If you have been running on autopilot just to get through each day, are you ready to have more joy in your life?  You might have experienced the loss of a spouse, parent, or child. It’s a big change for everyone when grown children leave home.  If you have been taking care of everyone else first as a caregiver, partner, or in charge of 24/7 logistics and you are making the transition out of that stage, it may be time to think about what’s next for you.

Change is hard. Whether you have lost a loved one, become an empty nester, or reached career success and want to get more out of life, it can be difficult to move on. Yet shifting your perspective is what allows you to live more fully. If you are feeling unsure, here are a few ways to build your confidence.

When you say no to what depletes you, you say yes to what matters most: your health and your happiness.

Your needs matter. If you don’t prioritize yourself, no one else will do it for you.

Gratitude has been shown to boost happiness, improve mental health, and strengthen relationships. It’s a simple but powerful self-care practice that helps you focus on the little things in life that make you happy. It’s a great way to embrace the present moment and find joy in the here and now.

This may be an unpopular opinion but I believe happiness is a choice.  When I heard Thich Nhat Hanh’s quote, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy,” I had to take a minute and let that sink in.  You can either look to external sources to find your joy or you can be the source of your own happiness.  I’m not saying that it’s easy, but when you learn how to find that contentment, you will find a long lasting joy.