I sometimes forget that I was created for Joy.

— Hafiz

Joy is always a possibility

And it’s often born out of grief—they can coexist. Once I met a precious soul who talked about the joy of dying. He was referring to the gratitude that showed up at his bedside in the form of friends and family who traveled near and far to share how much he meant to them.

This example illuminates essential ingredients to joy—connection, gratitude and letting go into the flow of life moving through and all around us.

I’ve asked others how they experience joy and here’s what they had to say:

  • Lightness embodied

  • You want to disperse yourself into a million different pieces

  • I just want to spontaneously combust

  • Joy feels like doing a Rubick’s cube

  • It makes me believe that, if I dropped dead right now while skiing fresh powder, it would be okay

  • Joy feels like exhaustion after a hard workout

  • It’s dancing to live music

  • Joy floats

  • Joy is in the realm of vulnerability and oriented to gratitude

  • It can feel like being connected to everything

  • Joy means courageously conquering my fears

  • It flies through your heart like a bird

  • Joy happens when things align, or connect or complete in a way that makes you feel deep, sweet gladness

  • It revives hope and faith

  • Grief is the mud, Joy is the lotus

    I’m curious how you define joy. If you’re inspired, tell me what you think.