Do the politics of America—or any other nation—get you down at times? Do the challenges that life brings to us all get you down at times, the experience of aging, the loss of a job, or a loved one, or a home, the loss of a sense of meaning and purpose in life?
There is a gift that has been given to each one of us at birth that will bring us through any adversity and its name is joy.
Joy is the core of our true nature. It is a way of describing the unconquerable spirit of love that lives within us all, that is the truth of us, and is capable of withstanding any trauma the world may inflict.
Here are a couple of things I have learned about joy that have helped me in my life and that may be helpful to you.
- Joy can be found in the most simple, ordinary moments. It doesn’t need a major achievement or fulfillment of some kind for us to experience joy. When I looked out our front door window yesterday and saw a baby bunny crouching outside its hole, taking its first look at the world, my joy was full. When I see the trees that line our nearby creek greening up with spring, my joy is full.
- The trials and challenges that come to us all can actually help us become better acquainted with joy because we are more or less compelled to grow, and open our hearts more fully to the courage, love, and, yes, joy that are the bedrock of our true nature.
My love to you. Any thoughts on joy you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you.