Some of the words used to describe joy are delight, pleasure, jubilation, triumph, exultation, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, rapture. I love those words. They stir my heart.

Some of the ways we experience joy are through music, love, religion, sex, connection to other people, physical exercise, nature. It’s different for everyone and sometimes may even change from day today. For me, joy is feeling my grandson’s arms around my neck or lying next to my husband at night as he sleeps and listening as his breath matches mine. For you it might be running the Tough Mudder, 10 mile Mud Run; climbing Mount Everest; or feeding the homeless. In big and small ways, it is possible to find joy. One moment, one day, one breath at a time.

Yes, life can be messy and chaotic, but if you’re going to be in it for the long haul you might as well make the choice to see the beauty all around you.

As Americans, we often define success or happiness by what we own, where we live, who we know and our status in life. But Jim Ruebens, in his book, Oversuccess, he states,

“One in three American adults is pervasively dissatisfied with their lives and major depression is seven times more likely among those born after 1970 than their grandparents?” Obviously, these things aren’t the answer.

If you believe as I do that life is about more than money and, fame, then there are many opportunities to see joy.

There are places where people live in circumstances, we could never imagine but the focus their lives on family and community, not money and things. They seem more joyful than many of the people in the US.

A better way to live is through love, laughter, connection, and being present to the world around you, that is how to transform your life and find joy.