There are many definitions of “Joy”, or what it means to lead a “Joyful life”.  It depends on weather you ask a poet, a philosopher, or just an ordinary man on the street.  This is because joy is a feeling that goes beyond words in a very real sense.  We know it when we feel it in our body but often can’t adequately capture that feeling with mere words.

Here is my best stab at using words to describe how I experience joy in my life: 

For me the feeling of joy is a feeling of deep appreciation and delight during certain “peak” moments in my life, when I feel connected to the present moment and infused with love and contentment.  The “connection” part is important because I often feel joy when I am in the presence of people I love.  I can also feel joy when I am surrounded by a physical environment that I love.  In my case, being in nature brings me joy even when I’m by myself.

It has occurred to me recently that I miss the presence of joy in my life.  Somehow it seems so easy to go down the rabbit hole of despair as I contemplate the state of the world.  There is a lot of suffering, and it feels like a challenge to find joy in the midst of this suffering. Even if I do feel moments of joy, I can sometimes feel guilty about this.  I ask myself if I have the “right” to feel joy when others are suffering.  Its as though there is only so much joy available and if I get ” too much” someone else will get “not enough”. 

The idea that the “Universe” can only supply a limited amount of joy is not how I aspire to live my life so I’m consciously now changing this worldview to the belief that joy is abundant. The challenge is to “find” this joy by mindfully noticing the present moment and all of the miracles occurring all the time around me.  The miracles of seasons changing, flowers blooming, or children laughing are around us all the time if we just pay attention.  Even thinking of these things can bring a smile.

So, why is it important to live a life full of joy?

First of all, it just feels good.  Feeling good is a good thing for us psychologically and emotionally.  It means our nervous systems are functioning at peak capacity, and our overall health is better.  Not only do we feel better in the moment, but recent brain research also suggests that people who have more joy live longer, Changes actually happen at the cellular level that promote longevity.

Also, in terms of the “suffering” in the world, we can acknowledge suffering and bring joy to others from our supply.  Joy is contagious and when we have more we can give more.  This can happen in small ways and in big ways through acts of service.  The great thing about joy is we can delight in the joy of others.  It just grows and grows.

So, find your joy!  Make this a project that feeds you and sustains you even through the toughest of times.  I would argue that living a joyful life and spreading this joy might be the best gift you can offer to the world