Joy
Perhaps it's not what we think
I entered this year intending to inject more joy into my life.
With a meditation practice established over many years, I’m grateful to have strengthened the muscle of finding and cherishing peace and equanimity in my life.
Yet on reflection, I tend to overlook the more joyful moments in life.
Initially, I thought the solution was to introduce more novel experiences into my life – live music, gallery visits and bouldering, to name a few. And whilst these activities certainly delivered joy, I figured I was overcomplicating things, as usual.
Influenced by a recent exploration into Zen, I’m starting to realise that perhaps joy comes from within. A state of being, not an external experience.
With such an outlook, my relationship with joy evolved.
Everything could be a source of joy. Whether simple or spectacular.
A budding flower breaking through the undergrowth.
A walk with a loved one.
A good cup of coffee.
Even washing the bloody dishes!
Don’t get me wrong, the slightly less ordinary, more novel experiences still have their place. But I suddenly feel less reliance placed upon them. When experienced from a starting point of joy, they’re more rewarding than ever. Whilst the tendency to strive, attach and rely upon them is loosened.
With such an insight, I felt as though a weight had been lifted.
Nothing complicated needs to be achieved to live a life full of joy.
We’re blessed to be surrounded by an infinite source, so long as we can show up and experience it directly.
Like with all of this stuff, a glimpse is probably a fair representation of the experience for me. It’s not easy to live all our waking moments in this state, particularly when influenced by the pulls and pressures of our modern culture.
But a glimpse provides a starting point.
A foot in the door for what’s possible.
Encouragement for a brighter future.
Bejoy,
harry