Copyright © 2021 Lee Spirit

Last weekend it finally warmed up, so I headed out for a cross-country ski – One of the simple joys in life! It was one of the most spectacular “forest bathing” experiences I’ve ever had! The trees were so happy it warmed up to -6C that they were dropping snow bombs and spraying my face. It was like a cool shower of angel dust from the heavens! The beauty of it is that the trees shared their joy with all the skiers below, making everyone smile! These are the simple joys in life that we need to find when the world feels like a gloomy place.

Simple Joys and the Grieving Heart

The world has indeed been pretty dark this past year. Many people are grieving the loss of loved ones – Perhaps more now than ever before in our lifetimes! It breaks my heart to watch some of my friends grieving the loss of their siblings and significant others. So trying to find the simple joys amidst this pain seems almost like an insult to our grieving hearts! How can we be happy and live more fully, open to the gifts that are all around us when we are hurting so badly inside?

What Happens To the Heart

When we suffer a loss or trauma of any sort, the cosmos shifts, and our worlds turn upside-down. When there is fear, pain, or suffering, we often just shut right down, closed to any notion of joy. In times like these, we even lose our faith that any good can come in the world, that there is a God, and our lives may lose meaning. We can become angry for what has been taken away from us. When we feel rejected, unloved, or “less than”, we know no happiness. What is this elusive happiness anyways? Why do we always feel empty, deficient, and hungry for something more? How can we plaster a smile on our faces when underneath we feel our insides have been torn out?

How Suffering Leads To Finding Joy

We often don’t think to live fully alive until we are faced with a serious illness or death. A wake-up call can shake us back into the reality that we are only here for a short time, and we must embrace this life. It is only then that we start appreciating every simple joy and blessing that is before us. We start to notice everything in fine detail, taking in the beauty of every moment. This is because we are shaken into realizing it could be the last time we experience this beauty.

In her book, “One Thousand Gifts”, Ann Voskamp describes grief and joy so perfectly, and painfully, and asks some important questions: “Will I live fully – or just empty?” Why is it so hard to see the beauty around us? Do we have to travel to see beauty? Isn’t beauty right before our eyes? She accurately says that life is not about travelling, possessing, and accomplishing; It’s about grace, gratitude, and joy – in every moment! We need to wake up to this grace, gratitude, and joy before it’s too late.

Finding Simple Joys in the Meditative State

It is often in our suffering, loss, and pain that we come into a greater awareness of who we really are. It may be difficult at first, but we can shift our perspective to see suffering as a gift. This teacher will show us the truth of our beings, and the way forward.

If we have taken the time to learn how to get into the meditative state, we can get there even faster when we are suffering. We then find out quickly that we can handle any obstacle that comes our way. We can do this through a regular practice of yoga and meditation. But wouldn’t it be better to cultivate this state of calm and be able to access it before a tragedy occurs?

The important thing to remember is that we don’t have to wait for an accident to happen, a near-death experience, or an illness to wake up and live fully alive. We can learn to calm our inner state, recalibrate and rejuvenate, and discover who we really are. This will wake us up to life’s simple joys!

Take Action to Find the Joy

I’ve spent a good chunk of my life reading about everything I want to have in my life: Love, relationships, connections, communication, purpose, and even joy. But as with everything, joy isn’t something you can just read up on and suddenly you’re joyful! We have to take some action – Baby steps to simple joys! This often happens through a regular practice of gratitude.

We must find the blessings in everything that we already have, instead of wishing for more, bigger, or better. Also, we can thank God, great Spirit, angels, or the Universe for whatever comes our way. Know that some good will come out of every rough road in the end. Sometimes when we’re stuck in our old ways of doing things, we never even notice how badly we need to make a change. The rocky roads often lead us to this positive change, even if it shakes us at first. There is always light in the darkness!

Simple Joys Through Gratitude

It can start with something as easy as a Gratitude Journal. Write down everything you love – The smell of coffee in the morning, the scent of the fresh Spring rain, snow showers on your face from the trees dropping snow bombs, the sunlight beaming through the trees like angels from the heavens…Learn how to give thanks for everything, whether you are empty or full.

Learn more here about How To Be Grateful During Challenging Times

Joy Through Being Present

Practicing gratitude also means a deeper awareness of the present. In the moment, we pay attention to everything more closely and slow down time. For example, noticing the colour, scent, and shapes of the flowers while out on a walk instead of rushing by them in a hurry to get to the mountain top.

We find more joy when we realize how quickly time goes by, and the impermanence of our life and everything in it. So this slowing of time occurs when we really pay attention to the minute details of the beauty all around us. We can do this by focusing more on our 6-7 senses: Touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing, proprioception, vestibular (Having to do with your body movement through space). Really pay attention to the taste of your food, the texture, the smell. Notice what you love about that. See the angelic beauty in the sunlight through the trees. This is how we become more present.

Joy and Grief on the Same Continuum

“Joy and pain, they are but two arteries of the one heart that pumps through all those who don’t numb themselves to really living”–Ann Voskamp.

By giving thanks for everything, all people, situations, every loss or struggle, we live with grace. You have to want to see the simple joys in these moments of strife. There is always joy there, if you look for it and trust that it is there. Then, when we find it, it is multiplied when we give it away to others.

Lee Spirit is an avid outdoors adventurer with a love for nature, photography, health & fitness, wellness, and spirituality. Her own personal journey has led her to the  study and practice of mindfulness, health, wellness, yoga, spirituality, sound healing, meditation, and personal development for over 20 years. Heal Your Grief and Find Joy with this Free Report and Newsletter!