment.

Have you been struggling with living a joyful and peaceful life? Please feel free to add to my list, or ask your questions or concerns below. I would be happy to help you!

“I have to be the one to define what exactly it is that brings me joy and peace. When I do, I can live that way regardless of my circumstances.”

Living In the Future Instead of Being in the Present

I have to let go of the need to always want to know what’s going to happen at all times. That knowing about the future is what tends to give some of us the hardest of times.

We can’t see into the future. Therefore, some of us choose to live there instead. Do you know that rob’s you of so many present opportunities and moments? Let me explain more:

When you constantly dwell on future events that haven’t happened yet, you’re not choosing to focus on the things that are happening for you now. So the present life is passing by while the future life lingers away.

It’s best to live in your current situation and make the most of that time. That’s what will help to give you a sense of peace and joy outside of the anxiety of the future.

The goal should rather be about making changes that will bring you present peace rather than thinking about what will give you future peace.

That would mean enjoying being single and dating in your current season, instead of focusing on the marriage and all the details of that, even though it hasn’t happened for you as yet.

So many times we will be hyperfocused on the future activities while sitting on a life of singleness that can also bring us joy and peace.

If you ask married people, you’d be surprised at how many will say, “I should have enjoyed my single life before the marriage and kids showed up.”

So enjoy the space, stage, or life transition that you are in and find the joy and happiness there while waiting on the future to arrive.

Monitoring Your Internal Struggles

This is very, very important. It is so necessary to constantly see what’s driving you on the inside of your thoughts and emotions. What you don’t know can have the potential to rob you of your peace and joy.

Internal assessments about how you currently feel in your life and space are so often overlooked. If you were to write the issues that you were having on a day-to-day basis down, it would give you so much insight into your struggles and the things that are silently robbing you of that peace and joy.

I like to journal daily. I do a “brain dump” of these things that keep coming up in my thought process that sometimes, depending on what exactly it is, can steal my joy and peace.

However, being very aware of your thought process daily and exposing them in an effort to try to understand them and make changes if necessary is a very important process that you should add to your daily routine.

Self-awareness of your struggles and getting to the root of them is crucial to finding what is causing turmoil and blocking the joy and peace that you crave.

Making Life Simple Instead Of Complicated

Some people think that having a “flashy” life is what brings the most joy and peace. I can tell you this much truth. Not necessarily the case.

I have heard and seen enough in small circles that the flashier the life, the more the pressure to have to maintain and keep up the facade.

In other words, if I’m purchasing a house way out of my budget to feel like I am important to society and that I have arrived, it means I now have to constantly think about how I’m going to pay the mortgage every month. I might also be thinking of doing multiple jobs to be able to keep up with the mortgage and vice versa.

I am now stressed and frustrated trying to afford something that was probably way out of my league for the season that I am in. Now the house is there, and I am nowhere enjoying it because of the financial pressure I took on myself.

Therefore, if I had just lived within my means with a mortgage I could comfortably afford until I got to another stage in life, then I would have been in a better position to enjoy what I have, rather than struggling to keep up with the cost of something I couldn’t afford to begin with.

That is unnecessary stress that we often bring on ourselves, and it’s definitely also what robs us of joy and peace. Look at your life and see if there are hidden pressures anywhere that have caused you tremendous stress trying to keep up with it.

Simplicity is therefore of importance, especially when your peace and joy depend on it.

Loving Myself Just The Way I Am

Many of us struggle with this one. I’m not surprised about it. We live in a society that wants to set the standards for how we are supposed to act, think, or be. Many of us, under this pressure, decide to try to conform to it and end up living lives that are not our own.

When you love yourself and how uniquely you were made to fit the role you alone were entrusted with, you will never try to fit into a box that society created to keep you contained.

You would be free to express yourself, your gifts and talents, without the pressure to conform. Can you imagine if this were the reality? How many people would be living freely with themselves?

Their joy and peace would be on display, because they are living and doing exactly the things they were created for. We missed this important detail. Now we have artists living as scientists, chefs trying to be pastors, and teachers trying to be lawyers. I hope you get what I’m saying.

Nobody is trying to stay in the lane they were built for, and hence why we have so many people doing jobs that they are miserable in. They did not take the time to think about themselves, who they are, what they are passionate about, and then build that life to follow those desires.

Some gave up on it, while some allowed pressure from society and family to determine that for them, while others didn’t think about doing the work with themselves first.

I can, however, tell you that the way to also live a joyful and peaceful life is to also be exactly who you are and also play the role you specifically were designed to play in this life.

Finding Things That Fill Me Up

Many of us have these hobbies and creative outlets that sometimes I’m surprised by. I saw a cousin of mine knitting coasters that she taught herself to do and now does them effortlessly. I know I can’t possibly do that whatsoever. But I love how she was able to find the activity that she likes and now does it with joy.

That’s the same for gardening, exercise, piano playing, golf, and whatever it is that keeps you going back each time for more of it, as it fills you with joy.

If I were to be of any input about your life, I want you to look at what you’re doing right now and see if you are sprinkling a little bit of hobbies in between.

If not, then I can assume that you are too busy being busy and not tending to your mental health and well-being with the fun or exciting activities that actually bring you joy.

I would definitely reassess my life and the things I have placed as more important than the things that actually give me joy, then make sure I have a unique balance that I can work with. As the saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” and so it is with life when it is not sprinkled with fun.

I do hope that these 5 examples will help you to find the joy and peace that maybe you have been struggling with in the past. Just remember to be true and kind to yourself and your journey. Don’t get too busy and neglect the parts that were made for you to enjoy and find fulfillment in.

I wrote a book called A Balanced Life: Moving From a Dysfunctional Life to a Purposeful One. I do believe that we can create the lives that we want to live for ourselves in peace and balance.

We need to make it a priority to shift our lives from what’s not working or helping us be our best selves to something more balanced and meaningful. Get a copy on Amazon.

Also, for more finding balance and self-care-related blog posts, visit:

• Living Your Best Life
• Finding Peace In Chaos
• Learning To Love Who You Are
• Living A Life Of Gratitude
• Balancing Motherhood and Purpose
• A Mom In Need Of A TIME-OUT
• Benefits Of Self-care As A Mom
• Overcoming The Hurdles And Struggles Of Motherhood
• Staying fit as a mom

In addition, for more information about my personal journey of re-discovery, get a copy of my book available on Amazon: I am Who God Says I Am: Always be inspired to live the life God has planned for you. It also highlights my personal journey of transition from a dysfunctional life to a purposeful one.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest to see how life can be lived in balance.

Did you find the strategies listed in this article helpful? What were some of your favorite tips? How have they worked for you? Leave a comment below; I’d love to know what you think.

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