For this Self-Care Sunday on Christmas Day, I thought it would be a good time to talk about joy. After all, churches and radio stations all over the world will be playing the famous Christmas carol, ‘Joy to the World’. But what is joy? And what is it not?
I’ve heard many preachers say that joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness comes from circumstances. Like when you’re having fun with your friends, watching a good movie, or eating something delicious. It’s a temporary moment that leaves when the moment is over.
In contrast, joy is an internal gladness that perseveres no matter the circumstance. Of course, there are tragic things that can happen and “steal a person’s joy.” But as best as I can tell, joy is about perspective. By that I mean all bad situations eventually pass, and how we move on from them is where can choose to be joyful or cynical. For me, being cynical happened way too often in my youth, and did nothing to help me get through difficult moments in my life. If anything, it made the situation worse because I began to attract negative people and these relationships were just too exhausting to maintain.
Which is why I’m dedicating this self-care Sunday to celebrating joy, celebrating faith, celebrating healthy relationships, and maintaining our joy during difficult situations, that will eventually pass.
Take care, and God bless you.❤️ 🙏🏼
Header illustration by Deb Evans