4 Ways of Maintaining Joy During Hard Times

Challenges aren’t reserved for a selected few; we all experience them. 

For some, it’s a difficult job that poses a challenge. For another set of people, it’s a worrisome health issue or a business with plummeting sales. Life is so diverse that we all face different kinds of challenges at any given time. But even when we know that challenges are a normal part of life, it can be hard to cope and maintain joy during these times.

Last year, when I lost my Dad, I was so overwhelmed with grief. My grief led me to a state of depression and took a toll on my health. As I navigated my way through this pain, I found ways to maintain joy during the hard times. Of course, I do not have all the answers, but one thing that I am certain about from personal experiences is that it is possible to be joyful during hard times.

I understand that your challenges might be hard, and I don’t mean to trivialise them. However, you get to decide how to respond amidst the bricks life throws at you. For me, I decided to maintain a joyful spirit through my hard time and here are some of the ways I did it.

Journaling

As I grieved the loss of my father, it was hard to embrace joy, and it began to take a toll on my general wellbeing. During those moments, my muddled thoughts overwhelmed me and I was burdened with emotions that I needed to let go.

However, the first step I took in overcoming this season was journaling.

Writing for me was a way to pour out my emotions and lighten the weight of the burden. Just like me, instead of holding on to those thoughts and emotions, you can pen them down. All it takes is a pen and a book; the words don’t have to be perfect, just let your thoughts flow into the ink and write.

As crazy as this may sound, I wrote down everything: my thoughts, my pains, my joy, everything! During those difficult moments, I found solace in my journal, and it gave me the freedom to be expressive. It was the reason why I finally started blogging last year, I needed an outlet and it helped me in many ways.

Holding unto pent-up emotions is no way to sustain joy in your life, let it out by expressing it.

Practice Gratitude

Possibly the most effective way to maintain joy in the middle of a hard time is by practicing gratitude. I overcame my grief by reminding myself of the happy moments I shared with my father. I became grateful for the times he spent on earth and for the opportunity to be part of his memories.

For every time I reminisced, a wellspring of joy flowed through my soul. I didn’t know that by appreciating those beautiful moments I could feel that much joy. When your challenge makes everything look dim and grim, look for one thing that is good in that situation and focus on it. You can constantly make a list of things you are grateful for and savour the moment.

Appreciate people around you and do more of the things that make you happy.

Exercising

One feeling people are almost guaranteed to experience when they are enduring a hard time is the feeling of stress. 

This can come in the form of physical stress, mental stress, whatever. Unfortunately, when you are stressed, you hardly give your best to your work, your relationships, your wellbeing, and the things that matter to you.

So, if you’re going through a hard time, exercising is one way to de-stress and de-clutter. For me, I take time out to go for a walk; sometimes I go to a gym or practice some exercise routines at home. You can also engage in mental exercises like playing games. 

But don’t let stress overwhelm you before you claim your joy. 

Meditating

Meditation was a powerful tool for me. It was like a reset button in my mind. I spent time learning about the power of the mind. It helped me think positively and choose joy every day. I reflected more on positive thoughts, and in turn, it made me a joyful person. I became more aware of peace amid my challenges.

As a Christian, studying the word of God and meditating on it gave me strength and relief. Spending more time in God’s presence was my safe haven. But there are other ways to practice meditation.  You could listen to meditative music, practice yoga, go for walks to clear your mind or spend a couple of minutes a day being quiet and connecting with yourself. This will help declutter your mind and reduce stress.

Challenges will always exist, but you can go through them joyfully. It is a choice you have to make even when things are not perfect because with joy, it gets better along the way.