The Joy SwitchSample

As we connect with God’s tremendous love for us, we are empowered to walk in love as His beloved children. Thankfully, there are practical habits we can build to better equip ourselves to be the people God created us to be, walking in love with family, neighbors, and our community. 

We use the acrostic CARS to describe the Joy Switch habits. We want to learn how to quickly return to relational mode any time we notice we are relationally offline—or well on our way. With practice, we can identify moments we are relationally offline, then make corrections, much like we would when we notice we are hungry and we go on the search for something to eat. The longer we stay relationally offline, the greater our chances of relational casualties. The CARS restoration habits are relational “on ramps” to help us reach our destination of relational mode when we are offline.

• “C” is Connection, which is our relational lifeline during times of distress and upset. Connection with those we enjoy helps us feel seen, heard, and understood. We are more likely to remain relational if we are connected to or remembering moments of connection with those who are important to us. 
• “A” is Appreciation, which refers to focusing on the times we felt joyful or peaceful. We spark appreciation when we watch a sunset, look at colorful flowers, remember a special time with family members, hear our favorite song, or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a friend. Regularly focusing on past or present appreciation moments keeps us relational with God and people. 
• “R” is Rest, which is the pause we take to quiet our mind and body. Rest may mean a micro-break to take a few deep breaths in the midst of a conversation, and it also includes getting restful sleep and building margin for relaxation into our busy schedules. 
• “S” is Shalom My Body, which is the set of exercises which restore peace to our mind and body. This practice helps us stay relational. These exercises train us to live from a relational foundation of peace and joy.

Practice

Today’s practice includes an exercise that is closely related to the Shalom My Body exercises. 

1. Close your eyes and breathe in deeply through your nose, then exhale through your mouth. As you finish the exhale, say the phrase “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you, O LORD.” (Psalm 56:3) Repeat three to five times. Using the phrase helps us focus our mind on God and release our cares to Him. It also slows down the timing of our breaths. 

2. Think of three things you feel thankful for right now. These may be people, pets, experiences, or shared moments with loved ones. Notice how you feel as you reflect on these gifts. Try to think about each gift for 60 seconds as you consider what makes the gift special and meaningful. If you can do this for at least 3 minutes, you will feel more joyful and relational. 

3. As you go through your day, include the practices of Connection, Appreciation, Rest, and Shalom My Body. Notice how each of these works to help you stay in relational mode.