The practice: what brings you joy?

“Joy does not simply happen to us.  We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” Henri Nouwen 

Daily Reflection: What brings you joy? When do you feel a sense of happiness and contentment? If we can focus our attention on what brings us joy, even in the small, simple things on a more consistent basis, we will feel a shift in our physical bodies as well as our emotional and mental outlooks on life. When we open ourselves to joy, acknowledging and savoring the goodness in our lives, joy becomes a powerful way of restoring and empowering us to move forward with a sense of hope and optimism.  So, today spend some time reflecting on what brings you joy and notice how this quality of attention affects your experience. 

“Happiness lies not in finding what is missing but in finding what is present.” Tara Brach 

Meditation Challenge: : Often when we meditate, we use the anchors of body and breath as a way of steadying the mind. Today I want to offer a slight variation, using the sense of hearing as your primary anchor of attention.  Anchoring our attention away from the body can be sometimes be useful, especially for those who deal with physical pain. Lately, this variation of mediation has brought a sense of joy (and renewal) to my sittings, taking the time to notice what I often take for granted, the sense gate of hearing.  Taking the time to notice the sounds of rain or water flowing, the sounds of birds or the wind through the trees, or the sounds and rhythm of music; all of which can bring a sense of relaxation to the mind and body.

So, as you sit in meditation today, see if you can bring your attention to sounds, your appreciative awareness to listening.  Sensing and receiving all the sounds around you: natural sounds, human sounds, mechanical sound, even the sounds of silence.   Sitting and sensing all of life that is happening around you.  You may even try sitting outside as your practice, using the direct experience of nature as your primary object of attention, sensing and hearing the fullness of life.

“How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives.” Anne Dillard