Return to Joy

We are here to experience joy.

O Sufi disciples of the moment!

Roses are blooming, and nightingale is

drunk;

it is the call to ecstasy!

In the wilderness of my gloom, the moment

is this instant

when you shower rain upon me

from the cloud of mercy.

Rumi

Trusting in the divine plan and knowing we should enjoy every moment of our life are the first steps toward freedom from mental and spiritual pain. We all have bad days, even weeks, when we fall down in our ability to be happy. No matter how long we live, if we cannot enjoy our prosperity, we are refusing the divine gift of life.

Dear one, life can be hard, but happy people are those who tend to move through hard times with an attitude of clarity, versus victimhood. Unhappy people are those who see themselves as victims of life. They see what has happened to them, rather than finding a way through and out of it. Concentrating on what’s wrong in this world versus what’s right does not lead to a happy life.

There is no escape from experiencing fear and worry at times but make an important distinction between feeling it and living it. You might be so caught up with achieving your next goal or the next item on your to-do list that you forget how wonderful life truly is. As Rumi suggests, concentrate on living in the now and create a dream about the future. This is how you become excited about something you are working on, grateful for what you have, and are able to dream about the possibilities of life.

Mantra

I am here in this world to experience joy. I dedicate a portion of my everyday life to turning off all technology and slowing the pace of my life. I celebrate the present moment and live in gratitude!