Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. ~ThÃch Nhất Hạnh
How do we find joy?
We go looking in many places hoping to find it. Have you found it yet? Did you find it in your significant other? Did you find it in your dog? Is it in the grandeur of nature? Did you find it in your success? Could it be in your money, or your car, or your gadgets? Is it in your social media connections, or your fame and recognition?
What would happen if all these things disappeared? Would there be any possibility for joy? Certainly in our experience, we feel like these things are the source of our joy but they are not. If you do not already have joy in your heart, they will not place it there.
Joy does not go up and down with the stock market or with your emotional highs and lows. It is knowing the all is well, even in the low times.
Joy flees when we are selfish and self-centered. When we seek our own interests and desires with little regard for the needs of others.
It is never present when we engage in idolatry.
Joy is alway present when we love.
Joy loves play. As adults we feel that it is childish to play. This is why we are not joyful. Watch your children, or the children of others, and learn the art of joy.
Want to find joy? Play. You don’t need a hidden agenda or purpose to do it. Just play. Play with your children. Play with your spouse. Play with your work. Play with your struggles, yes your struggles.
Want to find joy? Smile today.