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What if Your Life Purpose is Joy?

10/22/2024

11 Comments

 
Joy is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. - Dictionary.com

When I was younger, and I was asked what I wanted to do or become, I found it difficult to answer. I felt like I was supposed to say something like journalist, teacher, nurse or therapist, when my prevailing heart wish was just to be happy.

Do you know your heart wish? What if it's your life purpose?
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Life Purpose: Joy, Laughter
​and Happiness

Because true joy lives in moments, it's a lot simpler and easier to find than happiness.
​- The Aesthetics of Joy

From different sources and at different times, the message keeps coming to me that my soul's purpose, my life purpose, my ultimate purpose is joy. And the mentor I admire most, Kerry K., says that as lightworkers, our most important mission right now is to focus on our inner world and stay connected to it.

Well, you'd think that I would be happier about that goal since I spent decades dedicated to happiness. Even when I began to understand that I was a healer, my purpose just broadened to include the happiness of others.

And in 2016 and 2017, before my mother got sick with cancer and then passed away less than six months later, I was winning!

I was sold out to hygge and coziness (anyone remember that?) And my thinking was this: you flood your day with as many hygge moments as you can, and each day, those moments will nullify, or at least offset the challenges you face.

It felt like that was working.

Then my mother died, and my life descended into hell.

And though life is much better now, six years later, I'm not the same person I was then.

The idea of a life built around comfort and joy sounds weird. But I've been getting intuitive guidance that suggests that my life is about to shift into an even better experience, where happiness and joy are more possible than ever.

Coupled with this idea of joy as a purpose, I'm thinking I better get used to the idea?

Unfortunately, though, contrary to my own popular opinion, I don't think I recovered as much as I thought I did from those 5 days without power (and light.) But I am doing what I can to be there for myself - including lots of time with my light box.

And luckily, Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas started last weekend! Christmastime is here!!
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Is Your Life Purpose Joy, too?


What do you think about this idea of having joy as a life purpose? 

I quoted the article from that joy website and in it, she says that because defining our own happiness is complicated, we are more likely to think we should be happy than to know that we are happy. But she goes on to assert that we all can decide whether or not we feel joyful in any given moment and we could probably answer easily if someone asked us this question...

What would bring you joy right now?

So if it is my purpose and yours, life might be as simple as asking ourselves each day, or each week, what would bring us joy, and then arranging our lives to honor that heart wish.
​

What's in the Way of Your Joy?


Find out what's killing your joy by taking the quiz at The Aesthetics of Joy.

I took it & my biggest joy-killer was perfectionism (fear of failure). Second was being a taskmaster because secretly, I don't believe I deserve joy.

​If you take it, tell me in a comment what your top two are.

See you next time!

Love, Jeanine
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11 Comments
Nadya link
10/22/2024 11:21:06 am

Beautiful reflection, Jeanine
I love the Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu - where they celebrate inner joy in the midst of unhappiness and challenging experiences!
I feel blessed to have heard each of them speak in nearby Portland, and enjoyed reading about their lives and their friendship - Desmond even got the Dalai Lama to dance (a bit!!)

Nature, community and little things bring me joy!
I do remember your focus on hygge - and often think of you when I'm curled up with a book and blanket!! Ikigai, having a sense of purpose, is thought to be one of the keys to healthy longevity!

The quiz sounds intriguing - I'll report back!

Reply
Jeanine Byers link
10/22/2024 11:50:17 am

Oh, how wonderful, Martha, to have seen and heard them. And yes, joy in the face of challenges is a tremendous success. It takes courage to reach for and risk joy, especially in the hard times. I'm so happy that you have sources of joy. And I love that you think of me when you are curled up in comfort.

Reply
Brenda Marie Fluharty
10/22/2024 12:19:36 pm

So, funny you wrote about this because the past couple of days, I have rediscovered, a deep joy for writing poetry and flash fiction. I am falling in love with my blog Writing Through the Soul.

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Jeanine Byers link
10/22/2024 09:27:11 pm

Oh, Brenda, that's wonderful!! I'm so glad to hear that. Maybe that means I will get my wish and eventually, there will be a book of stories?

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Tamara link
10/22/2024 02:46:29 pm

Love this ❤️ Fortunately I experience a lot of joy about smaller and bigger things in life.

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Jeanine Byers link
10/22/2024 09:28:37 pm

Oh that's great, Tamara! I love hearing that you regularly experience a lot of joy.

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Alice Gerard link
10/22/2024 05:38:42 pm

This is so beautiful. I always wondered what my purpose in life was, but I've never been able to figure it out. The best I could come up with was to do creative stuff. But I am still doubting.

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Jeanine Byers link
10/22/2024 09:30:25 pm

Thank you so much, Alice!! I know what you mean about wondering about and doubting your purpose. Like you, I felt like I knew the big or broad purpose (creativity for you and healing for me), but I wondered about the details.

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Martha link
10/22/2024 06:24:21 pm

I had the best life filled with joy for over 59 years, then the joy left when Rich passed away.

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Jeanine Byers link
10/22/2024 09:34:02 pm

I know, Martha! Big hugs and love. You know, I feel like I fell in love with your love story with Rich. Over the years, I so loved hearing about it and celebrating it with you. So I feel the loss, too - or maybe I should say it helps me understand your loss because I know it was a great big love. It must be so hard to know how to move on from such a huge blow. But know that those of us who love you want to be there for you in any way we can!! <3

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Jasmine Quiles link
10/23/2024 06:57:24 am

Such a beautiful reminder that finding our life’s purpose is deeply connected to the joy we allow ourselves to experience. Your words are both inspiring and grounding—it’s so important to embrace the journey of self-discovery and the joy that comes with it. Thank you for sharing this heartfelt reflection!

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    Hi, I'm Jeanine

    Spiritual guide, intuitive, and comfort ritual creator. I help lightworkers stay grounded, peaceful, and soul-aligned. Try a comforting ritual (free) or explore the Fearless Lightworker Toolkit.

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