The Art of Joy is a Practice

Joy – Is it an old-fashioned word and outdated?  Does it still exist? How do I create joy?

In this fast-paced world in which we live joy seems to have often been lost, or more so our capacity to hold joy, make space for joy and see the importance of it being present in our lives.

But now, more than ever, it is critically important to hold on to joy. Why?

Our world is challenging; we face uncertain times where it doesn’t always feel safe. Globally, there is conflict everywhere, if we are not in it, and I am grateful everyday I am not, we see it on the news, people in pain and lose, a feeling of helplessness overcome you, not know what to do. Locally, there is turmoil with the day to day living, simply getting harder, cost of living going up and up, just the share pace of life feeling like it is speeding up, every year getting faster and faster with more and more demands. Work, family and everything in between.  Where is the time for joy – Don’t be ridiculous!

Sure, we arrange a date with a friend, go out, lunch, go to the theatre, have a drink, laugh, have fun, but still go home and feel empty. This is why it’s vital to consciously introduce the art of Joy into your life.

Story time

I’m 37, sitting in a room with my coach/mentor and I can’t believe what I am hearing come out of her mouth.

“Sorry Kim, but I can’t help you!  All you see is pain, doom and gloom and you are holding on so tightly to it that you have not allowed any space for joy to be present, even recognised by you, not for a moment.”

I was WOW unbelievable, no wonder I am doomed! That was my immediate response. I felt my anger and resistance rise, my own coach telling me there’s no hope for me, I went into deep despair and was bereft in my dark life.

I got out and ran all my friends, cry and complaining “How could she say that to me when I am there trying to get help”. Finally, after I cried out all my despair and anger, I sat myself down, slowly, quietly a thought came creeping in – She’s right! I don’t hold space for feeling joy.

She wasn’t trying to knock me down, she was simply stating the truth, holding up a mirror for me to look into, she was trying to build me up. With her observation of my beliefs and patterns playing out in front of her she could see my default state of being came from a ‘negative bias’ a view of myself and the world ‘I’m not good enough and nothing good ever happens for me’ My negative bias of existence.

There is where I began the work of introducing my practice of joy.

When you haven’t really understood what joy is, it takes time, focus and effort to introduce it into your life. Consciously catching myself in my negative bias, choosing to shift my energy with introducing acts of joy into my life. But what is joy and how do I create joy?

Joy is a core emotion, which comes from within, a deep sense of peace, acceptance and gratitude of the present moment. So, to create joy, start with small things, acknowledging the moment, the sun on your face, the smell of a flower, a smile from a child, walking my dog.

Slowly, but surely, I was able to shift my energy, my state and hold joy as an equally important part of my life. Now, I find joy everywhere, I look for and recognise the small moment of joy.  I have been able to grow my capacity to hold joy.  No long just holding onto challenges and seeing them as all doom and gloom, where all the world is against me, but simply for what they are, the challenges life presents, opportunities for growth. It doesn’t mean I always like them, but I see they are not happening to me, they are happening for me!

The ‘Practice of Joy’ helps you shift your energy out of old beliefs and patterns that no longer serve you and has strengthened my resilience in navigating life and all it brings to me.

I invite you to being introducing the practice of joy into your life.

Kim xxx