Put an Extra Drop of Joy in Your LIfe

On occasion I have been known to underscore the value and importance of finding happiness in our lives, and I will continue to do so. But there is another factor that requires equal if not more attention and that is the concept of Joy. Joy is important, according to the experts; it refers to what we are feeling in the moment while happiness is often a longer-term condition dependent upon achieving short- or long-term goals or recognition.

Joy is a simple emotion easily stoked by; a baby’s smile or a burp, a walk in a sun-drenched autumn forest, a puppy’s wiggling tail, lunch with great friends, a cup of warming coffee on a snowy Christmas morning, a sunset over a glistening lake, holding your partner’s hand on a stroll through the mall, Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends, caroling with your neighbors, racing around a turn on a speeding roller coaster or bravely singing at a local karaoke night. The list could be endless. No long-term goal or expenditure of time, just a warm smile and/or laughter. A simple “in the moment” joyful feeling that is experienced without long-term planning or effort. It’s repeatable when we activate the experiences and activities that elicit our joyful feelings. Sustaining awareness of this joy keeps us focused in the moment. In the moment, the arena where we have the greatest control over what we do and what we feel.

Brief joyful moments enhance our mood and health, our personal appeal to those around us, improves our ability to withstand the strain of daily demands and perhaps, if enough of them are accumulated often enough, they may enhance and support efforts towards that long term happiness we all seek.

Wouldn’t we all smile a little more, feel a little better and perhaps sing a happy tune if we took a moment for a joyful pause or two each day while strolling on our journey towards happiness? I know I do!