Fear and uncertainty can bring a shadow on the joy in our lives. The world around us is chaotic—pulling us toward worry, doubt, and gloom. Especially as parents, we fear for the future of our children. But even amid fear, you have the power to choose joy.
Choosing joy requires intentionally shifting and protecting our attention toward the moments of happiness that are already present—feeling your baby’s first kick, a quiet bonding moment with your child, or simply appreciating the present. Hear are some ideas for focusing on joy:
Fear and joy can coexist. The world may try to pull you into hopelessness, but now is the time to stand firm, embrace joy, and keep moving forward.
Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet and teacher, teaches us that we can create joy when needed:
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
Jill Smokler, New York Times bestselling author and founder of the parenting website Scary Mommy, reminds us to pause and find joy no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in:
The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep breath every now and then and enjoy ourselves along the way.
from Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood - The Good, The Bad, and the Scary
How will you choose joy this weekend?
Continue this reflection in the Moment for Parents app.