What does your joy look like today?

What does your joy look like today?

“One of the sanest, surest & most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others.” {Robert A. Heinlein}

As some of you know, I ask a question of the day on Face Book

 every morning and one of my favorite questions was, “What does

 your joy look like today?” I enjoyed the answers that I received and

 they prompted this blog.

The first person answered, “A beautiful heartwarming dramatic

 movie, exquisite (to me) food, and letting my passion express itself

 through my creativity!” A movie can surely influence your mood.

 The reason being that it involves all of your senses, thereby

 triggering your emotions and they, in turn, trigger your chemistry. A

 bit sneaky yes but very affective when you are looking for a boost to

 how you are feeling that day. Food is another good way to “feel joy”

 both by its preparation and by its consumption. Having good

 company in the kitchen can be very joy filled.

Someone else quoted the Buddha; "We are shaped by our thoughts.  

 We become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a

 shadow that never leaves."{Buddha} This is sage advice, I teach and

 live by the adage that “as we think so we are.” {Chessie Roberts}

 And with the conscious, aware intention to be happy and filled with

 joy, you stand a much better chance of having it happen.

One of the answers was based on having a project go in the desired

 direction: “Its contingent on if I get more people to pick up their

 volunteer packets for this weekend Joy meter on the rise.” I caution

 you here that if your joy depends on anything outside you, you run

 the risk of having it let you down. If you are leaning on an outside

 project, do it with the conscious awareness of being happy no matter

 which way the outcome falls, and you will achieve greater goals than

 you ever before thought possible.

This next was a conversation between two of the answering parties.

 “Getting my procrastinating butt out the door and editing at the

 library/ ‎(to be honest, at the moment I am vacillating between a yoga

 session first or getting straight to editing.... feeling the yoga need, 

 but can it wait till after?)

Reply by person #2 “If you are “yoga-ed” your editing session will

 probably go better.

Back to person #1 “Very true, thank you, besides, this would be a

 quiet yoga session now, where I may have other 'participants'

 later.... decision made!” Exercise is always a good way to lift your

 spirits and get you motivated and energized. Yoga is an amazing way

 to accomplish this because it oxygenates your blood and the gentle

 stretches wake your body and make it ready to take on the world.

 Having a defined plan is also good for your productivity because

 you know exactly what to do next. You don't frustrate yourself trying

 to decide what your next step will be.

This next person chose the attitude of gratitude; “My joy looks like

 waking up this morning.  Good or bad, I am grateful for another

 day.” Being grateful for your life and everything in it carries great

 joy in and of itself. If you are truly grateful for where you are right

 now, you draw more joy and good things to you.

The next person chose a childhood memory that elicited joy from 

 within “I awoke to see a fog bank surrounding me this morning. 

 It always feels like hiding beneath the covers when I was a child. 

 It always gives me joy” The recalling of childhood joys and

 bringing that joy into your present is a lovely to experience joy in 

in your present. 

This is one that I use a lot; “I find something kind to do for someone

 else. I try to do it anonymously (the joy is greater if I can) It doesn't

 have to be a big thing but it must be done with no thought of reward.

 It works every time!” I don't think I need to add anything to this one.

Here you have some wonderful examples of how to find joy in your

 life, I am sure there are many more. The surest one I know of is to

 intend that you are joyful while using the tools at your disposal to

 make it so. That very last one is one I use when I am at my lowest,

 the rewards for both parties are amazing!

Wishing Bright Blessings, Love, Light and Joy to you all, Chessie

© 2012 Chessie Roberts, all rights reserved