Each year during Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, I challenge myself to write columns about the themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy and love. This week I take a look at “joy”.
What does “joy” mean? The Oxford Dictionary defines joy as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” Merriam-Webster says: Joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. Cambridge Dictionary’s second definition for joy is “a person or thing that causes happiness.” For example, I might say my little granddaughter is such a joy.
The Marie Kondo method of decluttering the home asks us to hold an object and ask, “does this bring me joy?” She suggests surrounding ourselves with only those objects which bring us joy can lead to a more harmonious life.
Your joy may not be from things; it might come from the activities that totally engage you. An online therapist says: ”Your joy comes from what you feel passionate about, and your passion is your purpose.”
Have you become so involved in an activity that time seemed to expand or stand still? Some people experience a sense of peacefulness or “flow” when they are totally engaged. Despite hard work and long hours spent at the activity, pursuing your passion can result in all-encompassing joy.
Here are some suggestions for finding joy, gleaned from the internet:
- Let go of the past —Your past is not your future unless you live there. Living in the past prevents you from learning how to find joy in the present. If you’ve lost a loved one, ended a relationship or have been struggling financially, you have reason to feel down. Let yourself feel sad or lonely, but never hopeless. Ask yourself what you can learn about yourself from your experiences and emotions. Then let go of the past. You deserve to feel joy again.
- Practice gratitude — By choosing to be optimistic and focus on the good things in your life, you can train your brain to feel joy more often. When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.The more you practice gratitude, the more positive emotions you will feel.
- Surround yourself with positive people — Positive people will lift your spirits and help you find the good in a situation. Letting go of people who don’t make you feel joy – or who actively work against it – isn’t always easy. However, their toxic negativity is holding you back.
- Create positive daily rituals — Exercise is proven to reduce depression. Even a short walk can boost your mood. Exercise with a buddy or a group compounds your sense of well-being. Find exercise you enjoy and make it a part of your routine. Eating right is also important.
- Be fully present — Unplug. Focus on the present. Notice what’s around you and savour it. That’s true joy.
- Give back — The secret to living is giving. Making a difference in the lives of others brings meaning to our own lives and reminds us of all that we have. You don’t need money to find fulfillment through giving. All you need is a desire to do good in the world and the drive to donate your time, skills or expertise to a cause.
Each year during Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, I challenge myself to write columns about the themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy and love. This week I take a look at “joy”.
What does “joy” mean? The Oxford Dictionary defines joy as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” Merriam-Webster says: Joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. Cambridge Dictionary’s second definition for joy is “a person or thing that causes happiness.” For example, I might say my little granddaughter is such a joy.
The Marie Kondo method of decluttering the home asks us to hold an object and ask, “does this bring me joy?” She suggests surrounding ourselves with only those objects which bring us joy can lead to a more harmonious life.
Your joy may not be from things; it might come from the activities that totally engage you. An online therapist says: ”Your joy comes from what you feel passionate about, and your passion is your purpose.”
Have you become so involved in an activity that time seemed to expand or stand still? Some people experience a sense of peacefulness or “flow” when they are totally engaged. Despite hard work and long hours spent at the activity, pursuing your passion can result in all-encompassing joy.
Here are some suggestions for finding joy, gleaned from the internet: - Let go of the past —Your past is not your future unless you live there. Living in the past prevents you from learning how to find joy in the present. If you’ve lost a loved one, ended a relationship or have been struggling financially, you have reason to feel down. Let yourself feel sad or lonely, but never hopeless. Ask yourself what you can learn about yourself from your experiences and emotions. Then let go of the past. You deserve to feel joy again.
- Practice gratitude — By choosing to be optimistic and focus on the good things in your life, you can train your brain to feel joy more often. When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.The more you practice gratitude, the more positive emotions you will feel.
- Surround yourself with positive people — Positive people will lift your spirits and help you find the good in a situation. Letting go of people who don’t make you feel joy – or who actively work against it – isn’t always easy. However, their toxic negativity is holding you back.
- Create positive daily rituals — Exercise is proven to reduce depression. Even a short walk can boost your mood. Exercise with a buddy or a group compounds your sense of well-being. Find exercise you enjoy and make it a part of your routine. Eating right is also important.
- Be fully present — Unplug. Focus on the present. Notice what’s around you and savour it. That’s true joy.
- Give back — The secret to living is giving. Making a difference in the lives of others brings meaning to our own lives and reminds us of all that we have. You don’t need money to find fulfillment through giving. All you need is a desire to do good in the world and the drive to donate your time, skills or expertise to a cause.
