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The Simplicity of Joy
especially once we become more
attuned to them. Then with each pass-
the ownership of the ball. ing day, we will find that these small
by Lana Charlton Possibly it is the everyday aspects delights, which bring a deeper level of
of our daily lives that will bring us the appreciation for everything the universe
T
he father of humanistic psychol- most joy if we take the time to notice. has given to our lives, are miracles,
ogy, Abraham Maslow, searched Each individual moment has an “exu- presents, which can only be experienced
for what constituted positive berance and exhilaration” to it if we in the present.
mental health. Through this he found will take the opportunity to look for the C. K. Chesterton wrote, “The
what is thought of as a hierarchy of awe, the pleasure, even the ecstasy of modern world is a crowd of very rapid
needs within people. These range from the moment. This is what the wisdom racing cars all brought to a standstill
the most basic needs like air, water and teachers and writers have been express- and stuck in a block of traffic.” e can W
food, to safety, social, and belonging ing through the ages - the basics of life be a part of the traffic jam or we can
issues. At the top of his list was “self will bring us great joy if looked for, choose the road less traveled. The road
actualization”. In general terms self noticed, and then appreciated. of joy, appreciation, and attention to
actualized people were spontaneous I participated in a nine-day “retreat” the extraordinary detail of each individ-
and creative, not bound too strictly by with three of those days alone in the ual moment awakens our true self - the
social conventions and recognized the desert fasting. It had turned unusually actualized self, and we see how rich
power of gratitude to uplift the soul. cold, rainy, and had some of the highest and blessed we truly are.
“Appreciation again and again, freshly winds recorded for many years during Rev. Lana Charlton
and naively, of the basic goods of life those three days. The cup of coffee I was is the senior minister at
with awe, pleasure, wonder and even offered when returning to base camp was Unity Gateway Church,
ecstasy, however stale these experienc- the best coffee I can ever remember. It Coral Springs, and
es have become to others” was a true wasn’t specialty coffee, it was just hot and writes for numerous
gift of self actualized individuals. steamy and I remember thinking this is worldwide, national,
C.K. Chesterton, a prolific writer, the best coffee I have ever had in my life. and local publications.
described himself as “exuberant” and Awakening to the joy that surrounds See ads page 7 & 70.
“exhilarated” by all that life offered. It you may at first seem easy. Then the
has been written about him that he was stressors of life creep in and once again
delighted, surprised and in awe of all we forget the “best coffee I ever had”
life. A letter to his fiancée expressed this moments. Begin anew when you catch
when he wrote, “I do not think there yourself starting to stress. It can take a
is anyone who takes quite such fierce conscious effort to find the “startling
pleasure in things being themselves as I wetness of water” when you have just
do. The startling wetness of water excites been let go from your job.
and intoxicates me; the fierceness of Conscious effort is the key to all of
fire, the steeliness of steel, the unutter- life, most especially a joyful life. Devel-
able muddiness of mud.” This was a self oping a consciousness of joy requires
actualized individual. paying attention and practice. Begin to
When was the last time you actu- make joy a part of your daily routine.
ally found the deep joy of “things being When you awaken in the morning, set
themselves?” In fact, upon reflection, the intention to notice and create more
most of our basic unhappiness occurs joy in the world. Yes, you might have
when we want to change people, places, to fake it until you make it on some
and things from being as they are. days. Not every Olympic athlete gets up
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has with great enthusiasm to practice their
joy, exuberance and exhilaration in workout but they do it for the joy of their
each level. It is hard to be joyful when sport - the ultimate good feeling of ac-
the very basics are needful. Yet, when I complishment practice offers.
see tribal villages in third world coun- Has your consciousness become
tries shown on documentaries I am stale, stressed, or is your life reflecting
always awed at their level of joy with the movie “Groundhog Day”, the same
the very basics. Women walking with thing over and over? Taking each small
water balanced on their head laughing moment of the day like the morning’s
and talking as they walk. Watching the hot morning shower, the smell and taste
joy of children sharing the one commu- of your first cup of coffee, or your dog’s
nal soccer ball with great enthusiasm cold nose nudging you early so they can
for the game rather than arguing over go out can be expansion of joy,
December 2008 33
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