Be the spreader of joy

“No matter how gloomy the cloud may be, there will still be a silver lining”. That’s one of the expressions of wisdom I grew up with. Sometimes we focus on things that are not working well at the expense of those that are. We tend to pay attention to our problems, forgetting all our blessings. It is normal for us to be aware of our pain but easy to disregard moments without pain. That natural tendency reflects in our disposition to life in general. We unconsciously project our challenges and frustrations for others to see, and that sometimes has an overall negative impact. Those who are not happy cannot spread happiness. Those who take pleasure in focusing on their pain alone are unlikely to bring joy to others. It is not about whether we have our own challenges or not, but our disposition that determines our ultimate experience.

One thing we must all realize is that no matter how difficult or problematic situations around us may be, there will always be one thing that we can be grateful for. Instead of expending our energy on shortfalls and inadequacies, we should rather focus our attention on that one thing that brings joy. A joyful heart glows, bringing illumination to the hearts of others around them. Our true experience in life is that which flows from our hearts. When the heart is right, everything will be alright. However, when the heart is filled with bitterness, nothing is alright. Meanwhile, whether the heart is joyful or not is not really about what happened to the person, but about the person’s perspectives and dispositions.
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It does seem like each one of us has a decision to make. Life will throw all sorts of things at us, and some of them may not be positive. The ups and downs are real for everyone as long as we live. Instead of letting life rob us of joy and gladness, we should let goodness flow from our hearts. In that case, our true experience will not depend on what happens or does not happen to us, but on an inner strength that comes from within. Let your heart glow. Be the spreader of joy.

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Actions for the week

1. Spend time thinking about the good things around you. You may need to think a bit to realize how blessed you are. Take stock. Count your blessings.
2. Determine to allow only joyful thoughts in your heart. Let your heart be full of good things – positive thoughts. Reject all forms of negativity.
3. Be the spreader of joy. Let your heart glow and illuminate others around you.

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​A quote to remember
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

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Until another time,
Dele Ola, Award-Winning Author of Be A Change Agent
​Click HERE to learn about and get copies of Dele’s Books