~ Bright Star
Two kinds of JOY, . . . maybe . . .
I had an article all written up, but somehow it didn't seem quite like the article that would be sent out for all of you to read. So I waited and asked for clarification. This evening this article was given to me as I worked on a house project. OH yes, my house project. For those who don't know me on a personal level, I don't mind painting a room, learning how to do something constructive around the house (like laying tile or re-texturing a wall)- if it feels creative to me, then I'm all for it. Currently it is updating the family room. Last month was updating the Massage Studio.
So there I was thinking in the back of mind that I really need to be working on the website and get it updated instead of painting. And then I thought how it really brings me joy to do these projects that are created around the house. Then I realized the article was already written and it all revolved around this very thought.
At first I was thinking how there are two kinds of joy. The one that brings me joy because of something I do, like my projects. I find fulfillment in seeing the potential of a space and having it transform. Feeling that inspired force pull me forward in taking a risk in creativity is exciting. Like picking a color to go on a wall that feels good to me, one I enjoy, putting it together with what I already have available and seeing the outcome unfold right before my eyes. Or similarly, when I was in college I was deeply interested in photography. One of my prized photographs of an old gate in an abandon church was taken on an inspired whim. My professor secretly submitted it to a competition and said, “Oh, by the way, I submitted your photograph, results should in be soon.” All I could think of was how did she got a copy of my photo? Then the night before I got married, I received the First place award for the Rockie Mountain Collegic Photography Contest. I won first out of those submissions from all colleges west of the Rockie Mountains. Cool, huh? The joy I had in taking the photograph was purely for my creative joy. The rest was all bonus!
So as my hand swipes my hair out of my face (again) and I reach across the wall with the paint roller, my mind wonders to what my husband will think of the room when it is complete. Then I realize the second kind of joy. This Joy #2 is the joy experienced when you do something you know will make ANOTHER person happy. Like getting their favorite goodie and surprising them just for the heck of it. Or dropping a note in the mail with a smile just because they crossed your mind. Doing an action that you know will bring someone else joy is an outward expression generated FOR that person. It takes kindness to want to acknowledge that person in a way you know will bring them joy. It's a place of great integrity coming forward in a creative expression. While my husband was out of town, I decided to get a jump start on the room, easing the load he would have complete. Through this act, I feel joy in my creative expression of personal accomplishment, but also my husband will be happy that he doesn't have to do it (I like to paint more that he does).As my thoughts linger on my husband's joy, I begin to feel even more joyful! Then I realize, there is really only one kind of joy - not two. When I complete Joy #2, an action that makes another happy, it really in turn makes me happy to see their joy. So all actions, personal to the self or outward toward another, both have the same effect of creating joy for me! It's all about what brings me joy!
A very smart person (whom I won't name here, but they know who they are), once said, “Don't do it for them, do it for yourself.” Originally this was in context of consciously being aware of actions that others may or may not care about what you are doing. I f they don't care and you set yourself up to be disappointed, then there is no joy. BUT, if it brings you joy regardless of what another thinks or how they participate, then joy is accomplished regardless. And if by chance your actions bring them joy as well, then it's bonus! Your joy has become infectious!
“Do it for yourself.” I'm not endorsing selfish acts of greed and pleasure and control. This about listening to those gentle nudges inside of you that you know is a gift of happiness and most often it simply is in complete and utter alignment of who you really are - that is joy. These are the joyful acts that do not create any confusion as to their place in your life, they simply exist in a beautiful way and they are doing their jobs perfectly by bringing you joy.
When I started asking some of my students if they were reading these articles and the response was mixed, at first I was disappointed, but I had to ask myself - why do I do them then? Why do I take the time to compose them at all? The answer was simple - I enjoy it and I feel inspired to do so! If the articles reach another person, then like the photo of the gate, we may have a surprise winner and it's a bonus! And if not, it was still worth it to me to be creatively expressive because it brought me joy to listen to the gentle nudges of my inner being and see it's potential unfold before my eyes, just like my house projects.
If you do something for another that makes them happy but it doesn't make you happy, then there is no joy. Reevaluate. Create a way to bring joy into it either directly or through a Joy #2 action. Joy #2, remember, is an outward expression directed for a person that it makes you happy to see them happy.
Live in joy, create joy for yourself, see it in others and joy will find you in all facets of your life. (And just to give you a heads up, sometimes Joy has a sense of humor and may arrive incognito!)
Ok, I'm off, I have more projects of joy awaiting!
May you be lit from within with inspiration, creativity, kindness and joy!
~Bright Star
© 2008 Bright Star Inspirations
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