(Nimue)
At this point I'm entirely convinced that the quest for joy is the answer - or part of the answer - to all of our problems.
Joy is a state of delight in the world. It's being in a place of feeling good about yourself and what's around you. If you're seeking joy, you're eschewing anything mean or unkind. To cultivate joy, you have to let go of jealousy, resentment, bitterness, greed and the desire to have power over others. While I'm a big believer in the idea of having room for all of our feelings as they arise, if you're focused on joy, you just won't invite those more destructive feelings most of the time.
Joy does not stop us from feeling loss, pain and sorrow. The more heart-open you are to the world the more you will be hurt by it. You'll empathise, grieve, and care. Joy doesn't really work if the people around you are sad and suffering. It's not sustainable in face of terrible things. To be joyful you have to invest not only in your own joy, but in the idea of joy and making the space for it for everyone else, too.
Consumer culture is causing immense harm to the planet. The urge to own and use - especially by the most affluent 1% of humans - is really destructive. When you can seek joy without needing to spend a lot of money on it, living gently and kindly becomes more feasible. When you aren't competing with other people, and don't feel threatened by them, it is easier to feel joyful.
Happiness supports both mental and physical health. If we organised human life around the idea that everyone should be able to be happy and sufficient, all of our problems would rapidly be tackled. The idea that it's acceptable for many people to suffer greatly so that a few people can have more resources than they can possibly enjoy is an idea we urgently need to challenge. Joy should be part of everyone's lives, and it wouldn't be that difficult a thing to achieve.
We know what makes people happy. Philosophy and science have tackled this question. We derive our joy from experiences of beauty, from our own achievements, social recognition and feeling like we're part of something. We find our happiness through relationships with others - human and not-human. There is a huge scope for joy and pleasure intrinsic to being human - food, drink, touch, movement, affection, passion… we are geared for joy and yet we spend so much of our time finding ways to make that unavailable to each other.
This year I promised myself that I'd invest more in my own happiness. I've put the photo at the top of the blog because it illustrates how well this is going. A steady supply of friends keep telling me how much healthier and happier I look. I am joyful in a way that is starting to feel normal. I have a great deal to be happy about.
This photo was taken during a walk, so that meant time outside, encounters with wildness and beauty, and the pleasure of moving. The day included good food, finding exciting books and the pleasure of excellent company. It is, I note, easier to be joyful when you are with someone who is also actively seeking joy and open to all the small wonders a day can bring. It's easier to feel joyful when feeling appreciated, and like the people around you enjoy being with you. Joy is most available to us when we set out to co-create it, and doing so is a radical, powerful choice.
For further thoughts on how sustainability and living happier lives are much the same thing, check out my Earth Spirit book - https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/earth-spirit-beyond-sustainability
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