10 Things #15

Joy

Photo by Maria Shanina on Unsplash

1. This week I learned about joy. Reminded about the importance of practicing a joy stance every day. I honestly think it’s one of the most difficult things for me to do — I suspect I am not alone. Training for joy through gratitude — even when you don’t want to, even when it feels almost shameful (watch that word!) even when you’re afraid you might look un-hip or unintelligent or uncaring (How could you! in this time of suffering, be grateful? Do you not realize what is happening in the world?) — training for joy in difficult times is more important than ever. Why? Because is one of the things that makes you Real. (see quote, below)

2. Quote

“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby.
But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” ― Margery Williams Bianco, The Velveteen Rabbit

3. Prompt

It’s not only gratitude we can use to train for joy.

Paul Ekert, the renowned psychologist (Lie to Me was based on his work) found these feelings are…