Mindfulness is the Conduit for Joy

Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,

don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty

of lives and whole towns destroyed or about

to be. We are not wise, and not very often

kind. And much can never be redeemed.

Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this

is its way of fighting back, that sometimes

something happens better than all the riches

or power in the world. It could be anything,

but very likely you notice it in the instant

when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the

case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid

of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

Last weekend I was hiking with my dog listening to “O Being” with Krista Tippet and was captivated by this theme: joy is the fuel for movement. As therapists, we bear witness to people’s pain and suffering. Though sacred, hearing about so much hurt in the world can take a toll on my mind and body. The past few months have been especially hard in processing the genocide in Palestine, the rise of antisemitism and transphobia around the United States, and anxiety about the severe polarization in our communities. Some days I wake up with the feeling of dread and immense sadness, grieving a world holding so much pain and fear.

So what to do with these big, powerful feelings of pain? And what keeps me moving and able to show up? First and foremost, joy is hard to access without rest. If I am juggling a full day of clients, I tell myself that I don’t have the time to slow down and feel the urgency of staying on top of what’s next. Though this anxiety can fuel productivity, it burns out quickly. Slowing down is essential to paying attention to what is around us.

Alternatively, mindfulness is the conduit to joy. Mindfulness is the practice of being attentive and aware of your internal and external worlds and paying attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them. Practicing mindfulness can help us notice the world around us and have greater access to wonder, gratitude, and joy. Mindfulness is also about acceptance. We do not have to like the situation/thought/ feeling we are having but we are strong enough and willing enough to sit with it, to let it be. Letting go of the struggle empowers us to embrace the present moment and feel joy. To remember, joy is not made to be a crumb.

Sarah Young is a therapist with Amanda Atkins Counseling Group and can be reached at sarah@amandaatkinschicago.com.