Waaay back in time (well, the ’70s and ’80s anyway) there were many folks exploring how best to deal with this whole Human Condition, some advanced the “thought” that to be grateful was the way to ENJOY all that life had to offer. Yes, some other folks had other ways to live-this is still the way of “today”.

The JOYFULNESS of Gratitude

  I would encourage you to invest some energy in evaluating your own feelings (what’s a guy doing talking about feelings?) on having positive thoughts about your life circumstances. I prefer to look at problems (large and small) as challenges with the opportunity to have good feelings abut my abilities to be JOYFUL. Many people today have a “hang up” with their history-it is what made us who we are, so maybe let it go and be thankful.

The past is history

The future is unknown

Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present

author unknown

  Lack versus Appreciation

  On contemplation, many people now a days choose to feel a sense of LACK rather than APPRECIATION for all the good that we ENJOY. In our society, “things” are tasked with the responsibility of creating happiness and ENJOYMENT, this pressure is not as JOYFUL as it would seem. With an attitude of gratitude, we realize that “things” may not be so important to our being full of JOY-we are appreciative of our “things” that actually matter;

• Health-could always be worse
• Mindfulness-including intelligence
• Looks-superficial , but we have a “look” which is beautiful
• The life situation that we have created
• Our Passions-don’t have one, get one!
• The people in our sphere-lonely? see above
• Heart of Love-MOST IMPORTANT
• Celebration of HOME

  Learning to feel more “appreciative” and less “lacking” requires a reboot in some folks-this can be accomplished through “feeling” replacing “thinking” in our life’s practice. We all have this ability-modern living (social pressure and media) has a tenacity to value false concepts of what is JOYFUL.

  If looking inward is scary, the exercise and pleasant (maybe) results might lead to increasing JOY and decreasing drama. This would be considered a good outcome!

Passions

  Speaking of passions (see how I led things back to my “stuff”), several folks in a group that I belong to have discovered the “good” of being in the Great Outdoors with a camera as a better form of therapy than sitting in an office talking to someone else. Hmmm

  Time in the kitchen is another possible (necessary for me) pursuit to create a JOYFUL life.

  Gratitude, appreciation and inspiration (JOYFUL) will melt away fear and worry (NOT joyful).

  What do you ENJOY? What might you ENJOY? In considering this, maybe a quiet space (OK gentle music is also conducive to contemplation), a pot of tea, flowers and a cat on your lap would be a wonderful afternoon (a warm fire is another sensual goodness) to help eradicate worry and fear.

 I hope the above thoughts might generate some inner examinations and appreciations of what your JOYS are.