Choose Joy

During this season, there is a certain expectation that we should be joyful, merry and full of the "holiday spirit".  We may put on our happy faces to attend parties and special events, yet many of us just feel stressed and anxious because we have so much more on our to do lists....we worry about so many things that there is no room for joy.  So how do we change our inner state so that we truly feel the emotion rather than just wear the mask? How do we choose joy?

The definition of joy is "the emotion evoked by well being or good fortune; a state of happiness", which may make it seem further out of reach for those who are experiencing challenges and difficulties.

But the inner state of joy is not dependent on life circumstances or the season that we are in.
It is something that we can choose, each day, as we let go of the baggage - the worries and minutia and the desire to pile more on our plates than we can handle. It may mean buying fewer gifts, ordering online instead of fighting the crowds, or saying no to a party, freeing up time for whatever nourishes our soul.  As we release the "small stuff" and ask for God's help, we create space for the  Light of Spirit, and joy naturally flows in.

We can choose in every moment how we're going to react to each situation: with patience rather than anger, with love rather than hatred, with forgiveness rather that resentment, with hope and joy rather than despair.

Begin with the first morning thoughts: catch them before they have a chance to spiral into negativity.

Choose joy with your waking breath...