Feel Your Joy

Some of us may find it hard to remember the last time we felt joy.  These times are very difficult for so many of us and it is easy to dwell on the negative and not focus on the glimpses of happiness and joy in our lives.

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.

Greg Anderson

Feelings of joy can come from something small, like the first sip of coffee in the morning or a phone call from a friend.  Joyful feelings can also come from big things that happen, like buying a new car or landing that coveted job.

What we need to realize is that these external “things” may bring us happiness and joy in the moment, but the feelings are not long-lasting. In order to feel true joy, we need to look inside ourselves.  True joy is not from the external things that happen to us, it is internal.  It is based in the connection to a power greater than ourselves.

Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.

Chuck Palahniuk

This connection brings us true joy because it is eternal.  We can use meditation, reading informative passages, or focus on an enlightening image to help us make this connection.   We feel the joy because we recognize the power within us.  Power to bring joy without any external stimuli.

How can you feel your joy?

• Go outside and enjoy nature
• Stretch
• Connect with a person who makes you laugh
• Bake something
• Dance
• Indulge yourself and do something you love
• Write a letter to someone and ask them to write back
• Exercise
• Smell some flowers
• Meditate
• Watch the sunrise or sunset
• Listen to music
• Do something nice for a stranger

Perfect happiness is a beautiful sunset, the giggle of a grandchild, the first snowfall. It’s the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events. Joy comes in sips, not gulps.

Sharon Draper

Feeling joy is a goal we are all striving for.  Long-lasting joy is not something you can get from the store, but rather it is an internal search.  Take the time to focus on simple actions will bring you internal joy, happiness, and peace.  By doing this, you will celebrate more success in your career and relationships.  You will attract favorable things because you will be emitting positivity. You will realize that you have control of your life and only you can create your happiness and joy.  It’s an inside job.