First quarter, 2021 is literally almost over. ALREADY!
It feels like last week we were wishing each other a Happy New Year and looking forward to this year as a new beginning.
The goals were set, resolutions written down, vision boards came to life, and the thrill that only expectancy brings permeated the air.
I look at my own vision board, and goals and I have to ask myself, will the attainment of these objectives be my true satisfaction.
For every quantitative objective, why not set it higher?
For every aspiration, why not more?
The funny thing is, after we attain whatever goal we set, we will all want more. Always.
That's the dynamism of life.
That's what make life a journey. We're always taking steps (forward or backward!) in a chosen direction.
There is always a progression towards something, because the moment we achieve what we sought before, the question arises "What comes next?"
For this reason, I believe that our true desire should be grounded in harmony, joy and continuous fulfillment.
If our happiness is always tied up in the attainment of a goal, and only its attainment, then our joy will be finite and fleeting. It will manifest at the period of attainment, for the brief period of the novelty of the acknowledgement of or realization of the goal, and then the inevitable question "What comes next?" will take root, and move us from joy to " ...but I need something else."
It seems natural enough though. We are all primarily alike in that regard.
Therefore, how can we make a deliberate effort to live in a constant state of joy and harmony and a feeling of continued fulfillment and success?
I myself, would love a definite answer to that question.
However, I do have a few ideas on the subject which I will embrace going forward:
Joy and harmony must be internal; they must be found inside the heart and mind and not attached to symbols in the material exterior of the things of the world.
Joy and harmony must be deliberately cultivated and secured in all conditions by the conscious will of the mind; you must decide to be joyful - "In everything give thanks."
In spite of
Regardless of
No matter what
Come what may
We have to decide to be maintain our sense of joy and with it our peace.
Joy must become a habit; it must be our base, our nucleus, our anchor, our state of reference, our true state of being.
In every moment, we must seek the joy.
If we diverge, we must return to a place of joy through true thankfulness which warms the spirit.
I have heard it said, "much creates more."
I believe that to be true of joy.
A joyous countenance will "let our light so shine before men" to the glory of our Father.
Our sense of joy should be grounded in the knowledge that we are created in His image. He is always present, always powerfully able to do more than our minds can conceive, and we are always connected with Him through thought and prayer and spirit.
Our joy can abound knowing He is our true Source; his resources are infinite and there is nothing that can take God by surprise.
Our joy can be deep and sweet knowing that all things work together for our good.
The seed of joy must be cultivated in us, in order to manifest fulfillment.
Success - meeting a target, hitting a number, acquiring a thing - without a sense of joy is fleeting and shallow.
Deep, continuous joy must be learned, practiced and embodied.
It must be prayed for, sought and acknowledged.
It must be shared.
We must embrace joy as we embrace life, and seek to create joy for others also.
Feed your joy; live joyfully and create true fulfillment.
Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash
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