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August 16, 2025: Cultivating Moments of Joy

Oxford Dictionary: Joy: noun 1. a feeling of great pleasure and happiness

During challenging times, whether they are personal, in our community of family and friends, or on a global stage, the concept of “cultivating joy” can seem to be an exercise in futility. Struggles in our own lives can be exacerbated by daily onslaughts of negative news. But during times like these, where anxiety, despair and fear can seep into our daily thoughts, joy can be a beacon of light, yielding feelings of gratitude, pleasure and a sense of well-being.

“Joy comes to us in moments—ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.”

—Brené Brown

I still remember the sense of joy I felt on the day I married my husband Ron, and the incredible memory of holding my first-born child. But joy does not have to be reserved for epic moments like those in our lives. It can be cultivated with the act of choosing to become aware and feel gratitude for the small joys that slip into our day, often in unexpected moments. Rather than doom-scrolling* through social media and being consumed by all of the negativity we see and hear, we can open our eyes to the simple blessings that are present in our lives. This doesn’t mean we should ignore what’s happening in our lives and world, it simply provides a way to balance out all the events which seem frightening and wrong, by paying attention to those things that feel good and right.

What gives each one of us a sense of great pleasure and happiness is as unique as we are as individuals. For me, it can be as simple as witnessing the incredible beauty of a sunset, savoring the sweet taste of a sun-kissed strawberry, or sharing a hug with a beloved grandchild. Choosing to focus our attention on those moments, helps us to remember that there is joy to be found, even admidst the demands, despair and trials of modern life,

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”

—Henri Nouwen

The idea of cultivating joy involves the intention of including in our daily life, activities and strategies to enhance our sense of positivity and well-being. We can choose to focus on what we are grateful for, illuminating the gifts in our lives. We can make the choice to implement time each day, even if it’s only a few minutes, to do something that gives us comfort and pleasure. Like getting up 15 minutes early, to savor a cup of tea and watch the sun rise instead of “hitting the floor running.” One of my favorite pleasures after a busy day, is to fill a tub with lavender and epsom salts, light a candle and play soft music. It never fails to ease the stress away and give me a sense of comfort and peace.

We can connect with the loved ones in our life, from family to treasured friends. We can give joyfully to others. Even considering all of the hectic and sometimes overwhelming demands of life, we can choose to step back, take a breath and focus on the positives. Discovering the joys in our life can circumvent those rabbit holes of negative thoughts and worries, into a more joyful and positive mindset.

In essence, we can take time to reflect on the question, “what makes us happy”? We can sift through all the “big external things: awards, epic events, money, success, etc, and find those sweet little nuggets of joy to illuminate our day. The more we recognize the joys in our daily lives, the more we feel it, and the more joyful we can become.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to read this blogpost. As always, I’m including inspirational quotes, this time on joy, that I found to be particularly meaningful. It never fails to amaze me how these quotes resonate from voices throughout time and come through the lenses of artists, musicians, philosophers, spiritual leaders and writers. I invite you to share your thoughts, quotes that inspire you, and/or to share those moments that bring you joy.

In peace, harmony and joy,

Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS ON JOY

“Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss all.”

—Robert Louis Stevenson

“Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.”

—Helen Keller

“Finding joy is probably tantamount to finding yourself and being comfortable in your own skin.”

—Morgan Freeman

“See the world through the eyes of your inner child. The eyes that sparkle in awe and amazement as they see love, magic and mystery in the most ordinary things.”

—Henna Sohail

“The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.”

—Russell M. Nelson

“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”

Louisa May Alcott

“We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.”

—Joseph Campbell

“If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment.”

—Carlos Santana

“When we are centered in joy, we attain our wisdom.”

—Marianne Williamson

“True joy results when we become aware of our connectedness to everything.”

—Paul Pearsall

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.”

—Karl Barth

*doom scrolling is the process of spending large amounts of time absorbing negative and upsetting news on social media,.to the point where it takes over emotions leaving one anxious, afraid and depressed.