2012 Resolution #20: Find Joy

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Maria McInnis, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

Resolve to find joy in every day.

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha

Earlier we spoke about finding something good in every single person, and today, in a similar manner, I would like to talk about finding something good in every day.

Every day that we are given is a new gift and a new chance to do something with our lives, and every single day we are given reasons to find beauty and joy in some facet.

Finding joy every day is a way of looking for the silver lining in the clouds: it is a way in which we can realize that no matter how distressing, or how bad things seem to get, there is always joy waiting to be discovered somewhere, if only we are willing to look for it.

Growing up I experienced a lot of grief, not just in my own life, but through others. We had a cousin move in after my uncle died of cancer, I lost a grandmother, two grandfathers and a brother before I graduated from high school, and my mother worked in the palliative care unit in our local health center. Death was a familiar friend and foe growing up, and so I was able to not only see others grieve, but I myself experienced it.

In grieving, there is sometimes a difficulty in discovering joy. It was, for me, a very dark road. Some people, in such times, turn to religion for comfort, and others take the route to cling to memories. Others chose to celebrate life.

It was a concept that I had never experienced before the death of my second grandfather in High School: The funeral was normal in every regard, but the reception afterwards was a thing filled with joy, memories and shared pain. It was the most refreshing and healing moment I can remember, and I remember bing surrounded by the joy of that moment.

What happened was this: we all piled into my grandmother’s house, all carrying our various items for the traditional potluck, but instead of a sombre line of people whispering their condolences, half of the family pulled out instruments, lifted a glass to ‘George’ and fell into the music, celebrating the life he had lived over the day of his death. The celebration went on all night, and there were smiles along with every tear and there was laughter.

If we could celebrate life and the good times in it every day, even amidst tragedy, sadness and doubt, then life becomes something wonderful, something magical, and most certainly something unforgettable.

There is always something to celebrate, be it a small victory, a smile, or just something of beauty that you encountered, the joy is there. If you can find humor in a situation, the joy is there. It is anywhere you want to look for it.

“If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses I have been lucky enough to have had. Not the sadness…but the joy of everything else. It will have been enough.” – Audrey Hepburn

Focus on the positive things in your life, and on the positive experiences over the bitter ones. Life is about living with joy over pain, and happiness over sorrow. With joy you can defeat the sorrow, just as light beats back the darkness. Let joy be the light that guides you, and let it lead you to the life that you want.

Find joy in every day, and every day will be a new reason to celebrate.
Quantum Performance Management – Maria McInnis