Life Is For Living: Joy Is Delicious Living!

Joy is delicious living!
I do not think about joy or happiness much and certainly not like this until I read Judith Rich's exquisitely delicious Happiness is Overrated.

I strongly suggest that you read and reread the article. And by the way, all quotes in this post are from Judith Rich's article.

"Happiness is a by-product of being aligned with one's spirit, living with an open heart, and expressing one's authentic passion."

You know, we go along to get along and I certainly did for many many years even though I hated it. It was during a time when I thought the problem was "me".

Trying to conform

It was "me" in a way because I was trying to conform after being constantly criticised for being "contrary and different".

It was painful and wearisome and I used to have flashes of brilliance like the sun suddenly pouring down through a break in the grey clouds – when I knew that something was off with "them" but did not know what.

Of course, the me and them feelings were negative and constantly set off adversarial conflicts. So I had to learn the hard way to take responsibility for it all, work on myself, peel back the layers, and let go. That took decades of course and this work will never be finished but that is just fine.

"We only cling to the idea of happiness because we fear we might not have it again. In our clinging, we miss the very moment of its ripeness, the mystery of its colors, its fragrance, its delicacy, the very thing itself."

I do not care anymore

Now, I am at a point where I do not care anymore and by that I mean, I feel so damn good, glorious sometimes really even though I feel sad about severing the tenuous links with my birth family.

I am making fabulous new friends and have "fallen" into a job I was not seeking and although it is a steep learning curve, it is just great.

Feeling happiness and being joyful

Image via Wikipedia

What does all of this have to do with joy and happiness?

Well, I feel happy at my new job which is 100 percent communication, and being with new friends. I do not say I am happy because that does not sound right or make sense to me.
Happiness is an emotion and fleeting.

"...happiness is elusive, like a butterfly that lights on your shoulder. It's there for a moment and then gone. Try to capture it and you'll damage its wings, rendering it incapable of flying."

I am joyous deep down and feel sad at the necessary severing of ties with family (familiar) strangers.

Outside of my comfort zone

I know it is right for me and I feel really good about it now that I understand one of the "whys" of being back here in the Caribbean which I had resisted with all of my considerable might; fighting Infinite Intelligence wastes so much time eh!

I love my new marketing job as a sales representative. It is so far outside of my comfort zone and yet, I enjoy communicating so much!

One doesn't pursue joy. Joy is a deeper state than happiness, not dependent upon external circumstances for its ability to be experienced and felt.

Joy is what you feel when you've told your deepest truths, even if those truths make you feel sadness in the telling.

Joy is present in loss as well as in fullness. Joy is knowing that you have not compromised your self, that you've lived up to your own standards of honesty and integrity.

Joy is knowing that you've made somebody else's life a bit easier, that you've loved well, that you've looked your fear in the face and had the courage to do what you needed to do anyway.

From Judith Rich's Happiness is Overrated – all quotes taken from her article and if they don't entice you to read the article, I don't know what will! Joy is delicious living, get to work living the soul journey.

One final tasty morsel from Dr Judith Rich's article: "Joy is a state born out of being at peace with yourself. Want to be joyful? Settle old scores and don't be attached to how it comes out. Let the other guy win. Finish your unfinished business. Don't leave any dangling participles behind. Clean up your act."