Joy is the emotion or feeling of being when positive and beautiful events happen. It gives us a pleasant and relaxed thrill that we want to relive. It is usually accompanied by laughter, playfulness, and singing.
It is an emotion that can quickly slip away, but all people who search for fulfillment and purpose in their lives strongly desire it.
Throughout history, different spiritual traditions have explored the nature of joy and offered other guidance on cultivating this inner state.
- Morris, Robert (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
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And if we focus on the Christian tradition, Catholic thinkers have also shared their thoughts and insights on the joy experience.
They have thus filled our treasury of tradition with their insights from which we, too, can draw spiritual lessons.
Here are seven thoughts that can inspire us to find and maintain joy in our daily lives:
1. Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. You give the most when you give joy.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta
2. The greatest enemy of everyday goodness and joy is not imperfection, but the demand for some supposed perfection or order.
p. Richard Rohr
3. God made us for joy. God is joy, and the joy of living reflects the original joy that God felt in creating us.
Pope John Paul II
4. Joy is hidden in sorrow and sorrow in joy. If we try to avoid sorrow at all costs, we may never taste joy, and if we are suspicious of ecstasy, agony can never reach us either. Joy and sorrow are the parents of our spiritual growth.
Henri J. M. Nouwen
5. A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.
Saint Philip Neri
6. The soul of one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, is always in her palace of jubilation, ever singing with fresh ardor and fresh pleasure a new song of joy and love.
St. John of the Cross
7. Cheerfulness prepares a glorious mind for all the noblest acts.
Saint Elizabeth Anne Bayley Seton
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