Where is the Joy?

Whenever there is a long, drawn-out political campaign, we are inundated with messaging around “hard-working Americans.” There is no doubt that our culture places work at the forefront of our identity. Americans are goalsetters and achievers. Even overwork seems appealing to some, as the perception is that all those hours are building something, or working toward a dream.

Is there joy in all those hours? Or is the joy at the end of it? Does it matter?

It does. Even though joy is the unconscious goal of most people (entrepreneurial types especially), it is quite misunderstood, often mistaken for other emotions. Yet living with joy is the key to lasting happiness and peace, eliminating chronic stress and defeating overwhelm. So what is it, and how can we get more of it in our lives?

Joy is not happiness, which is more of a mental state. It is not pleasure, that which we gain from the physical senses. It is not even the feeling we get at the birth of a child or the explosive rush of a monumental win or achievement. Those are related feelings of exuberance, but they are not joy. The thrill of the moment will pass and can even possibly leave emptiness. Conversely, joy can be felt even while grieving.

Joy doesn’t come from an outside source; it originates where it is felt, deep in the heart or soul. The magical thing about it is that joy will fill the space that is opened up for it, replacing forces that drain our energy. When this happens what you feel is heightened engagement, the acute feeling of being alive. Negative emotions continue to be triggered, but they are now recognized for what they are, experienced, and let go.

Carrying joy in your heart every day comes from consciously removing blockages and false beliefs, such as the idea that hard work should be rewarded, or that achievement should bring lasting happiness.

Joy is particularly alive when we learn the discipline of acceptance. Accepting and being grateful for our current circumstances, no matter how challenging they may seem, brings us to a place of joy in the moment.

Here, we let go of the need to continually accomplish MORE before we give ourselves permission to live joyfully. Gone are the judgments about ourselves and others. What remains is a state of freedom and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Cultivating joy in this way triggers a universal Truth. It opens you energetically in such a way that opportunities come effortlessly. There is a sense of being aligned with your life's purpose, and of knowing who you are, at your very core. And NOTHING, could be more joy-filled than that!