Finding Joy in the Hard Times

Life is tough. Like, really tough...and life with two busy toddlers doesn't make that toughness any easier. There will always be ups and downs, that's just how it is! The ups, in my opinion, are easy. You just kind of ride along enjoying things as you go and not really stands out as you're riding. Those lows though, those are the big ones, the lows are where youre going to find growth. The lows are where you're going to find true joy and strength.

Ask me how I know this...

Yeah, I'm in a low right now. Seriously though I'm totally cool with it (except on the days I'm loosing it of course), I've made a sort of peace with this chaos that surrounds me and it's no secret how I find Joy:

​1. Prayer
I pray! Numero uno is to pray. Always. I say a prayer of thanks for everything that I have been blessed with. Then I pray for grace. Grace to accept the things that I cannot change and the strength to change the things that I can. I pray when it gets really tough and my emotions are overwhelming me and I know that I am never alone.

​2. Attention to Details
In the midsts of the chaos it is difficult to remember "stop and smell the flowers" but I promise if you take the time to it will make the world of difference. The other day I was scrubbing some poop off of the kitchen floor when I heard beautiful laughter coming from the living room. I immediately stopped what I was doing and tiptoed in to witness the joy happening right there in my own home (I know what you're thinking-scrubbing poop is joyful-not). I soaked up that joy like a sponge and finished my poop job with a smile on my face. It can be easy to find joy if only you can catch the details as you go.

​3.Reach Out
Surround yourself in love and support. You do not even need to give people intimate details about whats going on, a simple I'm struggling right now to a good friend is enough to be lifted high. The people you love most were given to you for a reason during the lows it is important to remember them and lean on them you will be amaized how many people are rooting for you.

The last but most important piece to the puzzle is to grow. Trials are placed in your path for a reason, and what I am learning is that the reason is often to help you grow. I'm not talking he just fit into these pajamas last week grow. I mean spiritual​ growth. Soul growth. That is the most important growth to experience on this Earth. Now, I am no soul expert but in my experience if you're not growing in the hard times then you're missing something important.