Simple Ways to Seek Joy in Our Summer Season

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By Sam Tocchini, Acupuncturist

Summertime is here and it started me thinking about how much fun and adventure we Alaskans pack into this special season. In the Five Element acupuncture tradition, the season of summer correlates to the bright sparkly joy for life, the sound of laughter, play in heat of the day, and flowers in bloom. It is a very “yang” time, a lot of up and out movement, with little down time. Hopefully if you have rested well through the winter and stored enough energy, your reserves will be full to enjoy a spectacularly fun summer!  

The Dalai Lama has a quote I love: “The three factors that seem to have the greatest influence on increasing our happiness are our ability to reframe our situation more positively, our ability to experience gratitude, and our choice to be kind and generous.” - Dalai Lama XIV, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World  

I reflect often on this quote and on one of his teachings to fill up other’s “buckets” with kindness, love and respect, and in turn, that will bring YOU happiness. He calls it being “wisely selfish” and a delightful way to cherish others on the way to your own happiness. These simple teachings can bring so much joy to our lives ... and so much happiness as well ... but what is the difference between the two?  

Curiosity got the better of me, so I had to look for some official definitions and, boy, was I SURPRISED at what I found. Have you ever known a word/definition to be true for you in a certain way, and then when you read the definition, it is not at all what you thought it meant? Here goes:  

·      Happiness is a state of well-being. Contentment. A pleasurable or satisfying experience. Happiness is what happens to us ... you may seek it, but it is not a conscious choice you make.   

·      Joy is the emotion and expression evoked by well-being. Success. Good fortune or doing the work of “processing what one desires.” Joy is a choice. Purposefully made.    

What do you want in life? Do you know? It seems like a reasonable question, but often we do not take the time in our busy lives to sit with it. The simple, active process of working toward this is what can bring you joy. Not the big WIN at the end of a game, the dream car, the vacation ... whatever the end result of your desires are, but the triumph of learning something about yourself, and following through with long-ago dreams and goals for this lifetime are what bring the deepest joy. The process is where the really good, juicy stuff is at.  

Delight, pleasure, jubilation, glee, bliss, radiance, spark, play, mirth and zest for living (joie de vivre). You pick the word you like best ... or use them all!  

That feeling of exuberance and enthusiasm for life is infectious (in a good way! And go out shouting to the world your excitement and dancing in the street because it feels THAT good). 

Simple ways to cultivate this in our summer season of joy and fun:

·      Surround yourself with positivity.

·      Laugh.

·      Smile big.

·      Be goofy.

·      Dance, wiggle, move your body to joyful, groovy music.

·      Love the small things.

·      Self care.

·      Random acts of kindness.

And my personal favorite ... ACT! Stop waiting! You and only you are the one who knows your deepest desires, what makes your heart flutter with glee and your spirit sparkle. Make the steps to start the journey. I really hope that you have something in mind already, but if not, try journaling, talking to an old friend, reading a book or brainstorming with no limits.   

It brings me great joy to see others living life in a state of happiness, filled with delight. I do believe you can achieve both, but remember, happiness does not bring you joy and joy is not the by-product of happiness ... joy is the process itself.

I cannot wait to hear what you come up with.  

Much love, 

Sam