Ingredients for Joy & Meaning

I am re-posting “My Ingredients for Joy & Meaning” list because it has been such a crucial part of relearning how to live after my daughter’s stillbirth.  I wasn’t sure if joy was ever possible after experiencing stillbirth, but Brené Brown in “The Gifts of Imperfection” has shown me it is.  Following my “Ingredients” on a daily basis helps me find purpose and beauty in the everyday, as well as joy and meaning. 

I encourage everyone to write and follow an “Ingredients for Joy & Meaning” list.  It will change how you experience the every day.  Brown’s instructions are as follows:

 “One of the best things that we’ve ever done in our family is making the ‘ingredients for joy and meaning’ list. I encourage you to sit down and make a list of the specific conditions that are in place when everything feels good in your life. Then check that list against your to-do list and your to-accomplish list. It might surprise you.”

Here is mine:

My Ingredients for Joy & Meaning

1. Recognize, savor, and enjoy the little things…those are what life is all about.
2. Live the moment.  If it’s good, then really live it.
3. Laugh and smile.
4.  Love with my whole heart.
5.  Create memories with my family.
6. Watch my daughter laugh.
7. Surround myself in nature.
8.  Be available for spiritual experiences.
9.  Run.  A lot.
10. Be my true self: genuine, honest, and authentic.
11. Surround myself with people I love.
12. Connect with others.

A fun exercise was to ask my husband to write his “Ingredients” list.  We compared and were surprised to see we had many of the same ingredients.  Seeing the ingredients that were different helped us better understand each other and connect.

I have my list posted at work and home to remind me that I can bring joy and meaning to my life every single day.  This list also brought me to the consciousness to strive to live a big LITTLE life – a life that is little in the grand scale of the universe, but big with meaning to me. 

I recommend Brené Brown's book to anyone who wishes to live a more fulfilling and loving life.  It has been a powerful tool in positively impacting my outlook on life after the stillbirth of my daughter. 

What are your ingredients for joy and meaning?