Beliefnet
2016-11-18

If we want more joy in our lives, there are some key things we can do to ensure we get it. It’s a question of connecting to the source of joy which lies deep within us, not trying to find it outside of ourselves.

We have a choice about how we view the world, the situation we find ourselves in, and the thoughts and feelings that constantly arise. If we want to live joyfully, then we need to be prepared to take risks, and willing to face challenges head on. We also need to balance this with making time for ourselves, developing awareness, and encouraging positive emotions so that we truly nurture ourselves.

It’s important to let our unique purpose unfold, trusting that life will show us the path. When we’re kind to others, as well as to ourselves, we’re happier, and if we endeavour to slow down and live in the present moment, appreciating what life offers us, we taste eternity.

It takes courage to deal with the challenges that are part of everyone’s life sooner or later. When we are prepared to live adventurously rather than staying with the known and the familiar, we are more likely to grow and mature. If we don’t take risks life is not being lived fully, for we cut ourselves off from the possibility of experiencing greater joy and fulfilment.

We have to be brave enough to be our authentic selves, who we truly are, not play the role we’ve created for ourselves over time. We don’t need to be limited by what happened to us in the past. We can be courageous and flexible and choose new possibilities.

No matter what has happened to us in life, we always have the power to begin again.

We tend to live our lives on auto-pilot - there seem to be so many tasks to squeeze into the day that sometimes we feel out of control. But if we can take time to be alone and silent, even for as little as 15 minutes a day, we begin to see what is really going on.

Periods of quiet are essential to our wellbeing. When we slow down and create some space for ourselves we become more aware of the mind’s unrelenting chatter. Much of it is negative, either dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

As we get to understand this, then we can work at bringing our minds under more conscious control. Mindfulness and meditation are wonderful tools to help us do this. Once we begin to practice regularly, then we can make changes and adjustments so that our lives run more harmoniously and become richer and filled with joy.

Negative emotions like fear, anger, resentment, envy, and guilt create tension and stress in our lives, while positive emotions like courage, openness, empathy, and love enhance life and health. We tend to think that we are our emotions, when in fact they are simply feelings – they are not who we are.

There’s much that we cannot control in life, but our minds can learn to control the thoughts and feelings we have, and thus our behaviour. When we become more aware of them we can work consciously to balance the positive and negative. We always have the freedom to choose our state of mind.

When we transform our negative thinking and are motivated instead by positive emotions, we feel differently about situations that previously made us unhappy. Our brains release oxytocin, the ‘love’ hormone, and we feel expanded, loving, and grateful. We begin to see that there are many opportunities for us to enrich our lives as we connect with the joy that lies deep within.

As we gain self-knowledge, we know in our hearts rather than with our heads what we truly want out of life. We feel a sense of destiny and know that it is we alone who are responsible for making the best choices for ourselves.

When we’re energized by the Source of life within us, our unique purpose can unfold. If our passion is about more than achieving something just for ourselves, some higher purpose that benefits others, we will discover how the Universe helps us.

When we use our gifts and talents for the benefit of others, our reward is joy.

‘I slept and dreamt that life was joy.

I awoke and saw that life was service.

I acted and behold, service was joy.’ (Rabindranath Tagore)

When we recognize that we are all interconnected and interdependent, even being linked physically through our DNA, almost like cousins, then it’s not so difficult to treat others well. The so-called Golden Rule of behaving towards others as we would wish ourselves to be treated runs through all religions.

Practicing being kind to others begins with being kind to ourselves. When we are gentle with ourselves, taking care of what we really need to nurture ourselves, we are naturally more open-hearted to others.

Research has shown that when we’re kind to others, we’re healthier, happier, and inclined to live longer. We can work on extending our kindness to others in the smallest of ways by being considerate to all who we meet. We can also use techniques like loving kindness meditation, where we wish all beings to be happy and well, and accept them as they are, whoever they are, without passing judgment.

When we trust life and the process of its unfolding, we find that grace is constantly available to us. When we stay open rather than closing down, whatever situation we’re in, grace is there for us either as a blessing or a lesson. All that delights and lifts the spirits is a form of grace, and when we have to cope with life’s curveballs, it is grace that gives us the strength we need.

We are all broken by life at some point, but it is by being broken that we learn and grow. We have to trust the seasons of the heart, just as we trust the rhythms of nature. If we can learn to view life as a dance – in fact, if we can learn to dance on a shifting carpet rather than feeling that the rug is being pulled from under our feet, then we will constantly experience grace.

Everything that happens to us helps our growth. Whether it’s a blessing which is also a lesson, or a lesson which is also a blessing, the path we are on is our teacher – all we have to do is trust it.

We all wish we had more time in the day. We’re always rushing, cramming in as much activity as possible, multi-tasking and absorbing huge quantities of information. We live by clock time rather than being in tune with the rhythms of nature.

To experience a sense of timelessness we need to slow down and allow more stillness and quiet into our lives. Then we find we can let go of time rather than needing more of it. We are more able to live in the present moment.

When we are able to still our minds, either through practicing mindfulness or meditation, or through some activity which completely absorbs us like pulling weeds, baking bread, or playing the piano, then we find that the present moment is all there is. We catch a glimpse of eternity and our hearts are filled with joy.

Appreciation of everything we have in our lives plays an important part in our health and happiness. We have so many reasons to be thankful for each day, but we tend to take things for granted and forget how fortunate we are.

Although the world has its horrors and tragedies, it’s also a place of goodness, plenty, and opportunity. When we stop the constant wishing for things to be other than they are, and realize how much we have to be grateful for, then there is a sense of abundance.

Whether we appreciate the miracle that is our body, or the miraculous living organism that is the planet, the wonder of life is evident all around us. We have only to be aware and open our hearts. When we are able to give thanks for life as it is, then we find more joy in our lives.

Joy is our birth-right and we can choose to increase our capacity to experience more of it. By living courageously, developing awareness, balancing negative and positive states of mind, and trusting the path we’re on, we can fulfil our destiny and grow as human beings. When we live in tune with the rhythms of nature and are grateful for all that life offers, our hearts overflow with joy.


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