The Secret Ingredients for Living a Full and Joyful Life

When I was 15 I was diagnosed with Graves Disease, which is a type of hyperthyroidism. Because I had lost so much weight (despite being able to eat an entire pizza by myself) and was put on beta blockers because my heart rate was concerningly high (I'm talking over 200 BPM just walking down the stairs) I spent months not being able to do the activities I enjoyed, or even go to school many days, because my body couldn't hold up for simple, daily life activities.

In my mid-20s I dealt with more health issues inluding vaso-vagal syncope (which is basically fainting for no real reason), more thyroid issues, and what was thought to be gluten intolerance. I spent another year and a half of my life not feeling well, not being able to do any of the activities I enjoy, and spending most of my days on the couch or in bed.

I wasn't sure if I would ever be healthy enough again to fully participate in life, but I vowed that if I did get better I would never take feeling well for granted and would live my life to the fullest on all of the days I was able to.

Well, thank the Lord that I eventually did get better, and eventually was diagnosed with Celiac Disease too, which continued to help by body heal itself once I learned how to navigate that. But after everything I had been through I realized what a gift having good health is and had a new perspective on life and how I wanted to make the most out of all the good days.

Over the last few years I have really challeneged myself to live fully and participate in life as much as possible so that I am not wasting away the days that I feel good by sitting at home and watching Netflix. I have found fun hobbies, tried new activities, explored different places, made an amazing group of friends, and done everything I can to help my body feel its best.

During this time I have discovered the secret ingredients to living a full and joyful life and I want to share the keys to doing that with you, too.

It is no secret that while we live in a world that is ever more connected online, people are becoming more isolated and lonely. Depression and anxiety are on the rise, imposter-syndrome is a phrase that didn't exist 10 years ago, and people's satisfaction with their lives has greatly decreased. Well, I'm going to share an important secret with you right now: spending your life online or watching TV is never going to bring you satisfaction or fulfillment. First of all you need Jesus, but on top of that there are other things you can be doing too. Getting out and participating in REAL life is where you will find enjoyment and satisfaction. Let's unpack the secret ingredients to doing exactly that so that you can live a full and joyful life too.

The Secret Ingredients for Living a Full and Joyful Life

Taking care of your body

I have learned over the years just how important it is to listen to your body and give it what it needs. If you don't, eventually it will crash. When your body is not at its best it is important to take the rest you need. Slow down, sleep lots, do quiet activities, and give it the nurture and grace it requires. When you have autoimmune diseases or other health problems there are days when all you need to do is rest and recover.

But there is more to taking care of your body than just resting when you need to. Staying active when you are feeling well, eating foods that make you feel good and give your body nutrients, hydrating, getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine. These are all important things to make sure your body can be at its best. It's hard to live a full life when you aren't feeling well so it is important to continue taking care of your body even on the good days so that those days outnumber the bad ones.

Making the most of the good days

One of the keys to living a full and joyful life is to make the most out of all the healthy days we've been given. If there are days when I can't even get out of bed then I don't want to waste away the good days just sitting on the couch watching TV. Getting out and participating in life - trying new things, exploring new places, being grateful for a body that allows me to move and be active - those are all things that make life so much more fun and full. I don't want to have regrets about how I've spent days when I am feeling good when the bad days do come.

Another part to making the most of the good days is all about the mindset of graditude. Once you've dealt with health issues you recognize just what a gift having good health is, and not taking that for granted and being grateful for all of the days you feel good really matters. Being grateful changes your brain chemistry and has the power to improve your entire outlook on life and your enjoyment of the things around you. So if you want to live a satisfying life than a practice of gratitude and thankfulness is a key part of that.

Creating fun

Fun is actually a really important part of living a full and satisfying life. It's not something that we are just supposed to outgrow when we get to adulthood and not make time for. Fun benefits us psychologically, cognitively, and socially in ways that are incredibly impactful for having a joyful life.

Fun triggers positive emotions and the release of "happy hormones" like endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin which boosts your mood and enjoyment. This response also reduces cortisol, which is your main stress hormone, and improves your resilience to stress, depression, and anxiety. People who have more fun report higher levels of satisfaction with their life and are generally happier. Having fun also improves brain function and boosts creativity, enhances relationships when activities are done with other people, and gives your brain a rest from other thoughts or tasks leading to better cognitive ability and focus when you go back to work. This is one of the reasons why recess is so important for kids. Since we don't have that built into our adult lives we need to create those opportunities for ourselves to have similar experiences to that of kids playing at recess.

Tips for creating fun in your life

Find hobbies

Finding activities that you enjoy doing is one of th easiest ways to add fun to your life. One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to really focus on finding things YOU enjoy; your hobbies don't need to be exactly the same as all of your friends, it doesn't matter whether what you like to do is "cool" or not, this is about you finding things you like and doing those things.

I also think it is important to have both active hobbies and quiet hobbies. Going along with making the most of the good days, when you are feeling well try to find hobbies that take you out of the house and get you interacting with others, and even better if there is a physical component too so you can get some exercise while doing something fun. Some of my active hobbies include playing sports like beach volleyball and pickleball, swing dancing, and swimming. The sports I usually play with friends, but swing dancing is something I have often gone to by myself over the years since I don't know as many people who are interested in that. But I go anyways because it is something I enjoy doing and always come away happy.

Quiet hobbies are good for the days when you aren't feeling your best and need to take it slower. These are things you can do instead of just watching TV like crafts, reading, learning a new skill or language, etc. For me, I really like doing different types of crafts, with knitting and crocheting being my go-to (yes, I have the hobbies of a 75 year old woman haha!). These are activities I can do on slower days that I still enjoy and allow me to feel more productive and satisfied with my day than I would feel if I just spent my day zoned out in front of the TV or on social media.

Romanticize your life

This is a phrase that has been thrown around a lot recently, but there are actually well established psychological theories that explain why doing this makes a difference.

A large part of it has to do with mental reframing: by making a mundane chore a fun moment we are changing our attitude towards the activity, being more present in the moment, and we're creating a "narrative identity" where we are the main character which gives the task more meaning and enjoyment. All of those iseas play a part in making our brains see the activity as positive and increasing its perceived value and enjoymnet for us.

By romanticizing various activities that would normally be boring we are adding fun and joy into the everyday tasks that are an inevitable part of life. By doing this over and over again we are creating more positive moments that have the ability to shape our mindset and can lead to more happieness and satisfaction.

Try new things

I asked ChatGPT for a summary of the psychological research on why it is beneficial to try new things and it said: "Trying new things makes you more adaptable, happier, and cognitively flexible. It fosters growth, keeps life engaging, and helps you handle uncertainty more effectively. Psychologically, it’s one of the healthiest habits you can build." Trying new things "stimulates brain growth and neuroplasticity, boosts happiness and well-being, promotes personal growth, reduces boredom and burnout, enhances mindfulness and presence, and improves social and emotional skills." I don't know about you, but for me those are all important reasosn to try new activities on a regular basis.

Sign up for a cooking class, try out a new volunteering opportunity, go to a meet up, try a new board game with friends. There are so many different ways to try something new and novelty to your life.

Prioritizing experiences over material things

Experiences add so much more joy and fun to life than things ever can. We live in a culture of over-consumerism that tells you that you need the next newest thing to be happy, but material things will never satisfy you. There is always going to be another new thing that you need to have to be happy, and the cycle never ends. If you are chasing happiness through products and physical items you are always going to be disappointed and left wanting more.

When people grow old and look back on their lives they always remember the wonderful things they did and the people they shared those experiences with, it's never "Oh I had this really great purse," or "that skin care routine really was the joy of my life." Experiences and people are what make life full and fun, and material items like clothes, products, or the newest technology are not going to be what make your life more joyful.

As someone who doesn't have a large disposable income it is important to me to prioritize saving money on material things so that I can have more experiences. I don't spend much money on clothes (you can read all about my tips for saving money on clothes HERE), I don't replace technology until it breaks, I drive an old car. I would rather use that money I am saving by not buying new things to go skiing, take surf lessons, visit my friends in other states, go to sports games, play in summer sports leagues, and travel to new places. Those experiences are the things that make my life feel full and fun and exciting and bring me so much joy in a way material things never can.

Investing in community

It is well documented that one of the keys to living a satisfying and long life is having meaningful relationships. Studies have shown that racket sports are the best form of physical activity for longevity not because they are the best low-impact form of exercise for older adults, but because of the relational aspect. Having people you see regularly who are looking out for you, notice when you don't show up, and are expecting you to come to things is vital for the health and well-being of adults. Having a community of people around you also supports emotional well-being, gives people a sense of belonging and purpose, and is attributed to benefitting physical health by imrpoving immune system function and lowering the risk of chronic illnesses.

Living in community is such an important piece to living a full and satisfying life, but how do you find community? There are all sorts of ways to get plugged into groups and meet people who may turn into lifelong friends. You can meet people through your hobbies, clubs, church, volunteering, the dog park, your local coffee shop... There are so many places to meet people!

I think one of the best ways to meet people you automatically have something in common with is by getting involved in a group or club that revolves around something you like doing. For us that has been joining sports leagues where we have met people that have similar interests to us and from there have been able to make friends and create a great community. But spoiler alert: even if you find people you like and have things in common with, there is a good chance you might need to be the person to foster community. One of the easiest ways to do that is by offering people a chance to grab food together after an activity. Look ahead of time to find a spot nearby your event to grab food afterwards and then invite others to join you. It's such a low-pressure way to get to talk with people more, and if no one is available that time it's no big deal. That has been one of the best ways we have gotten to know others better because it is so easy to have a conversation and bond over a shared meal, and it has really been the key to building relationships and community for us.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, living a full and joyful life with an autoimmune condition like Celiac Disease is all about shifting your mindset to celebrate and make the most of your good days and filling those days with people and activities you love. Whether it’s taking care of your body, finding hobbies you enjoy, investing in meaningful relationships, or prioritizing fun experiences over material things, the goal is to create a life that honors your health and your happiness. These “secret ingredients” aren’t really so secret after all; they’re small, powerful choices you get to make every day that have the ability to shape your life. And even on the hard days, the memories you'll have will remind you just how beautiful life can be and why you shouldn't waste away all the good days you get.