Seeking joy nurtures positive emotional and mental states and nurtures health and wellbeing. Our true nature is to feel happy and at peace. At times we become so entangled with the details and struggles that life presents that we do not pause to experience joy. Mindfulness practice enables us to practice seeking joy, noticing it, and savoring it by being fully present to the sources of joy that surround us in every moment.
The purpose of our lives is to be happy. –Dalai Lama XIV
Just for today, take two minutes to seek out an experience of joy. Cultivate an experience of joy by playing with a favorite pet, looking at or smelling an early blooming flower, listening to a bird sing, tasting something delightful, savoring a loved one’s touch, listening to a favorite piece of music, or any other experience that evokes joy. Savor the experience. Really allow yourself to take it in. Notice how you feel in your body, heart, and mind. Pause several times throughout the day to recall the experience of joy.
Jen Johnson is a mindfulness coach and therapist teaching meditation for healing, resilience, and creativity. Learn more about working with Jen.