Joy. For such a small word, there’s a heck of a lot of power in it. The past five weeks have been the season of joy, with holiday cheer and excitement surrounding us everywhere we looked. But now even the last of the holiday lights and Christmas trees are coming down. The Santa Claus ads are being replaced with the usual AT&T vs. Verizon and we’re back to focusing on “what’s best to get” as opposed to “what’s best to give.”
What the commercials, billboards and advertisements have got wrong is the source of joy. They’ve confused it with happiness. It’s possible to be happy because of a new shirt or car, but neither of these things will bring you true joy.
Joy is something more, something special and something different. Joy comes from your soul, from the very essence of you. It is an outward reflection of yourself, not merely a fleeting experience triggered by a particularly good meal or a sunny day.
You find joy when you stop living for what’s coming next and you start living for where you are now. Look around and soak in everything that you are experiencing, find the beauty and the good in all of it. Once you begin to find joy in the things you do, you will find it impossible not to spread it to others, even unintentionally.
Be more spontaneous, do more of what you love and find something to love in everything that you do. Smile more and laugh more. Confidently be you and be joyful in you.
