I recently heard someone say that true self-care is creating a life you don’t constantly need to escape from. I’ve been thinking a lot about that this week! Some of the questions I’ve been asking myself are:

- What steps can I take to create a life I enjoy living?
- What joy can I infuse into the daily, mundane tasks I’m responsible for?
- What boundaries can I set for myself so that I don’t find myself bound to obligations that drain my energy?

For me, a simple choice I make to help me enjoy life more — is intentionally choosing joy.

Each sip of coffee is joy. Each sweet moment in scripture is joy. Each quiet moment before getting out of bed in the morning is joy. Each car ride is joy, each hand-hold with my husband is joy, each smile from a stranger is joy. It may sound silly, but choosing to intentionally focus on my perceptions, my attitudes, my neuro-linguistic processing of every moment — doing all of that helps reduce the need to “escape.”

If you find yourself desiring to escape your daily life, it may be worth delving into the why. Why are you unhappy? Why does “that thing,” whatever it is, drain your energy or steal your joy? Why are you feeling unfulfilled? Can shifting your mindset help? Or could you benefit from a more intensive approach with guidance from a professional?

I’m just saying, #youmightneedalifecoach! Can I help you #findyourjoy?