Joy on the Journey

[Approximate Read Time: 3 Minutes]

There are so many negative things in our world that it seems hard–if not downright impossible–to enjoy this journey we call life. Everywhere I look, I see so many unhappy people, and when people are unhappy, they can’t even begin to imagine possessing joy. Yet, I have found that no matter how rough the road is, it is always possible to have joy on the journey.?

Now, most people think joy and happiness are one and the same because the two words are often used together and interchangeably. In fact, it is possible for someone to be happy and not joyful; it is also possible to be joyful without happiness.

Happiness is a feeling of contentment and satisfaction in the present moment. It is often a result of something good that happens or brings excitement; therefore, it tends to be more fleeting since it is based primarily on external circumstances. On the other hand, joy is a deeper and more long-lasting emotion characterized by having overall contentment and satisfaction in one’s life.?

Here are a few things to understand about JOY:

JOY is ROOTED in FAITH. True JOY is a lasting emotion and a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) that comes from putting your faith in God.?

JOY is a WAY of BEING. Joy is a state of mind independent of happiness. Joy comes from within. Generally, one who is being in the way of joy finds a sense of purpose and meaning even in suffering. The more one practices joy, the more joy becomes a part of who they are.

JOY is ENDURING. Joy isn’t merely a nice thing to have. It is necessary if we are going to navigate our way through the uncertainties of life’s pain, trials, and struggles. God commands us to “… rejoice with JOY unspeakable…” (I Peter 1:8).? Note that the verse before that speaks of the “trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried by fire…” We know that the negatives in life are refining us so we can grow into tomorrow. There is much to be learned in times of adversity, and enduring JOY is definitely one of them.?

JOY is in the LITTLE THINGS. I firmly believe that we can all find joy in the little things every day on our journey. You just have to look for it. Naturally, there are many little things (and even some really BIG things) that can get us down. I’m not going to lie; I am glad to have February behind me. Although it was a short month, it was a tough month in the sales world. Nevertheless, I was determined to finish strong. And that’s exactly what I did! Searching for and finding joy in little things throughout the day makes any day a joyful day, every week a joyous week, and each month a joy-filled month

JOY is a CHOICE. Thankfully, true joy isn’t dependent on our circumstances. There will always be things outside our control. But we can control how we show up. We can control our attitude. We can control how we respond to everything that comes across our path today. It’s not what happens to you but what you do with it that makes the difference. So, choose joy!

JOY is the RIGHT THING. When you go into every situation determined to do the right thing, you will always feel good afterward. However, going into the situation with a selfish attitude of “what's in it for me?” will never help you feel good afterward. Even when you are afraid to do the right thing, or you’re afraid you can’t do things right, address that uncomfortable situation in your life and do the right thing anyway. Doing the right thing will bring you more joy.

JOY is an ABUNDANCE MINDSET. When you take joy with you on your journey, you will have an abundance mindset. There's plenty of everything for all of us, so we don’t need to have a scarcity mentality. The God I serve owns all the cattle on all the hills, and he is able to give us everything we need–including plenty of joy on the journey!

Have a joy-filled weekend... and don't forget to BE INTENTIONAL!

Ryan J. Botner? Speaker/Coach/Trainer

Cornerstone Speaking and Coaching