I had a December where life threw my biggest heartbreaking challenge ever. I felt trapped and alone.

Discovering what I could control and what I could not control became one of my saving graces through that most difficult time. One specific tool I consistently focused on was finding joy in my journey.

I could control this. Even in the most trying circumstances, I could choose to find joy.

Sometimes I would find joy in bleakest days by seeing the slight variations of light. I found joy in solitude by being content in the moments. I found joy in loneliness by reaching out to others. 

I found joy by looking for the flowers blooming on the weeds of life.

CREATING JOY

Sometimes when I couldn’t find the joy I took action to create joy.

Smiling was my biggest tool.

Smiling changed how I felt inside. Smiling changed how I saw and experienced the world. Simply put, smiling helped me feel better.

It didn’t always work. I still had many miserable moments. Yet, my consistent efforts found and created more joy than misery.

SHARING JOY

My biggest tool for finding and creating joy has always been finding ways to share joy. Doing something that gives a bit of joy to another automatically created joy in my life.

When I smiled, others would often smile back. When I said hello, I usually received a response. When I tried to brighten a moment, others would sometimes feel that joy and reciprocate. 

“Grief can take care of itself,” Mark Twain wrote, “but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with.”

LIGHT THE WORLD

It is these little moments of joy — be they found, created or shared — which help me to see the beautiful tender mercies of joy surrounding me.

And isn’t that what Christmas is all about, experiencing joy? 

Jesus Christ, the babe born in a manger, is the ultimate source of joy for He is the “light and life of the world.”

We help Light the World when we find, create and share joy.

Let us each emulate the Light of Christ by being a source of light and joy to the world.

Let our hearts prepare Him room. Let us our songs employ. Then He will come and make the blessings flow, like stars that glitter in the sky.

Have a great Monday. Thanks for letting me share.

Les Patterson

p.s. Take 13 minutes today to focus on finding, creating, and sharing joy to Light the World this beautiful Christmas season.

REMEMBER…

“The story you most consistently tell yourself will be the story to most consistently come true in your life.”

---

Discover how you can “Gain The Red Edge” by focusing your efforts, clarifying your message, sharing your story, and creating impact with a complimentary Gain the Red Edge coaching call.

Click this link to schedule your complimentary call