Holding a Space of Joy for Yourself and Others

Are you responsible for your own joy? Can you have a joyful life? 

Joy is defined as a feeling of pleasure and happiness. What is the difference between happiness and joy? Happiness is an outward expression of the emotions that you are feeling in the moment and joy is an internal feeling. 

HAPPINESS

Some individuals believe that their happiness is based on how other individuals or circumstances make them happy. Is your partner or spouse responsible for your happiness or are you responsible? I believe that everyone must become accountable for their own lives. When you expect the other individuals in your life to make you happy, you are not taking the actions needed to create your own happiness. 

Do you understand what makes you happy? I have found that this can be a difficult question for some individuals to answer. It is important that you understand what makes you happy. 

ACTION ITEM

Identify what makes you happy before moving into 2024.

A smile, a kind word, or a gesture of kindness can change the world. These are actions that can shift the emotions and mood of the other individual. You can bring a little bit of happiness to someone else.

JOY

This occurs from the spiritual practice of grace, gratitude, hope, and love for life. It requires that you lean into the positive aspects of individuals, situations, and circumstances in your life. 

The Global Happiness Study found that 64% of individuals have experienced happiness, but how many individuals have experienced joy? Joy is often understood to be a broader sense of satisfaction with their lives. 

Is it realistic for an individual to be in a place of joy in every aspect of their life? I believe that it is something to strive for within our lives, but everyone faces challenges and obstacles along the way. These are provided for us to grow and evolve as a soul. Our experiences stretch us, expand our perspective of the world, and allow us to gain deep wisdom. 

Everyone deserves to have their own experiences. These include positive and negative experiences. It is important that we create spiritual practices that allow us to create a joyful life and hold space and have grace for individuals who are not in a positive place.

ACTION ITEM

Identify spiritual practices that will create a joyful life. 

Happy holidays. I hope they are filled with joyful memories and moments. Let’s love on each other this holiday season!