I have been thinking a lot about Joy lately.  I wonder how one finds it with so much anger and fear and distrust in the world.  I wonder if it is even right to feel joy when there is so much suffering and unease.

                If you did not know this about me, I have a crazy guilt button, installed years ago, possibly lives ago (but that’s another discussion).  This little button is easily pushed over things out of my control.  As I mentioned before, in March I was frozen, unable to paint or write or reach out.  I was safe and healthy, but the world was suffering. 

                Hand in hand with my, usually irrational, guilt comes the desire to right the wrong, solve the problem, correct the error, find the answer, make amends, prove myself worthy. 

                I do know that when your life is going well, it makes me happy.  When others are singing, it makes me smile.  When the band is playing, I want to dance.  When a baby is laughing out loud, so am I.  Joy is contagious. 

                Have you ever been in line at a coffee shop and noticed a group of people laughing and talking around a table?  How did it make you feel?  Were you drawn back to their interactions as you moved your attention to the menu, the clock, and others in line with you?  Did you notice other people in line being drawn to the same group?  Maybe an acknowledging smile or comment was passed between you and the guy behind you in regard to the jovial group.  As you walked away with your coffee, did you and the guy behind you have parting words and a smile; “Have a great day!”? Were your spirits lifted?  Joy is contagious.  Think about it, on your way out of the shop, did you hold the door and greet the people just entering?  Did they smile and greet you in kind?  With that interaction, did your spirits rise just a smidge? As you sipped your coffee at your desk, were those feelings recalled?  Maybe you had been nervous about a presentation as you drove away from your house that morning but on your drive to work, you were noticing the sunny day.  When you presented your ideas, you were more confident and well received.  The team was positive, smiling, and interactive.  With that, your level of well being and confidence increased.  By the end of the meeting, you were feeling joy, and everyone in the room was getting a little piece of that joy.  Joy is contagious.

                Most of us have not found ourselves in a public area with a table of joyfully animated people to observe for some time.  We are inundated with a frenzy of fear, anger, hate, injustice, and confusion in the news and on social media. Our brains are fed so much to worry about that they can dig themselves and replay the tapes again and again.  That is why I believe now, more than ever, it is important for us to seek and find our joy.  Joy is contagious and joy is healing. 

                I have shared my search for joy and happiness in times of personal crisis.  I used yoga and meditation routinely, but my brain always circled back to what was wrong.    When I was able to focus on my gratitude, my brain eventually came along.  I would write 10 things I was grateful for every evening before sleeping.  It was hard to find 10 things to write the first evening, my brain just kept reminding me of the negative.  As I persisted, it was easier and easier to come up with things to write.  I was soon turning pages with my lists; my brain rewired and was fueling me with all that was right.  I slept through the nights.  I could think clearly and was soon able to find my path.  As I stepped on the path and knew that was where I wanted to be, I experienced joy.  The further I traveled along the path, the more joy I experienced.  People came into my life and shared their joy.  I stepped into other’s lives and shared my joy. 

                The world is in crisis, which brings many of us into a state of personal crisis.  Some of us may fear for ourselves.  Some of us may fear for loved ones.  “Will they fall ill while working at the hospital or delivering meals?” “ Will they be able to pay their rent?”  “Will I be able to help them?” “ Will he be safe driving home at night?” “ Will someone step up if they cry for help?”  ‘What would I do if…” The rabbit hole is deep, and our brains are ever ready to jump in, look around, and multiply the worries, kind of like, well... rabbits.

                There is science behind the healing power of joy.  There is scripture behind the healing power of joy.  There is personal experience and testimonials behind the healing power of joy.  “But look at the world,” you say, “ how can I possibly find joy in this mess? And how can one person’s joy heal all this?” 

                Remember, the coffee shop experience?  The joy shared, helped to calm your mind; negative worries were replaced with positive energy and clearer thinking.  Your presentation was a slam-dunk of success and joy in the room.  You left the coffee shop feeling better and everyone left your meeting feeling better.  Think of my experience: Once I could focus on something for which I was grateful, the more I seemed to have to be grateful for.  Acknowledging my gratitude filled my heart with joy.  My mind calmed and I was able to think clearly.  I was able to forgive.  I was able to act.  I was able to heal. I was able to identify what brought me joy.  I was able to touch other’s lives and share my joy, which, I hope helped with their presentation, or healing or finding the answer....   

                In this time of turmoil and worry, if we can each disengage our guilt buttons, give ourselves the chance to be grateful, we can experience joy, think more clearly, find answers, help others, grow our joy, and spread our joy so other’s may find joy, and clearer thinking, and answers, and, in turn, spread their joy…  Joy is contagious. 

Joy and gratitude,
Bella