I was having a pretty good day last Saturday morning. The sun was shining. I was feeling healthy and looking forward to the weekend. Then my phone rang. It was news that my motor repair was going to be costly. My day changed. I was now in a sour mood and frustrated to be spending money I had not planned on spending.
Now what had changed? The sun was still shining. I was still physically healthy but did not feel the same. Why? My circumstances had changed which was out of my control. My perspective shifted which was in my control. I had a choice to make. Was I going to allow this unforeseen expense to ruin my mood and my day? Or was I going to choose to assess how I was going to pay for it then return to my sunny day?
Happiness vs. Joy
I hear people use the terms happiness and joy interchangeably. They are not the same. Happiness is a feeling that depends on my circumstances and is typically fleeting. It is out of my control and varies during the day. Joy is an attitude and more of a state of being. This is steadier and in my control. The challenge is not to allow circumstances to steal my joy.
Decide Where to Camp
For example, my motor repair was out of my control and brought on feelings of frustration and some fear about the cost. If I had camped out there my day was done, and I would have seen other things through a negative lens the rest of the day. I chose instead to acknowledge the reality of what I was facing and thought through the cost. Then I pivoted by considering what I could be grateful for in that moment…such as I had the money set aside for times like this or labeling this situation as a First World problem. This is not the power of positive thinking by ignoring the negative. It is framing what is going on with some perspective. The day was still sunny, and I was still healthy. It could still be a good day and weekend.
Life is hard at times. We can make it harder if we are not intentional in choosing a healthy outlook. Don’t allow circumstances to steal your joy.
