Joy of Life Discussion Group

June 19, 2012

Today’s Topic: Finding the Good

Some of the things we discussed today were:

Look for the good in every situation. When you are hit with the bad, do some comparing of the bad and good in what’s going on or what you’re thinking.

A non-reaction or a positive reaction to a hostile person will often bring them around to positive.

Fully absorb the little beauties and pleasures around you. Start your day in a peaceful place.

Let problems and disturbing issues float through your mind, but don’t hold on to them.

We can always find good in a feeling of accomplishment or the reward of creativity. Relish the feeling of what you’ve accomplished in each chore, each day, each year.

Don’t miss the beauty around you. It changes constantly. Look at it now before it moves on.

Carry a beautiful and peaceful memory that’s very specific with you all the time and use it to bring yourself out of a bad mood or negative circumstance.

Bad things are valuable too. Experience them, learn from them, value them and then move on.

Don’t let fear block your joy.

Joy is different than happiness. Happiness is brief and fleeting, joy blankets your whole existence. We might be unhappy over something, but it need not take away our joy.

Accept the bad things- they’re part of the adventure of life. Know that they really don’t matter in the long run except for what we learn from them.

Can you change your thoughts? Yes, with practice. You are not your thoughts. You are the observer looking at them, evaluating them and changing their course.

Things happen for the best in the long run. Sometimes we have to hit the bottom to start coming up, but we can always rise up to the good, to joy.

Fred Richter 6-19-12