"Pain can only feed on pain. Pain cannot feed on joy. It finds it quite indigestible." - Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now
Joy seemed a bit of a stretch for me at first, when my chronic fatigue syndrome had laid me out so utterly. But if we take a moment to bring even a little joy into our lives, it can offset a lot of stress.
Begin by writing a list of all the things that bring you joy. Include favorite colors, foods, plants, textures - then get more specific. Your list should be quite long.
Once you have finished writing, take a look around you to see how many of the things on your list are present in your life right now. If you are confined to your bed are your sheets satin and in your favorite color? Is your bed facing a window where a friend can hang a bird feeder and plant a lilac bush? Are you wearing silk pjs? Is your water glass beautiful to look at? Are your walls covered with art that you love? Why not?
Which of the things on your list can you easily incorporate? Bringing beauty in gives us the opportunity to experience joy in the midst of our discomfort. When our attention lands on something lovely or otherwise makes us happy, how can that be bad? Consider it a priority prescription!
What brings you joy?
Here's a sampling from my own list:
- • bare feet on gras
- • the smell of lilacs
- • cocoa on a cold night
- • clouds
- • blueberries
- • pink puppy bellies
- • a phone call from my nephew
- • my husband's laughter
- • custard
And a few from Teri Hatcher taken from her book, Burnt Toast:
- • a good bowl of steamed clams
- • a ride in a convertible
- • a good pair of jeans and a t-shirt
- • a warm bath
Some Places to Look for Joy
