Lori Hoffer :: UNDEFINED JOY
—Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss This article could be a bumpy ride. It may or may not “make sense,” and I’m okay with that. I’ve been dreading this moment since I heard about it. “And finally, we’re going to write about navigating joy!” I’m sorry — WHAT???? Navigating Change? Easy. Navigating Stillness? I crave stillness. Navigating Boundaries? That’s like a love language for me. Navigating Fear and Uncertainty? Hah. So familiar. But Navigating Joy? JOY????? I don’t even know what that is. How that feels.
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“Take it slowly. This book is dangerous.”
How do you navigate something you don’t have context for? So… like any “good student” I looked it up. Joy (noun): a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Well, that doesn’t help. Happiness also eludes me. Pleasure at least feels familiar. So I got curious and dug deeper. “What if I look at joy versus happiness? Surely that will give me some clarity.” Apparently the general consensus is that happiness depends on external factors. It is an emotion that happens to you and you can’t make a decision to consciously feel it. And, joy is a choice you intentionally make and can co-exist with other emotions, whereas happiness can not co-exist. Happiness won’t be around during hard times, while joy never leaves. Happiness needs an external cause while joy is more of an internal sense of peace and connection. Joy is an attitude and happiness is a destination. At least, that’s what I read. In a few places. Notice how it seems to contradict the dictionary definition? Yep. I’m still confused. *Sigh* I imagine I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand what joy means. I can’t be alone, can I?
