Happy Friday
21st January already – sometimes January feels rather like an obstacle course; practising resolutions, trialling ‘dry’ January or Veganuary, dropping resolutions, feeling we have let ourselves down, not to mention grey cloudy days, frost and the many obstacles that can inhibit our ability to experience joy.
Following the recent passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu , I found myself returning to one of my favourite reads; The Book of Joy – a wonderful volume full of inspiration from the man himself and His Holiness The Dalia Lama.
The book guides us how to overcome obstacles to joy using differing spiritual practices and well as practical lifestyle habits. I respect their wisdom as both have survived oppression, violence and exile to name a few hardships. However, both men are joyful characters despite their suffering and their friendship story is wonderfully unique.
Joy is a topic that is much talked about at the moment and we sometimes feel we are missing out.
I wanted to share with you their meditation using 8 pillars of joy. This is a helpful framework when you are feeling that life is tumultuous and are seeking tranquillity.
The suggested 8 pillars help us find inner peace and joy…
Joy Meditation:
v Find a comfortable seat with hands in your lap
v Take several long deep cleansing breaths through your nostrils
v Allow your problems to surface without judgment
v 1st pillar – Perspective – step back and review yourself and the problem from a distance, as if it was a film, see it in a wider context and then recognise that it will pass in time
v 2nd pillar – Humility – see yourself as 1 person within 7 billion and your problem as part of the global unfolding drama of life on earth, see connections with others that you have including support networks and those who can help if we ask – feel appreciation for our connections
v 3rd pillar – Acceptance – accept your limitations, that you are struggling and human. Acknowledge that you cannot be 100% in control and the reality of the problem right now
v 4th pillar – Humour –smile, see if you can find something humourous in the situation however broken or imperfect things feel, maybe you smile at your own failings as you aspire for better
v 5th pillar – Forgiveness – place your hand on your heart and forgive yourself for your part in the situation, forgive anyone else that is an obstacle to your joy understanding that they are human too and fallible
v 6th pillar – Gratitude – think of 3 other people or things that you are grateful for related to this problem right now – maybe you can find a way to see the problem as part of a growth journey?
v 7th pillar – Compassion – place one hand on your heart or your hands in prayer and have self-compassion, no one is perfect, feel the light of loving kindness shine from your heart to you and then to your loved ones
v 8th pillar – Generosity – feel the deep generosity that is in your heart, let this radiate to all around you – how can your situation be a gift to others? Giving joy to others is the greatest way to experience true joy ourselves
Joy and gratitude are inextricably linked or co-dependent according to may researcher, like an upwards spiral – the more we practice gratitude the more we experience joy and vice versa.
I am feeling joyful now however I am going to give it a try and build this new muscle, ready for when days are next feeling tough.
Let me know how you get on!
Love and light, Namaste