What Brings You Joy?
When you rest in the vibration of joy, you are shaping your mind to help keep your heart open, humble, and more grateful. Without joy, the grasping mind focuses on lack and limitation, which can lead to feeling…
When you rest in the vibration of joy, you are shaping your mind to help keep your heart open, humble, and more grateful. Without joy, the grasping mind focuses on lack and limitation, which can lead to feeling victimized by even the most mundane situations.
No one can, or should, tell you what brings you joy. It’s a very personal feeling and a unique emotional sensation. It is like an energy field that can create a spine-tingling feeling that connects you to life itself.
These are troubling times, however, and many people are struggling. You may be as well. While there is no denying the disruptive realities in our world, you have likely learned that where you place your focus has a great deal to do with what shows up in your life.
The late 19th century psychologist, William James, said: “My experience is what I agree to attend to. Only those items which I notice shape my mind.”Intentionally placing your focus on what brings you joy puts you in the presence of uplifting energy and shapes your mind toward more inspiration and imagination. Joy might feel like a sudden sensation of the extraordinary when you gaze upon a newborn baby, twinkling stars on a clear night, or the sudden happiness you feel when you greet an old friend. Another day, joy might be the cuteness of a playful puppy, dancing to your favorite music, or the smell of a fragrant flower.
The opposite of joy also has its impacts. When putting your focus on what you don’t like or want, heavier emotions rise, dulling your senses and limiting your ability to solve problems and be creative. In this judgmental, emotional state, it is common to blame yourself or others for what you don’t like about the situation.
Instead, look for ordinary moments that bring you joy and make you smile–even in those challenging moments. There’s always something to be grateful for, which is the key that unlocks your joy. When you feel yourself pushing too hard, or feeling low, remember to redirect your focus to your joy. It may be a smile toward a co-worker, a big belly laugh, or a fresh cup of coffee. Finding your joy is simple medicine and available to you anytime.
These extraordinary moments will gently pull you from the problem focused, reactive mindset toward a heart-centered experience. Here are a few more benefits of feeling your joy:
- Joy transforms negative emotions. Unlike the drama emotions of fear, pride, or anxiety, which trigger your fight-or-flight response, joy helps you stay calm and present.
- Joy creates feelings of generosity and empathy for others without expecting anything in return. It is not possible to be stingy and generous or self-centered and empathetic at the same time.
- Joy alters your neurological and hormonal response, promoting positive health indicators. Research shows joy plays a role in health and healing, lowering blood pressure, and building a stronger immune system.
Humans are marvelously complex beings. The process of becoming more self-aware has a variety of paths. Feeling your joy—not what you may tell yourself you should feel—will guide you along the path of a more fulfilling life.
When you emphasize and cultivate joyful moments, you are restoring your energy and literally changing the DNA structure throughout your body. Joy lightens your heart and changes your brain for the good!
One more time, we ask, what brings you joy? Discover joy for yourself, lean into it, and become familiar with its healing energy. The more you seek and find your joy-filled moments, the more you will feel life as it is meant to be lived.