“The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it.” – Carl Jung
Even with a mental resolve to limit the amount and source of news during this COVID-19 pandemic, it is hard not to have a subconscious awareness of its magnitude and challenges. In the past two days it has been helpful to hear and read the hint of positive. I felt happy—this could be the turning point.
Recently the news media seems to also focus on stories of celebrations, togetherness, people helping each other and intentionally affirming the silver lining in spite of all the devastation. As I reflected, these images took me back to something that I have been thinking about for a while, the concept of happiness and joy!
I’ve come to realize that they are not the same. Happy is when I feel good, happy feels like a mind emotion. Joy, on the other hand, is a total body feeling, a deep feeling, not just a mind emotion, but also a body and a heart emotion. Joy is a feeling we may experience with all our senses. It can give us goose bumps, make our heart beat faster, cause us to be speechless, brings tears to our eyes.
As I was watching the television and listening to the news, I felt happy at the possibility of the stabilization of numbers and graphs. I found myself tearing up through a smile of gratitude when I saw pictures of families coping, of nurses dancing with a patient, teams finding ways to have moments of humor, taking time to meditate, singing, “Here Comes the Sun” when a patient was being discharged, offering gratitude and hope with the words of “Amazing Grace.”
These moments are stored in my heart, my body and my mind. They give me a sense of comfort, hope, inspiration and strength. I find myself re-experiencing the same feeling, with the same magnitude each time I replay them in my heart and mind—they give me joy! They are stored in my joy bank as gifts that will keep on giving.
I believe that these moments of joy involve a connection, a relationship. It could be a relationship with people, something beautiful, or a piece of music. They bring out the best is all!
These thoughts and images played in my mind as I went on my walk. My eyes caught a small bright blue object on the road, it was a broken bird egg, my body experienced the same joy, my eyes teared up. A few steps ahead I saw the other half.
Spring, new life, new beginning, a sign of strength from fragility. How apt for this holy weekend!
Joy is experiencing moments that are giving to and in service of someone or something!
Joy is experienced when we are involved in meaningful experiences! Joy is when we are involved in doing acts of goodness and kindness! When we give joy we receive joy!
“The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it.” – Carl Jung
#REFLECT: What brings you joy, even in the midst of sorrow and suffering? What might you store in your joy bank?
How is the coronavirus changing the way you think of self-care, community and resilience? As this challenging time unfolds, I am posting a daily quote on this blog with a reflection prompt. Please join in the conversation here or on Twitter with your thoughts or about what you are doing for self-care and care of others. My new book explores these ideas too: Resilient Threads: Weaving Joy and Meaning into Well-Being.
If we are open to experiencing joy, opportunities are all around us. A beautiful sunrise. A mockingbird singing. Petting my big dog. Yesterday, we saw the first hummingbird of the season!
Yesterday was Easter Sunday. I watched the great Andrea Bocelli. He was singing at Piazza Duomo in Milan, first inside the famous cathedral and later at its steps. It was an unique sight. The hall was empty and their was no one in sight in the vast space of piazza. He sang Lord's Praise alone, undeterred and unfazed, with the same devotion, reverence and faith. This filled my eyes with tears, there was so much JOY that I could feel with all my sensations.
Later, after a quiet day and dinner, we were huddled in the basement of our house in the midst of tornado hovering somewhere close around us. We were HAPPY to be together.
Yesterday I read Mukta's post on joy and happiness. I read her posts regularly.
It fills my heart with so much HAPPINESS when I see that she is treading the right path with her Resilient Threads, weaving joy and meaning into well-being.
God bless Mukta, our daughter.