I made a recent post about happiness. This week, I want to take it up a notch. Happiness on steroids.
The best term I can come up with is Joy.
We all experience joy from time to time. We meet people who are joyful most of the time and we wonder how they do it…….is it some kind of a trick? I’m sure we would like more joy. So……how do you increase the joy in your life? A good starting point is to assess the things that bring you joy.
Here is my list:
Sitting in a field watching the sun come up……especially on a crisp fall morning when the maples and sassafras trees are bright red and orange.
A loving touch from my wife.
A conversation with one of my granddaughters.
A pileated woodpecker in my yard.
The list goes on.
Some of these are things that I can seek out. Others cannot be “arranged”…….but even with these, we can run our lives in a manner that makes them more likely.
I can get up before sunrise, make a pot of coffee, and sit in my back yard.
I can arrange for quiet, private time with my wife.
I can take a granddaughter out to lunch.
I can give someone a hand…..especially when they don’t expect it.
I can avoid situations that are joyless.
For example:
Watching another “shoot ’em up” on TV.
Listening to some “talking head” selling his political agenda………often filled with hate.
Worrying about things that I cannot change.
Hurting the people who hurt me….by what I say and do.
These acts of commission……..or omission do not guarantee joy. But, they will increase the probability of joy. If you can consistently pursue the things that bring you joy and avoid the things that are joyless, you will become a more joyful person. And there are consequences that flow from this.
Your joy will spread to those around you.
Your joy will grow.
And that’s a good thing……right? But, let’s dig down a little bit. Why do we seek joy?
I believe that joy is our natural state. The desire for joy is written on our heart. It was put there by our creator. If you could describe God in one word…….that word would be love. Joy is love’s sibling. I have heard it said that joy is the surest sign of the presence of God. Look closely at the teachings of Jesus. They will all lead you…..indirectly…….to joy. Christianity, at its core, is a religion of love and joy. If you see someone who claims to be a Christian but who is not joyful most of the time, you are looking at someone who is either a “poser” or someone who just doesn’t understand.
I believe that the primary characteristic of paradise will be joy. What’s not to love about that?
So…..adopt the practices that will grow joy in yourself…..and in others. It will be a good warmup for paradise.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Jesus in John 15:11, ESV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23,ESV