Give Yourself Permission to Enjoy Your Life

Joy does not have to be earned, postponed, or saved for a time when everything is finally perfect. Even during busy, uncertain, or challenging seasons, we are allowed to notice what is good and welcome small moments of pleasure into our lives. Sometimes joy arrives through grand experiences, but more often, it is found in the simple moments we might otherwise overlook. Here are a few ways to invite more enjoyment into everyday life:

Listen to a favorite song or attend a concert
I have several playlists filled with songs to suit different moods. Music helps me redirect my thoughts and emotions in a more positive direction. Sometimes one familiar song is all it takes to shift the energy of the day.

Eat outdoors
Growing up in the Midwest, eating outside feels like a special treat because our outdoor season is limited to about four or five months—in my opinion! My husband and I will almost always choose outdoor seating when it is available. Fresh air and an open, expansive environment can make even an ordinary meal feel more special.

Laugh with someone you love
I have three older siblings, and I truly enjoy being part of a group chat where we share jokes, cartoons, and funny stories. It reminds me that I have people on my side who support me, while also helping to break up my more serious moods. Laughter makes almost everything feel a little more bearable.

Take a scenic drive
We are blessed in this area to have many beautiful parks and quiet places to explore. Every part of the country holds its own kind of magical scenery, yet sometimes we forget that beauty can be found in places other than near oceans or mountains. I grew up surrounded by farmland, so a peaceful drive through the countryside makes me happy.

Dance
A difficult mood can sometimes be eased by moving the body and releasing the energy that has become stuck there. Put on a song that you cannot possibly sit still to. We all have at least one of those songs, don’t we? Let yourself move without worrying about how you look.

Enjoy a favorite food
What are some of your favorite summer foods from childhood? For me, it would be Bullet Popsicles and watermelon with my cousins, or BLT’s made with fresh tomatoes from the garden. Certain foods do more than satisfy hunger; they bring back memories of people, places, and seasons we have loved.

Play a game
What was your favorite card game or board game growing up? I loved Yahtzee, and thankfully, my kids did too. Anyone who knows and loves me also knows never to ask me to play Monopoly! A simple game can bring laughter, connection, and a welcome break from everyday responsibilities.

Spend time in nature
It is no surprise that many of us feel better when surrounded by trees, flowers, fresh air, or water. Nature offers a steady, calming presence and asks nothing from us. We do not have to perform, accomplish, or explain ourselves. We can simply show up, breathe, and allow the natural world to help us slow down.

Do something playful without needing it to be productive
Color, swing at a park, blow bubbles, work on a puzzle, skip rocks, make something with your hands, or try something simply because it sounds fun. Not every activity has to improve us, teach us something, or lead to a measurable result. Play has value simply because it brings us back to curiosity, freedom, and the present moment.

When was the last time you did something fun without feeling guilty?

When was the last time you allowed yourself to enjoy an experience without thinking about what still needed to be done?

If you need permission, consider it granted.

You do not have to wait until all of your problems are solved to experience happiness. Joy can exist alongside responsibility, healing, grief, uncertainty, and growth. Welcoming joy does not mean you are ignoring what is difficult or pretending that everything is fine. It means you are allowing life to be larger than the challenge in front of you.

Small moments of happiness can restore your energy, soften your perspective, and remind you that there is still goodness available to you. Joy may not change every circumstance, but it can change how you move through the circumstance. It can give your heart a place to rest, even briefly, and help you reconnect with the parts of yourself that may have been buried beneath stress, obligation, or worry.

You are allowed to laugh during a difficult season. You are allowed to enjoy a beautiful day even when something in your life remains unresolved. You are allowed to rest, celebrate, play, and experience pleasure without earning it first.

Joy is not a reward you receive after completing all your responsibilities. It is part of what gives you the strength to continue meeting them.

This month, ask yourself:

What is one simple thing I can do simply because it brings me joy?

Then give yourself permission to do it.

Wishing you joy and happiness, Kathy

CLASSES AND EVENTS

CLASSES AT ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE

LEARN SELF HYPNOSIS ALT-800-RV14
2 sessions: Thursdays 9/24 and 10/1 6pm-8:30pm WTC Room 2606 $79

https://cce.rockvalleycollege.edu/products/alt-800-rv14-20273c-8406

SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND CONNECTIONS ALT-800-RV15
Thursday 10/22 6-8pm WTC Room 2606

https://cce.rockvalleycollege.edu/products/alt-800-rv15-20273c-e4b2

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

I am located at Caya Massage & Wellness located at 11415 Main Street Suite 104 Roscoe IL, in the XL Contracting Building. Enter in the main XL Contracting entrance, and take 4 stairs down on your right hand side into Suite 104. I’m the second room on the right.

I am one of seven massage therapists in this beautiful space, and I look forward to serving you in this location. I will be in this office Monday-Saturday, 8-5. Any of my hypnosis and coaching work can be done remotely through zoom any day.

Connect with me for a free consultation at (815) 623-1569, email me at kathybjerke@charter.net, or visit my website at: restoremindandbody7.com