Joy

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Action for Happiness Poster

It's quite common in some of the Yoga sessions I attend for the instructor to open the class with a poem. Something short and meaningful that we can hold onto. A calming theme to focus on during the practice perhaps. Maybe my mind is just too active because it doesn't always have that effect.

Yesterday was one of those instances and on this occasion the poem was called "Joy Chose You," by Donna Ashworth. She has the whole piece on her Facebook page if you are interested in reading it but in it she indicates that we "usher joy away because (we) are not ready for it." Instead we can be too busy getting our home clean and tidy or trying to perfect our lives or earn money, all so that we can live happily. 

Joy, Ashton points out, however, "cares nothing for your messy home, or your bank balance or your waistline." Instead she claims it works by sneaking into the "cracks of your imperfect life" so you cannot invite it in, but only be ready to embrace it when it appears.

Which is how I ended up moving from Cat to Cow poses and back again pondering on the poet's philosophy. As I worked my way through a Sun Salutation, I wondered if I was about to greet joy or if in fact you have to learn how to be joyful. Holding the Goddess posture I was thinking about the Science of Well-Being and Happiness module I studied online a couple of years ago, as well as the habits propounded on the Action for Happiness website.

Bending into Pyramid Pose, I was reflecting in particular on there being some people, of whom I am not one, who derive great pleasure from cleaning and tidying their homes. Whilst the poet and I might be united in failing to enjoy household chores, is it the case that joy does just appear or do we make it happen?

Cobra caught me querying whether the poem is actually articulating the idea that we can push happiness away by our actions and attitude but if we are willing to get wet then it can descend on us like an unexpected rain shower. But if so do we need to  master the art of being drenched or at least train in searching out the rainclouds? Do we choose joy or does joy choose us?

Needlesss to say with thoughts running away with me, my attempt at balancing on one leg, waving my arms like branches failed miserably; not so much a Tree as a broken trunk!

All of which is how I ended up coming home to read the poem for myself, learn a little more about the author and order a copy of one of her poetry books for myself, spurred on by a review from which I gleaned she gives insight into two of the top priorities in retirement: life and the perplexity of ageing!

Comments

Treaders said…
My yoga teacher always starts our class with a proverb - which I quite like. Anytime we get into the "meditation" bits though, I just can't do it. I know, I know, I'm a heathen - but that's when I make my shopping lists! She might have a point though - do we spend so much time cleaning/decluttering that we forget to stop and smell the roses?
5 February 2023 at 14:18
Caree Risover said…
With you all the way and yes, lying still to meditate and my mind races away and as for stopping it wandering by bringing your concentration back to the breath - that shopping list is always more important, isn’t it?
5 February 2023 at 19:21
Bob Lowry said…
Very interesting, especially for a non-yoga person like me. I tend to think of happiness as something we can seek, cultivate, embrace, or encourage.

Joy, on the other hand, is a condition we cannot purposely seek. Rather when enough of our life is in sync with our needs and condition, it spontaneously occurs. I see it as a natural reward for a time when important parts line up correctly. And that is what makes joy so pleasurable.
5 February 2023 at 20:27
Caree Risover said…
Thanks for that Bob, but oh dear, seeking to think about the potential difference between joy and happiness really could prolong the mental turmoil still further
5 February 2023 at 20:59
Cathy said…
I’m of a mind that no matter how you try you can’t fake happiness. Joy just happens when you’re least expecting it

Yoga was great for many years - when I could hear what my teacher was saying. Yes the postures were ‘easy to follow’ but when we got to the bit I really enjoyed (and to be truthful only went to the classes for) I missed half of her musings because she spoke in such low tones. I know I was supposed to drift off into my own little world but I did like to hear her soothing musings- it was only when I ‘felt’ the others stirring I’d know it was time to ‘come to’.
5 February 2023 at 21:08
Caree Risover said…
Sadly those soothing tones and words of calm in the environment of the Yoga studio never quite create the atmosphere where you feel you can say, “Excuse me, I didn’t quite catch that, can you repeat it please?” I do agree Cathy that those little snippets of wisdom are as much if not more fun than the postures themselves.
5 February 2023 at 21:29
www.muddlingthroughmymiddleage.com said…
It sounds as if you have a great yoga instructor! And I do think that some of us push joy away, because we're so busy trying to attain the things we believe will make us happy. We need to be open to happiness and joy whenever it shows up!
6 February 2023 at 19:50
Caree Risover said…
I agree Ann, which is why I was going round in circles as to whether we choose joy or it chooses us
6 February 2023 at 22:52
Gill - That British Woman said…
never done yoga, should give it a go.
7 February 2023 at 00:55
Caree Risover said…
Definitely Gill (although I do prefer Pilates, you just don’t get the little pearls of wisdom in those classes)- helps so much with staying supple as well as relaxing
7 February 2023 at 07:32
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