Day 26: A Cardinal

Joy

Photo by Jody Confer on Unsplash

My mom loved cardinals, so seeing one pop up with a fluttering flash makes me smile. They bring me joy because they brought her joy (and because they’re just so delightful).

The APA categorizes joy in two forms: active and passive. Active joy is feeling engaged with your joyful feelings. You rush to tell people about them and can’t keep them inside. Passive joy is a feeling of contentment and serenity. You love the way things are at that very moment. That’s the type of joy I feel when I see a cardinal in the yard.

Being joyful in either form requires connection--to other people, to arts, to nature. It’s a connection to the present moment, as well. Joy can help us surmount challenges and can elicit laughter, which has benefits for our physical health.

Seeking joy doesn’t mean that you gloss over the negatives in your life. In fact, it’s these challenges that help us to appreciate joy more fully. If we numb ourselves to negative emotions, we numb ourselves to joy as well.

Start small. Notice the tiny glimmers that bring you joy. And remember that passive joy is just as powerful. We’ve been socialized to believe that contentment isn’t enough. But science says contentment is a part of joy, so embrace it.

Here are some tips and prompts to help you find joy today…