There are many things that can motivate you: fear, hope, anger, desire. One of the more overlooked emotions is joy. What brings you the most joy?
Negative emotions can be channeled into positive action. For example, if you are afraid of losing your job, you might try to impress the people you work for and with.
Listen to a podcast where Michael and Lee discuss the related question: ‘How can we maintain wonder?’ We also discuss a bonus question: ‘How do you think others see you?’
However, positive emotions are very valuable as well. Experiencing joy can be exhilarating, and the desire to recapture that feeling can be very powerful.
In order to have a repeat experience, however, it helps to know just what, exactly, brings you joy.
Can you think of times in your life when you have felt joyous? What did those moments have in common? And what might you do in order to feel that way again?
Related questions: How can we increase joy? How can you take joy from joyless tasks? What makes you the happiest?
Little things mean a lot.
I’ll share three things that I routinely do that bring me great joy. First, I love driving Rebecca to the bus stop each morning and talking about the day ahead (and other stuff) while we wait for her bus. Second, I love entering my garden and watching and listening to bees, butterflies, and birds buzz and flutter from veggie plant/sunflower to veggie plant/sunflower pollinating away. And, third, while in the garden, I love taking pictures of the pollinators as well as my plants in various stages of growth and sharing the best pics on Facebook for others to see the beauty of sustainable food production.
Doing for others brings me joy. Today was a good example. I spent three hours volunteering at a wonderful non-profit organization that serves low-income people in the Twin Cities. I work in the warehouse (for the physical exercise) with a fun crew of staff and volunteers, serving appreciative clients and donors. It’s only three hours a week, but it gets me out of the house and doing something that helps others. For more information about this organization, click on this link to their website: https://bridging.org/?msclkid=38dbb6afc76411ec8761c47ee07c0b04
To be loved and my love with my wife, children, their spouses and our grand children. It’s the circle of life that brings me the most joy.
This blog needs a “like” button. This is awesome, Bill!
What a wonderful question.
In His infinite wisdom, realized that all life is energy. Everyone should have their personal vortex’s tested and become aware of personal energy fields and the effect on life.
Sharing that energy is exciting and euphoric. Helping someone find their own energy is wonderful. Enlightenment is spectacular, either my own, or assisting someone else.
Nathan, how does a person “have their personal vortex’s tested? Can you say more about this?