“Evolution has hard-wired the brain for spiritual experience and the most dramatic spiritual experience is joy. - George Vaillant, M.D. When my newborn child was placed in my arms, I felt pure joy. The first time he smiled at me, my heart expanded. Do you recall the first time you experienced happiness and joy?
"In contrast, joy stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the “rest and digest” functions." I have Crohn's Disease, Tracy, and a lot of people have told me about the head-to-gut relationship. This sentence here really sticks out to me, because it was in a moment of heightened anxiety and perhaps even depression that my Crohn's manifested itself for the first time. It seems cultivating more joy in my life will help me keep the disease at bay, based on what you said here. Cheers. Thanks for liking my note about my nephew, by the way. I've subscribed!
“Lean into the ordinary - stop chasing the extraordinary” - loved this reminder Tracy. I’ve dug into the differences between happiness and joy often. This was a wonderful take and reminder to get back on the joy train. Thank you.
This was over and above, Tracy. What a beautifully written piece from the heart. I wish you nothing but pure joy and trust in your Faith. I will share this with someone who desperately needs to be be reminded of this while presently undergoing adversities. Thank you 🙏
Before reading your article I mused on my definitions of happiness and joy: happiness more fleeting, joy felt at my core.
Then I wondered - I've been trying to get on to a Chief Happiness Officer course for around 2-3 years. When I mention it to people, there's often a raising of eyebrows followed by a 'that must be nonsense' out-breath masking a guffaw. But what if it were called Chief Joy Officer? Would that change the response?
Tracy — thank you for unpacking the clear distinctions between happiness and joy. It is powerful, at least to me, to reflect on the fact that it is the most ordinary of things that bring us joy. Yesterday, I held my new granddaughter for the first time—she smiled at me—and in that moment I knew what a ‘bundle of joy’ truly meant!
I go for Joy all day! :) it is more all encompassing!:)
"In contrast, joy stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the “rest and digest” functions." I have Crohn's Disease, Tracy, and a lot of people have told me about the head-to-gut relationship. This sentence here really sticks out to me, because it was in a moment of heightened anxiety and perhaps even depression that my Crohn's manifested itself for the first time. It seems cultivating more joy in my life will help me keep the disease at bay, based on what you said here. Cheers. Thanks for liking my note about my nephew, by the way. I've subscribed!
“Lean into the ordinary - stop chasing the extraordinary” - loved this reminder Tracy. I’ve dug into the differences between happiness and joy often. This was a wonderful take and reminder to get back on the joy train. Thank you.
Great article.
This was over and above, Tracy. What a beautifully written piece from the heart. I wish you nothing but pure joy and trust in your Faith. I will share this with someone who desperately needs to be be reminded of this while presently undergoing adversities. Thank you 🙏
Before reading your article I mused on my definitions of happiness and joy: happiness more fleeting, joy felt at my core.
Then I wondered - I've been trying to get on to a Chief Happiness Officer course for around 2-3 years. When I mention it to people, there's often a raising of eyebrows followed by a 'that must be nonsense' out-breath masking a guffaw. But what if it were called Chief Joy Officer? Would that change the response?
Tracy — thank you for unpacking the clear distinctions between happiness and joy. It is powerful, at least to me, to reflect on the fact that it is the most ordinary of things that bring us joy. Yesterday, I held my new granddaughter for the first time—she smiled at me—and in that moment I knew what a ‘bundle of joy’ truly meant!