For 2011 we are going to focus on 52 weekly prompts instead of daily prompts. Each week we will have a ‘focus’ so that each day we can dig a little deeper instead of jumping all over the place in our writing.

WEEK FOUR JOY

This week I want you to focus on the word ‘Joy’ and fully understand what it means to reflect.

Webster’s dictionary defines this word like this:

joy >noun
1.....a feeling of great pleasure and happiness
2.....a cause of joy
3.....Brit informal success or satisfaction: you’ll get no joy out of her
4.....the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight
5.....a state of happiness or felicity : bliss

EXAMPLES: .....Their sorrow turned to joy.
.....I can hardly express the joy I felt at seeing her again.
.....Seeing her again brought tears of joy to my eyes.
.....The flowers are a joy to behold!
.....What a joy it was to see her again.
ORIGIN Old French joie
From Latin gaudere ‘rejoice’
DERIVATIVES: joyful>adjective feeling or causing joy
joyfully>adverb
joyfullness>noun
joyous>adjective chiefly literary full of happiness and joy
SYNONYMS: beatitude, blessedness, bliss, gladness, warm fuzzies
ANTONYMS: calamity, ill-being, misery, sadness, unhappiness, wretchedness

My daughter’s name means ‘full of joy’ and it does suit her nicely. Yet when I saw the definition of joy I was surprised because joy is like a gift whereas happiness is more an emotion. I can have joy but not happiness. This is going to be a great week for me to discover new things about joy.

Monday. . .Do you see joy and happiness as the same thing? Write down the why’s or why nots.

Tuesday. . .Each of us have events that are happy memories. What I want you to think about is one event that still stands out in your memories. Write down all emotions you felt and what you believed made you joyful?

Wednesday. . .How can we make someone else’s joy complete, or can we? Consider how your actions and/or words have brought joy to someone. Write that person a note and thank them for what they said or did. Bring some joy into someone else’s life today.

Thursday. . .Consider today the times you were sad. Was joy present during those times or did your sadness take away all joy? I am thinking of the 5th definition while writing this question. If joy is a ‘state’ then it is also a choice we can make even when our emotions are sad.

Friday. . .There are basically four types of terrain ~ mountain, ocean, desert and forest. Which of these terrains brings you joy? Write about these types of terrains and how joy is expresses in your heart through them.

Saturday. . .Visit one of the above terrains today if you have the opportunity. Draw a picture of what you see that evokes joy. Does your picture capture joy? If you do not want to draw, take a picture with you smartphone or camera.

Sunday . . . take the day off. Be joyful today. Rest and be ready for next week!

Keep Journaling