Joy?!?

How does one feel and experience joy? I just can’t seem to do it. My homework from therapy today is to laugh everyday and see the absurdity in thing rather than be so **** and serious to the point of frustration. I am trying to figure out what the point of life is. To me it seems pointless. So laughter and joy are what I am aiming for. Not sure it will happen.

I think pleasure is physical where joy is spiritual. So to me doing good things to improve your life or others brings joy. IMHO

Apparently, I used to get invited to dinner expressly to make people laugh. Didn't know this at the time, but it's what they tell me. Now, I virtually never laugh. Almost never smile. Comedies and comedy in general, which I used to love, I just find stupid and boring. I don't see the point in it. With very, very rare exception, I do not find humor in life.

That said, there is one thing that will reliably get me to smile and laugh and that is videos of dogs and puppies and cats and kittens. I could watch them all day. For some reason, watching these animals makes me feel really good. So I do that (not all day) And now I know I am still capable of smiling, which is probably good.

There are a million answers to the question of what is the meaning of life. Many have searched for the answer and anyone who has found it is correct. It is different for everyone. For me, this life is an opportunity to experience and it is what we choose to make of it. We are given various variables at different points in our lives and our choices are what defines the outcome. Experiencing joy is a choice that you have to allow for. Joy can be found in endless experiences. It is abundant, but you need to be in a state that allows for those feelings to come forward.

Can you remember a time when you had joy in the past? Perhaps going back to those memories and sitting with them a while will help you remember how to get back to that state. As silly as it feels maybe try to practice the feelings so that you're more comfortable going into a joyful state when an opportunity comes along.

You can look for joy to happen in big ways. That's a wonderful way to experience it, but it also comes in small packages. For example, I was joyful yesterday watching my little ones experience their first ride at the fair. I experienced joy when I laughed about life this morning with the man who has cut my hair for over 20 years. I am joyful that my brother who is battling cancer is having a great morning today. All small things, but they all lift my heart and my spirit.

You can also force joy along a bit by taking time to focus on what you enjoy. Engaging in enjoyable activities opens all kinds of doors for joy to come in. Engaging in carefree and even silly activities opens the door for joy. Engaging in service to yourself and others opens the door for joy.

Remaining open to joy is the hardest part. It gets easier and easier in time and sometimes it is just difficult no matter what you try. Holding the faith though that your own joy is out there is key.

Thanks for this post. I enjoyed answering.

I enjoyed reading your response.

bizi

Your first sentence cracked me up lol 😆
Like you, I’ve found that few things interest me like they used to, even when I’m doing “well”. I wonder if all my time spent in actual depression has actually changed my brain and pleasure/interest?
I agree, animal videos are the best! Most of my fb feed is from animal groups with great posts, I love scrolling through 💕