Need more joy? Grow it.

Recently, I was listening to a book on Audible during a run (I do this quite a bit) and I heard something that made me hit the “Go back 30 seconds” button a couple of times.

The author was talking about our brains (a topic that is quickly becoming fascinating to me) and how new findings in neuroscience have helped us understand the plasticity of the brain. That’s a big word explaining how our brains can be formed and reformed — how we can actually train our brains.

But what made me hit the button was when he mentioned that, even though our brains can change, most of the brain stops growing at some point except for one area in the right orbital prefrontal cortex. It’s a place that has been called the “Joy Center” and it always grows in response to joy-filled relationships and experiences.

Think about that. You and I can literally grow the joy that we need when we need it.

The question, of course, is how, and while there is a ton of research out there, here are a few practical ways you can grow more joy:

1. Smile.
2. Sit quietly with an encouraging friend.
3. Tell encouraging stories (that testimony thing is real, right?!)
4. Get lost in the beauty of creation, preferably with others.
5. Literally, LOL. (Did you know that we laugh 300 times a day as children and only 17 times a day as adults? No surprise that kids tend to exhibit a lot more joy than grumpy, old people!)
6. Worship. Something happens when we begin to worship, and the Psalmist knew it. That’s why Psalm 81:1 tells us to “sing for joy to God our strength.” The worship produces the joy.

I’m sure there are more things that we could add to the list (and please don’t hesitate to share some in the comments), but the bigger idea today is realizing that you and I can actually produce the joy that we’ve been waiting to magically appear.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick one of two from that list and start growing the joy you need.

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