Never Let Them Steal Your Joy

Safeguard your smile.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders.

“Be you. Do you. Don’t let anybody steal your joy.” — Lizzo

Humor me. Take an inventory of all the miserable individuals you interact with on an average day.

I guarantee you will be surprised at the number of people who frequently give off shitty vibes in your life. That coworker who lashes out because they are insecure. The barista who serves your latte with snide remarks. A daydreamer who accidentally bumps into you with a shopping cart but does not say excuse me. The friend you call for support but interrupts and complains about their day. That jerk who cuts you off in traffic and has the nerve to give you the finger.

If you did not know better, you would think there was a conspiracy to rob you of your happiness.

But you cannot let some coalition of cranky curmudgeons assassinate your bliss. If you utilize security cameras and locks to protect your house and valuables, keep that same energy and safeguard your smile.

People can be as rude, self-centered, disrespectful, uncaring, and mean as they want. But do not allow their destructive energy to derail your positivity. No matter what, defend and enjoy your day. You can choose to be happy.

As challenging as it seems, your emotions are in your control. Here are three ideas of how to shield your joy from the threats of the world.

1. Try not to take things personally, even if they cut deep.

People sometimes get pissed off for no good reason. Or at least no reason that has anything to do with you. Some folks have anger as their default setting, and it takes a lot to turn their dial in a positive direction.

It is natural to feel downhearted when people take out their frustrations on you. Even if the interaction is brief, it can impact your attitude for the remainder of the day.

But you are not helpless. You have a say in how their outburst impacts you. You can choose to not let their anger get to you.