Live Better Letters: Rediscovering Joy
By Juliet Rogers
Dear Missing Joy,
There’s a little corner of Seattle’s Pike Place Market that holds one of the secrets to joyful living. Long before you see the famous fishmongers, you hear them. Their playful chants echo throughout the crowd. People gather –not just to buy salmon, but to witness the spectacle: fish soaring through the air, laughter erupting, strangers grinning like kids. These folks have turned the simple act of selling fish into a celebration. It’s such a joyful scene that it became a worldwide phenomenon known as “The Fish Philosophy.” Even when our lives are structured by routines, this approach to life can be used as a guide for finding joy.
And honestly? I’ve taken this philosophy to heart. I apply it to my life, my work, and even in my living room when I’m cleaning with a mop microphone in hand.
Here’s the breakdown of how we can incorporate “The Fish Philosophy” into our lives:
1. Choose Your Attitude
Choosing your attitude almost sounds too simple, right? But this practice is powerful. Every day, we get to decide: will we grumble through the grind, or will we dance as we wash the dishes? Even my teenage students (experts in eye rolls) receive this lesson from me on repeat. You can choose to complain… or you can choose joy. And choosing joy makes everything better!
2. Be There
This one’s straight out of yoga philosophy. Be present. When we’re stuck in the past, we get nostalgic or sad. When we live in the future, we spiral into anxiety. But right now? The present moment is where the magic is. Take in your surroundings. Taste your coffee. Hug your kid. Smell the rain. Live it all, fully and completely.
3. Make Someone’s Day
Whether it’s lifting your own spirits or someone else’s, a small act of kindness can shift the energy of a whole room. Compliment someone’s shoes. Text your friends and tell them that you love them. Smile at a stranger. In my classroom, I can’t reach every student every day, but I can make sure that they feel seen, heard, and loved. Be sure to do that for yourself as well!
4. Play
Spend some time…
Embracing Play: Yes, even when you are folding laundry. Especially then! I blast ridiculous 90s music and dance with my broom like I’m headlining at a sold-out stadium. Fun is fuel. So make silly faces, turn chores into games, laugh until your belly hurts, and play your way through life!
Scheduling Joy: Here’s a practical tip that I swear by: schedule joy like it’s a dentist appointment! Block time on your calendar that is not just for doctor’s visits and work meetings but is also for YOU. Whether it’s a yoga class, a phone call with your favorite cousin, coffee with a friend, a walk in the sun, or even a five-minute solo dance break in your kitchen, it all counts.
Photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash Creating “Happiness Goals:” Play can also involve setting small goals that make you happy. Would you like to try a new recipe? Find one. Do you want to write more? Set aside 15 minutes for journaling. You don’t need to overhaul your life. Just start with one tiny joy today.
Using your Imagination: Here’s a fun little activity that costs nothing but your imagination: you can plan your dream vacation!
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash Money? Not an issue. Time? You’ve got plenty. Where would you go? What would you pack? What would you eat, see, and do? Let yourself dive into the fantasy. I promise you –even the act of planning the trip will light you up. You might even be one step closer to making this vacation a reality. (And who knows? Maybe you can manifest this dream into being.)
5. Gratitude
Lastly, don’t overlook the small stuff!
Life isn’t all about big trips or epic wins; it’s sipping your favorite coffee outside, feeling the warmth of the sun, being there for a friend when they need a shoulder to cry on, or hearing your favorite song at the perfect moment. That’s the good stuff. And once you start noticing these small and wonderful moments, life starts to bloom again.
I practice gratitude daily –often, with a beautiful online yoga group, which is full of incredible women. Whether it’s big or small, we share about the things for which we are grateful. This practice is more than uplifting: it’s transformational! I encourage you to try out a gratitude practice for yourself. Regardless of whether you write down what you are grateful for, express your gratitude aloud, or whisper your words of thanks into your coffee mug, gratitude shifts everything.
Let me leave you with this: Years ago, I was driving home from a conference in the thick of a Texas summer. It was well over 100 degrees. My car’s air conditioning gave out. No biggie, I thought. I rolled the windows down and kept driving. Then, I hit traffic. Bumper-to-bumper traffic! There was no breeze, no podcast to entertain me (my phone overheated), and no relief.
And you know what I did?
I laughed.
And I heard my Grandmommy’s voice in my head, sweet and sure, like always:
“Oh my… this looks like an adventure.”
She said this phrase every time that life threw a curveball. And she was right. Discomfort doesn’t equal a disaster. Sometimes, discomfort just means that you’ve got a great story to tell.
So my dear, “Missing Joy” …
enjoy your adventures;
choose your attitude;
be present;
make someone’s day;
never, ever forget to play; and
live your life like it is a grand adventure… one grateful moment at a time.
Standing with you in the joy and the mess,
Juliet
Would you like Juliet to address your questions about yoga, breathwork, sobriety, stress management, healthy living, or manifestation?
Send your questions for “Live Better Letters” to Juliet at julietrogerslivebetter@gmail.com!The Mindful Life Magazine is created by the Mindful Life Practice. We publish the writing of our community members from our retreats, trainings, and online programs. If you want to learn more about what we do, check out www.themindfullifepractice.com !
For more information about the Yoga Sutra Study Masterclass, which counts as a 100 Hour CEC (Continuing Education Credit) if you are a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance, visit https://www.themindfullifepractice.com/yoga-sutra-study
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