Joy (noun): A state of happiness or felicity.
How often do you find yourself feeling joy or doing things that bring you joy? It can be hard to find when it feels like we’re in a season or time of darkness. We seem to have this idea, for some reason, that joy and happiness need to be constant states of being. If we’re not always happy or filled with joy, we’re doing it wrong. The reality is, these feelings can be fleeting and we have to keep stoking the fire of our joy.
In the classic book Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl, he details his experiences in concentration camps during World War II, his observations of how others psychologically survived those horrific experiences, and his own perspective that allowed him to maintain a sense of hope in the face of such horrific cruelty and suffering. Frankl went on to develop his own therapeutic method, called Logotherapy. Logotherapy comes from the idea that as humans, we need to make meaning of our lives and experiences and making meaning is what drives us forward and helps us resolve existential crises around life and death, suffering, purpose, and values. If you’re intrigued by this idea, I encourage you to explore Frankl’s timeless book. It’s a relatively short but profound read that has inspired countless individuals to find light in the darkness.
Getting back to the idea of joy…in the quest for finding meaning in our experiences in life, it becomes essential to find the moments around us or within us that provide that feeling of purpose and meaningfulness. A life worth living, if you will. Even in the darkest of circumstances, we have the capacity to seek out meaning, and with it, small but profound sparks of joy. As Frankl observed in others and within himself, we can do that in spite of being surrounded by some of the darkest of circumstances. This search for joy— even in defiance of hardship— is an act of the highest rebellion against despair.
Finding joy doesn’t require grand gestures or perfect circumstances. It might be as simple as savoring a warm cup of coffee, noticing the vibrant colors of a sunset, or sharing a laugh with someone you care about. These small moments remind us that joy, however fleeting, is always within reach if we’re willing to look for it.
I challenge you to actively seek out what brings you joy today and in the days to come. Notice these moments, however small, and savor them fully. In doing so, you may find that joy, like meaning, is something we create and nurture—a gift we can give ourselves even in the hardest of times.