Joy is a Choice

Where does your joy come from?

It took me years to realize I waited for joy to come from outside circumstances.

Waiting for my son to laugh to bring a smile.

Waiting for an experience or song to move my body.

Waiting for my husband to say thank you for the dinner I’ve cooked.

Waiting for my client to say “you’ve changed my life.?

Waiting to go on a trip, traveling to a meditation retreat to feel joy.

The better question is:

If you stripped away everything and left with nothing--would you still feel joy? Or be a hot mess? Does an infinite source of joy exist?

I'm here to say YES, IT DOES! Imagine the freedom to have ANY circumstance in life and feel joy for no reason. Other emotions no doubt will arise and pass away.

Yet the power of joy as a choice is powerful.

There's nothing wrong with creating joyful experiences proactively. The pitfall I discovered is that it's still "getting" joy outside myself.

Many want to feel joy from the ego: more money, more influence, more power, more recognition, more stuff.

For those who still feel empty after attaining everything--you may have then turned to spirituality. However, chasing spiritual retreats and gurus can STILL BE LOOKING OUTSIDE oneself for that feeling of joy if you depend on it to bring you joy.

Here's the point:

Joy is a choice. Joy can be generated for no reason.

That’s the brilliant part of joy. It can be generated any moment, any time. It’s within you, all the time, waiting for you to allow it to shine out.

Stop waiting for joy. Once I travel to that dream place, I'll feel joy. Once I have solid friends and family relationships, I'll feel joy. Once I make enough money in my business, I'll give back, then feel joy.

NO! That's all backwards! Here are 5 Ways you Can Feel Joy Now:

1. Imagine you already have traveled to your dream destination. Feel that joy now. Bring that energy of joy to all those you encounter on a regular 'ole day.
2. Mend your wounded relationships now. In the process, see if you can find joy in the pain and suffering. Make it a game that you're not so attached emotionally from your ego to.
3. Imagine you've already made all the money in the world. Capture that feeling such as confidence, security, groundedness and bring it to your business now, regardless of what's in your bank account.
4. Give back now no matter who little you feel you have. You can always give with time, energy, connections, ideas, listening, etc. besides money
5. Discover joy in constant change and transition. That is real power.

Consider your life circumstances have zero bearing on what degree of joy you feel. Imagine the liberation of being able to walk into any fire, and the power of being able to choose joy (if you desire) or not. That is true freedom.

Joy is a boundless energy within.

Allow the boundless nature of joy within to express itself without effort by finding joy in circumstances you resist or don't want. Remember, you can generate joy for no reason. Joy is a choice.

I implore you, choose to smile for no reason.?Laugh for no reason.?Smile at yourself.

Let me know below! What are you realizing about joy?

If you want to explore how to unleash joy within, honored to speak at ShiftUp's Joy event on Thurs Feb 8, 12-1pm PT.

If you want to pave your way to optimal wellbeing by cultivating inner joy, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpdOysqT4rE9YDvXPGIAnkh7YpW1DItKgJ#/registration

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Anna Choi, CEO of SolJoy.Life, serves high achieving, mindful entrepreneurs to unleash 10x their energy to catalyze a new era of humanity. Bringing 20 years experience of entrepreneurship and trained by a living saint and enlightened energy master–she blends ancient wisdom, healing martial arts, and moving meditations serving thousands of students to cause a tipping point in global enlightenment.