Joy – Some Inspirational Thoughts
January 20th, 2009 8:51 pmWhen I attended Spiritfest recently (I will tell you more about that in a different post)
I was asked to give a reading on the topic of “Joy”. I searched the internet and my own literature and found some real gems. I then put together all the bits and pieces that appealed the most to me. Enjoy!
“Joy and happiness are part of the design of every life. You are the only one who can bring joy and happiness into your life. Joy is hard to come by if you are not aligned with the universe.”
…”The skills we need to bring joy and happiness” into our lives “are the tools of living passionately, the ability to commit to our soul’s purpose and to stay open to unimagined outcomes. These skills allow us to function with focus in chaos and in the Unknown.”
Christine Pratt from www.lastmaskcenter.org
“Joy is an essential spiritual practice growing out of faith, grace, gratitude, hope and love. It is the pure and simple delight in being alive. “…..Joy is the “ awareness of abundance. It is also the deep satisfaction we know when we are able to serve others and be glad for their good fortune.”
www.spiritualityandpractice.com
“Joy is not dependant on circumstances. Joy is strength. Joy is internal. Joy is eternal. ”
Joy is sustainable happiness. Happiness is fleeting, doesn’t last, joy can be there all the time, even when life is not going too well for us.
“Spiritual joy is a holy, sensitive plant, it shrinks from the rude, ungentle touch, uncongenial with its heaven borne nature. Watch it with sleepless vigilance, shield it with every hallowed defence.”
Octavius Winslow
St. Francis of Assissi who lived in the Middle Ages had a great deal to say about spiritual joy and the benefits of joy in general. One line is a famous prayer attributed to him goes: “Where there is sadness, let me sow joy…”
“St. Francis can teach us how we can face an uncertain future with peace. What we need is a good dose of spiritual joy. this saint….can teach us in this age of technology where authentic joy can be found – not in accumulating material goods, but in spiritual goods.”
“St. Francis knew all too well …. the “demon of sadness”. He knew this spirit’s ability to cripple our lives in fear, sadness, discouragement and self-pity.”
He wrote rules for the friars and they explicitly talk about the importance of joy in monastic life. The monks should “let it be seen that they are happy in God, cheerful and courteous, as is expected of them and be careful not to appear gloomy or depressed …”
“Interestingly, St. Francis recognised that spiritual joy and worldly sadness have one quality in common – they are contagious! That was one of the many reasons he was so insistent that his friars overcome despondency and gloom. Their joy would be a source of inner strength to others.”
The writer (A. Apostoli) then goes on to say that joy is a gift from a higher source which illuminates our path and lightens our load. He speculates that it might just be the spiritual antidote we need cure the spiritual and psychological ills of our age.
Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R.
“Invite joy into your life by staging celebrations. Host festivities to mark transitions and changes. Toast moments of happiness you notice as you go through your day.”
www.spiritualityandpractice.com
Passing a smiling person on the street is our cue to practise joy.
“Laughter is the jam on the toast of life. It adds flavour, keeps it from being too dry and makes it easier to swallow.”
The above quote comes from a book called “Zen Soup” by Laurence G. Boldt.
Dance, jump for joy as often as possible. Let go, lose yourself. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not to be endured.
I hope the above will help to bring some joy into your life and then this joy will pass on to others you meet along the way….
Till next time,
Connie Your Yoga Partner
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