Joy

Kristen's ending of the #200 Challenge rendered me speechless.

The impact was not immediate, I'll admit. The feeling her 'vocal bliss' piece illustrated was emitted while laughing in the shower that dark and gloomy (turned blue and bountiful) morning.

It hit like a ton of unexpected bricks -

I am happy.

Ironic as I rush to complete this blog post a week later with teary eyes of frustrated sorrow. Each great idea I failed to document, seemingly erased from dissipating memories and replaced with flaming shame instead.

There must be a difference, then, between joy and happiness. Experiences of immense catatonic happiness coupled with the dread of simply breathing are not far from uncommon.

We engage in pleasurable means to achieve eventual suffering.

A simple quote to live by which captures this is the following:

Short term pleasure = long term pain

This unfortunate human pursuit may explain a surge of joyous sadness experienced today.

This got me thinking - do happy feelings positively correlate with accomplishing your dreams, by pursuing activities that enhance the probability them being achieved?

Not only this, but do acts of deliberate suffering against these values limit your ability to feel happiness and joy simultaneously?

𓇻 The Dreaded Identity Crisis

While living in Kamloops, British Columbia (BC) for a year, I embarked on what would become the greatest identity crisis yet.

The need to explore the world and inner me inspired a spontaneous pitstop here while en route to Vancouver Island. It made this dream a sudden and shocking reality.

Have you ever felt an immense sense of peace amidst inner turmoil and rapid thinking?

A vacation deemed necessity sparked this, along with needs to explore inner me - supporting eventual flow state creations. Moving away from your hometown and family helps, too - even for a year or just a few weeks.

From binge drinking and sleepless nights to forgotten souls forever tied, my identify felt the clash of the dark and light forces - as if the galaxy within became the Imperial Star Destroyer.

It was here where the crisis I lived through for most of my adult life was recognized - moments of pleasure causing long-term pain.

Finally, the mask was set free.

A life of meaning is what we're ALL destined to lead - feeling happiness and joy together conclusively.

Living by morals and values rewarded with eternal bliss and creativity.

𓇻 Disciplined Dreams through Values & Meaning

Joy and happiness are felt (at least for me) through acts of persistent discipline, aligning with your personal values and hidden dreams.

Dismissing your core beliefs only limits your being. Following your selfless desires guides you into the joy in all things - from happily obeying.

So simply follow your dreams

and remember...

Short term pleasure = long term pain

indulging in suffering.

~

Copyright © 2023 by Kalina Bethany. All rights reserved.

Thanks for reading this piece about finding joy and happiness through disciplined values and vacationing (more of both needed for me, please)!

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