The Nature of Joy

I have been thinking about what brings on joy. It is something so simple, but so difficult for so many people.

Perhaps it is that joy is an internal thing, but often confused with happiness. We say things like “I’m so happy that happened.” or “That makes me so happy.” Happiness is a fleeting state. It comes and goes. Joy is a way of being. It is a choice. “I choose to be joyful.”

Joy is deep. It is spontaneous. It takes awareness. It lights people up. The smile reaches their eyes.

Seeing a pileated woodpecker filling up at my feeder this morning brought me joy, not happiness. Joy is delightful. Joy lasts.

We can be happy for someone, even ourselves, but not joyful unless we are willing to accept joy as a way we choose to be. It is so hard for people when “the victim” inside makes an appearance. The heaviness of hate and anger do there best to “kill joy”. The “imposter” is incapable of feeling joy and feeling the imposter at the same time.

Gratitude opens the door to joy. From gratitude we can delight in things. Then comes joy. The shift happens slowly at first. Then at some point joy is just there, installed in the heart. A way of living from the heart in a “joyous” manner.

Find your gratitude and unlock joy.