I think joy for me is so interwoven with contentment and gratitude also awe. But contentment is a much more calm “boring” emotion but sometimes when I catch myself recognising a moment of contentment then I think, how lucky am I to feel that? Jeez life is good right in this moment then it becomes joy. Similarly in nature when I experience awe or beauty and think, how amazing is the world? That can be joy.
I have been deeply contemplating joy myself for a year or so now. After listening to your thought provoking discussion, I found a new idea in my head.
I’m wondering if joy is something elemental and around us all the time - kind of like oxygen is. Our bodies involuntarily notice and draw on/experience the oxygen all the time but our minds don’t unless we choose to notice it (through say mindfulness, breath work, etc) or perhaps we’re forced to notice it (through say a health issue).
So is perhaps joy about us all the time also, but it’s not quite so obviously essential to life (though arguable it is essential to a ‘good life’). Then pursuing joy becomes a matter of bringing our awareness to the already existing joy that is all around us. Perhaps by cultivating techniques such as wonder, awe, curiosity, gratefulness, love, kindness, mindfulness, etc we find ways to connect to the ever-present element of joy.
This idea helps me to understand how it might be possible to experience joy at the same time as experiencing something unpleasant or even tragic.
An another thought that I just had is that happiness can be fleeting and is felt in the head. Like laughing and smiling. Whereas joy is maybe felt in the heart and penetrates deeper into your soul.
One thing I though if, in regard to health issues meaning you don’t feel confident in being able to commit with volunteering: is there any volunteer stuff you can do from home? For me, that means crafting, so maybe crocheting face washers, or baby blankets, or possum nests to donate? That way things are done in your own time and at your own pace; and you won’t feel you’re letting anyone down if you need to take a break, as it’s not to a schedule. 🧶
Brooke, I relate so much to your lament about signing up to communal activities but then not having the capacity to see them through. I’ve spent the past 2 years with chronic fatigue doing exactly the same thing. It’s so hard knowing that there are things I care about, that would bring me joy and meaning and belonging, but not having the energy to do them. Thank you for articulating this
Last year I declutterd my stuff and gained a lot of joy of having the stuff and space I need and love, and more important knowing myself better as a result of it. So I was surprised to hear about your version that was so much about community. I guess both can enhance joy!
I think joy for me is so interwoven with contentment and gratitude also awe. But contentment is a much more calm “boring” emotion but sometimes when I catch myself recognising a moment of contentment then I think, how lucky am I to feel that? Jeez life is good right in this moment then it becomes joy. Similarly in nature when I experience awe or beauty and think, how amazing is the world? That can be joy.
Joy is my word of the year
I have been deeply contemplating joy myself for a year or so now. After listening to your thought provoking discussion, I found a new idea in my head.
I’m wondering if joy is something elemental and around us all the time - kind of like oxygen is. Our bodies involuntarily notice and draw on/experience the oxygen all the time but our minds don’t unless we choose to notice it (through say mindfulness, breath work, etc) or perhaps we’re forced to notice it (through say a health issue).
So is perhaps joy about us all the time also, but it’s not quite so obviously essential to life (though arguable it is essential to a ‘good life’). Then pursuing joy becomes a matter of bringing our awareness to the already existing joy that is all around us. Perhaps by cultivating techniques such as wonder, awe, curiosity, gratefulness, love, kindness, mindfulness, etc we find ways to connect to the ever-present element of joy.
This idea helps me to understand how it might be possible to experience joy at the same time as experiencing something unpleasant or even tragic.
An another thought that I just had is that happiness can be fleeting and is felt in the head. Like laughing and smiling. Whereas joy is maybe felt in the heart and penetrates deeper into your soul.
The most daily joy is found in my dogs and in nature.
Here’s to joy!
One thing I though if, in regard to health issues meaning you don’t feel confident in being able to commit with volunteering: is there any volunteer stuff you can do from home? For me, that means crafting, so maybe crocheting face washers, or baby blankets, or possum nests to donate? That way things are done in your own time and at your own pace; and you won’t feel you’re letting anyone down if you need to take a break, as it’s not to a schedule. 🧶
Brooke, I relate so much to your lament about signing up to communal activities but then not having the capacity to see them through. I’ve spent the past 2 years with chronic fatigue doing exactly the same thing. It’s so hard knowing that there are things I care about, that would bring me joy and meaning and belonging, but not having the energy to do them. Thank you for articulating this
Last year I declutterd my stuff and gained a lot of joy of having the stuff and space I need and love, and more important knowing myself better as a result of it. So I was surprised to hear about your version that was so much about community. I guess both can enhance joy!