Joy

When I think about times I’ve experienced joy, it’s the smaller things in life that come to mind. A moment when I’m working with a client, and I see and feel the dots connect within them is pure joy. I also experience joy when I get an unexpected text, call or visit from one of my three sons. They have my heart, and any time I can spend with them brings joy to my heart. A smiling baby and a new puppy are my default selections when I need to overpower negative feelings. Seeing a smiling baby or cuddling a pup will erase those negative feelings and replace them with joy. 

It’s interesting to know as I write this piece that some people can’t yet differentiate happiness and joy. With the more life experiences you have, the degree of separation from happiness to joy grows. I suppose the challenging times have been a gift in helping me understand the higher degree of feeling joy. Oftentimes joy comes in short bursts, but its effects can last a long time in our memory networks. Knowing that joy exists keeps me moving forward and keeps me in anticipation of when the next joyful moment will sneak in and surprise me. 

An even more exciting experience regarding joy is watching people I love experience joy. Joy is quite high on the emotional guidance scale. It’s almost at the top with pure love. We aspire to maneuver through life on these higher levels. If done so, we flourish. When I see a loved one in a joyful state, it brings me just as much joy to watch their experience. My oldest son getting married, my middle son welcoming my first grandchild into the world and my youngest son proudly explaining his college restoration project are all defining moments of joy. These are not grandiose events as we know many families experience these life events. The significance that makes these things joyful is my level of connection with my loved ones, with myself and my God. 

I describe joy as a state of being that creates a high frequency of life energy for ourselves and for those connected to us. Imagine the changes we could evoke in the world if we became more intentional about seeking joy on a daily basis! Let’s go for it! 

Growing one word at a time,

Jackie