Intro

We are continuing in our four week series following traditional words used to mark the season of Advent in the Christian tradition of Christmas. Today we will consider Joy.

The biggest problem with Joy is that we confuse Joy with happiness. While the two have similarities, for the sake of our lens of mental health, happiness is something we experience when we are doing something we like or with someone we like. Joy is much deeper and can be experienced even in the midst of difficult times. Happiness serves us. Joy comforts and strengthens us.

Examples

Happiness requires certain activities and people and is a good thing.  We spend a good deal of our lives trying to be happy and make others happy.  But when happiness depends on being in the right place with the right people, or doing fun things, we can experience let down when we are not doing what makes us happy.  This can lead to a cycle that in the worst of situations becomes an addiction.  

We do something fun.  We feel happy.  That thing comes to an end.  We feel let down.  We try to get back to something fun that makes us feel happy (but is really trying to avoid the let down feeling).

Eventually the cycle is more about avoiding uncomfortable feelings than it is about being happy.

My Thoughts

Joy is experienced when we are overwhelmed by a sense of beauty and goodness in the world.  Have you ever seen a natural wonder like the Grand Canyon or a mountain range or a peaceful lake and just stared, overwhelmed by the beauty and wanting to stay there forever and hold on to the moment?  That’s beauty and that feeling is Joy.  Much deeper and even more serious than happiness, Joy connects us with things bigger than ourselves and can provide a foundation of believing that there is good in the world even when things are not going well.

Conclusion

The holiday season is one in which many people practice Joy with various decorations and traditions.  This season don’t confuse those feelings of Joy with happiness.  Take a moment to rest in them and let the beauty of the season overwhelm you with beauty and Joy.

Application:

• Make a list in a journal of things that bring you Joy or have brought you Joy in the past.  Have that list available to reference when life is dragging you down. 

• Have a Joy album on your phone in which you keep a few photos that remind you of people and places that give you Joy.

• Visit a place of natural beauty in your area and let the beauty give you Joy.  A clear starry night can provide the same opportunity in your backyard.  Sunrises and sunsets are also options.

• There are many kinds of beauty.  Music, visual arts, poetry, and others can be sources of beauty.  What is beautiful to you?  Take time to enjoy a song or a piece of art of writing that is special to you.  Let the beauty of it bring you to the feeling of Joy.

• The practice of gratitude is a way to experience Joy.  The blogs from 11.9 and 11.16 include thoughts about gratitude practices.  Take some time this holiday season to strengthen your gratitude.