JOY FROM THE INSIDE OUT

2 IDEAS FROM ME

1. Joy is a precondition for living an extraordinary life in harmony with nature, life calling, and ideal state vision. Its source comes from within. Failure to generate joy internally and expecting life to unfold the way I want results in suffering because it is not a realistic map of reality or complex systems.

2. Joy is the courageous integration of flourishing, eudaimonia, equanimity, and lifeblood. A helpful mnemonic is “FEEL” (Flourishing, Eudaimonia, Equanimity, and Lifeblood).

   • Flourishing is a wellbeing construct with three internationally recognized models from Martin Seligman, Maureen Gaffney, and Tyler J. VanderWeele.

   • Eudaimonia is a Greek word meaning “Good Spirit” for the highest human good.

   • Equanimity is undisturbable psychological composure and balance of mind.

   • Lifeblood is the source of strength and vitality flowing from an accurate understanding of reality and passionate clarity about who you are and how you want to live your life.

2 QUOTES FROM SAGES

1. “Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.  The warriors approach is to say “yes” to life:  “yea” to it all.” —Joseph Campbell (The Hero with a Thousand Faces)

2. “The difference between misery and happiness depends on what we do with our attention.” —Sharon Salzberg (Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness)

1 QUESTION FOR YOU TO EXPLORE

1. What’s the best way to generate joy in your life on a daily basis?

Namaste,

Duane Nelson