One of my lifestyle changes for 2018 was to always have a book on my nightstand and to read 30 minutes minimum daily. For October, I shifted my focus from general faith to finding and achieving joy and peace.
The Book of Joy
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World follows a few days with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu through the eyes of writer Douglas Abrams. The two world leaders discuss how to find joy in the everyday and how to encourage it through practice and intention.
I studied world religions in college, and while some focus on a deity and others on interconnections, at the core of every spiritual belief is the idea that serving others and showcasing kindness is the ultimate path to joy. When we give, we experience a joy that is difficult to put into words: helping someone, bringing them happiness, or sharing a positive experience are things that put joy into our lives in a way that nothing else does.
I wrote pages of notes during my reading of this book, but I haven't sat down to expand on the ideas yet. This is definitely a title I want to revisit like The Book of my Life by Teresa of Avila because I know that with each growth in life I experience, I will gain new insights from the teachings of the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu.
The book follows a pattern of stories, lessons, and then first-hand experiences of joy from Abrams. We tend to be so focused on our next step that we forget to stop and live in the moments that we hope pass faster. We won't ever get this moment back, so why not stop to relish in every piece of it? Joy comes from being present, not thinking on the past or anticipating the future.
I'm glad I took a break from the more theological titles I'd been picking up to remind myself that not everything needs to be broken down and analyzed. Sometimes, a little break and a breath of fresh air is all I need to remember how far I've come and how much better life can be with a little more time in silence.
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