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Daily Question, December 15

How do I relate to joy when the world seems to be in turmoil?

  • Linda

    I think joy is a relative term. We can feel joy even in the midst of chaos, knowing it will eventually end.

  • Malag

    I keep myself in good shape to be receptive to joy eg meditation, breath work, walking and other exercises. And then joy is to some extent a muscle to flex by noticing what is wonderful and allowing the joy to emerge. Even something so small as a drop of dew falling slowly from a leaf in the morning light. Even if the world is in dissonance to that joy that doesn’t take away the joy.

  • Mirae

    I try to focus on the small wins everyday in my life and in the life of people around me. By focussing on these wins, the joys are ever increasing. Also, we need to avoid comparisons with anyone because our own life seems small in comparison.

  • Ose

    Try my best to stay joyful, and if I cannot for the moment being, try my best to come back to it. This site helps to come back to it 🙂 Thank you all!

  • Zenith
    I am not sure I do. Joy is very fleeting. I surprises us and then departs after just a few moments before we have time to blink. I feel it when I know I have helped someone. But I am grateful for every day that I wake up and have another chance to work on my thoughts and notice the good things I have in my life. In fact, in spite of the fact that the world is in turmoil right now, in my home and heart I continue to work on thought processes and being grateful for the simple joys of life. Like th...

    I am not sure I do. Joy is very fleeting. I surprises us and then departs after just a few moments before we have time to blink. I feel it when I know I have helped someone. But I am grateful for every day that I wake up and have another chance to work on my thoughts and notice the good things I have in my life. In fact, in spite of the fact that the world is in turmoil right now, in my home and heart I continue to work on thought processes and being grateful for the simple joys of life. Like this site, my piano, pen pals to write, etc. As my elderly friend over in Seattle says, There is always something to be grateful/thankful for. Even the pandemic is not totally negative, though all we seem to notice is how negatively it has impacted our lives. I am still grateful for it.

    Read More
  • Don Jones

    I am completely devoted to cultivating an internal climate of joy and happiness. So much so, that even if I went to Hell, I would still be joyful.

  • Mica

    I enjoy my joy and am mindful of how sad and difficult life is for so many. I’m also grateful for the climate improvements due to covid and the potentially wonderful changes in our cities due to covid and the efflux of people from cities, freeing up space for others to live there more affordably. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our teachers and police could live in the cities where they teach and police??!!

  • Melissa
    By knowing that every second there is turmoil all over the world and with friends and family and myself. I pray daily for all suffering to be over. So when joy shows up like when a butterfly flits by or a sunset is amazing or a friend smiles and tells a fun story, I embrace it fully, the feeling of joy. I try to live in the moment. As many spiritual teachers say, truly that is what we have as humans. To embrace the moments of joy. To live fully whenever possible. Thank you all for your uplif...

    By knowing that every second there is turmoil all over the world and with friends and family and myself. I pray daily for all suffering to be over. So when joy shows up like when a butterfly flits by or a sunset is amazing or a friend smiles and tells a fun story, I embrace it fully, the feeling of joy. I try to live in the moment. As many spiritual teachers say, truly that is what we have as humans. To embrace the moments of joy. To live fully whenever possible. Thank you all for your uplifting words today. It really helps me.

    Read More
  • TofuLove

    By remembering my lineage is one of love, that my heritage is love and I come from that and carry that with me throughout the world. By daring to be completely different, being comfortable with my uniqueness and the odd things I say and way I look at the world. By honoring why I’m here, to help others by shining light into their darkest moments. By not being afraid of my courage, strength and not being afraid of being an awesome person who has it in them to change the world.

  • Gene

    By way of faith, I try to remember the beauty in life, the beauty in Humanity, the beauty in and of me. Though the frustrations seep in at times, the beauty seems to always outweigh the heaviness my heart may be feeling and I am so appreciative of this and thank my Beloved for such a wonderful Blessing.

  • MelaD

    When I adjust my perspective to see the positive and be where my feet are, I can find joy. Especially during these tough times, when I need a lot of WD-40 to loosen the internal gears and fears, expanding on my gratitude list provides the much needed push to shift my perspective upward.

  • Sarah

    Being here to practice celebrating the smallest blessing brings Joy.

  • sparrow

    Joy
    in the midst of turmoil
    keeps us sane . . .

  • Papilio

    I must be very optimistic. I still rejoice in the beauty and miracle of nature every day. For example, the cherry tree on our side yard has so many hard shelled flower buds on its branches under below freezing weather. Those buds were formed before the tree shed its leaves. I dream of spring with the flower buds.

  • Holly in Ohio
    I discovered that every bit of turmoil and hardship bears gifts, but only if we search for them. I really believe that now with complete faith! And it only took me decades of repeating lessons to learn this gem, haha! This year of Covid isolation, gave my husband and I a chance to rely on each other more for companionship and deepened our feelings for each other. It brought my adult children to come round to visit (socially distancing) and to value our presence with new perspective. It ...

    I discovered that every bit of turmoil and hardship bears gifts, but only if we search for them. I really believe that now with complete faith! And it only took me decades of repeating lessons to learn this gem, haha!

    This year of Covid isolation, gave my husband and I a chance to rely on each other more for companionship and deepened our feelings for each other.

    It brought my adult children to come round to visit (socially distancing) and to value our presence with new perspective.

    It definitely matured my children, and helped them to become more responsible and thoughtful.

    It brought for me a wonderful opportunity to farm for a first year without the pressure of simultaneously needing to start it as a business.

    The troubles of politics brought out the largest voter turnout ever and a stronger commitment to the democratic process, across parties… yes, you read that right… people on all sides… not everyone perhaps, but more than ever.

    The racial injustices have brought together huge masses of people across all races to fight those injustices with great determination, and we have positive changes happening in police departments, justice departments, even greater representation on television, I noticed.

    We could take any one of our concerns, private or public, and examine them for gifts.

    Read More
    • Howie Geib

      I have been musing (as a former farm worker) that this would be a great time to be a farmer…also too not feeling like I was missing out on something! As nothing else is going on! And to be outside all day every day…yum

  • Patricia

    Finding joy in these days is about the most counter-cultural and revolutionary thing I can do. It’s an absolute statement of where I find my faith.

  • DeVonna
    I think of the words of that wise, wonderful human being....Mr. Rogers. He told us in the face of tragedy, to look for the helpers. There are always those who are "coming to the rescue", so to speak. In a world FULL of evil, we must deliberately look for what is joyful. Yes, lots of people have died this year, BUT babies have also been born. Bad Politics have dominated the headlines, while unsung heroes have continued their good work, unheralded. Plans have been disappointed, but within those di...

    I think of the words of that wise, wonderful human being….Mr. Rogers. He told us in the face of tragedy, to look for the helpers. There are always those who are “coming to the rescue”, so to speak. In a world FULL of evil, we must deliberately look for what is joyful. Yes, lots of people have died this year, BUT babies have also been born. Bad Politics have dominated the headlines, while unsung heroes have continued their good work, unheralded. Plans have been disappointed, but within those disappointments, opportunities have risen, unexpectedly. God is alive and well and at work, in and through His people, His natural world and in His purposes.

    It’s going to be all right.

    Read More
  • dcajrivers

    I find joy in my family- the sound of their laughter brings me more happiness than anything. Thankfully, it is not inhibited by distance and I am able to experience their joy through phone calls and video chats.

    • DeVonna

      I LOVE video chatting with my children and grandchildren! What a wonderful age we live in…

  • Mark Piper

    ‘Joys and sorrows mingled, one succeeding the other.’ – Catherine McAuley

    It seems that when I envelope myself in the world’s turmoil, and get tunnel vision, seeing only the turmoil and feeling only the strife or sorrow, joy is reintroduced to my line of sight by someone else: a joke, a song, someone walking by me with a smile on their face. That’s relatable joy.

  • Trish

    Joy seems like a precious commodity right now, maybe sweeter than it’s been in the past. When I touch it, it reminds me that there is so much goodness to hold onto & that despite the atrocities of life there is the preciousness of joy~always.

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