I was sitting in the whirlpool at the gym continuing my meditations on suffering when my not-so-still, small voice within said, “Meditate on joy and blog about that.” Thankfully I was by myself so no one looked at me oddly when I burst out laughing! Here I am meditating on suffering instead of joy, now isn’t that ironic?

Since this revelation in the whirlpool, I’ve been noticing joy. When I really look through the lens of joy, it’s everywhere! In the morning I watch the sun shining through the blossoms of a glorious amaryllis in the front window. I taste the creamy smoothness of my coffee while I practice Qigong and Tai Chi, joyful that I can move my body in a balanced way without pain. Theo, the cat, rubs against my legs and I smile. Scott and I share healthy, tasty meals over the course of the day, along with interesting conversation and funny observations. Birds play in the heated bath outside the kitchen window. A neighbor drops by a treat from their kitchen and stays to visit for awhile. A friend calls and we share about our lives; I glean some insight from her wise words and astute questions. I take a stroll through the Wilber May Arboretum and Botanical Gardens that are our backyard and am filled with gratitude that I get to live here! My mother needs help with a project at her house and we reminisce over old times and great trips we’ve taken together. On the way home, the sun sets sending glorious splashes of color through the fluffy clouds and onto the snow blanketing Mount Rose. Scott and I toast the end of another day with red wine and then read a favorite book to each other, while the cat snuggles up and purrs.

I am realizing as I have begun this new practice of noticing joy that my mind is trained to notice what is wrong and requires “correcting” in my opinion. This training has come from a variety of sources over the course of my life, and likely was a tendency I was born with. This perfectionism can be the source of positive results if I harness it appropriately, but it makes a miserable Master! I don’t think I fully realized how insidious its tentacles were in my brain until I began this meditation on joy.

I am catching it faster as the days go by, shifting from focusing so much on what’s amiss or needs doing, to noticing what’s right and being grateful. This doesn’t mean I am ignoring that which requires my attention, but I am no longer allowing myself to be obsessively consumed with it! I’m experimenting with asking myself, “What’s right? How do I bring more joy and peace to this moment?” I find this is balancing my responses and calming my nervous system. I feel more peaceful and joyful. There is so much that is right and beautiful in the world. I want to grow that by watering it with my attention. It turns out when I do so, I also nurture my soul.