Exercises for enhancement #2
What has made the good times so sweet? Inevitably, you will think of the location, the people, the circumstances. For instance, perhaps you spent a week in the mountains and your children were glad to be there and the weather was perfect. Or, maybe you remember a season of life with few of the proverbial bumps in the road. These components contribute mightily to experiences of joy.
So, let’s transport you to that time of joy. First of all, identify the time, location, season, etc. Take a moment to pull it up in your mind. If this is difficult, play word association and take note of the images that flash through your thoughts as you think about joy.
Now, consider what was going on with you. Why do you remember this as a delightful time? What was your mindset, your demeanor, your sense of equilibrium? Press past the externals to the internal drivers of that happiness.
For example, you might realize that pressure from work was low or even absent causing you to feel more relaxed. Or, you might notice that this good time followed a time of relational stress and everyone was in a mode of restoring relationship. Perhaps, you can see that you had freedom of time resulting in mental clarity and spiritual peace. Were you engaging in any practices such as morning walks, late night card games, or time in the porch swing? Maybe you were simply determined to love and love well. Open to receive the beauty around you.
Now, how can you transport yourself to joy again? Even in your current circumstances, you can relive old joys. You may also be able to replicate certain aspects and re-engage some of the essential elements of joy.
This exercise is more difficult than it seems. Press through. Find your transports to joy.
Worth Repeating
Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.
-Henri Nouwen
