"Joy gives us wings!"
Joyfulness
Joyfulness is a habit that needs to be practised. It’s not a passive emotion of happiness that we feel in response to a life of ease and comfort but an attitude that we must mindfully exert in spite of our circumstances.
Positive thinking and joyful attitude
If we’re joyful, we’re better able to apply our skills and talents for the wellbeing of ourselves and others.
“Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 109)
Laughter, joy and happiness are healthy for us. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress and pain. It can cure illness and extends life.
“Joy is the best cure for our illness. Joy is better than a hundred thousand medicines for a sick person. If there is a sick person and one wishes to cure him, let one cause joy and happiness in his heart.” (Abdu'l-Baha)
How to be joyful
Joyfulness is a virtue. True joy and happiness cannot be found outside our own heart. If we possess the whole world, at best we could experience momentary pleasure, but it cannot bring true joy and happiness. True joy and happiness springs from our own heart and our positive attitude. In order to feel joy, we need to have positive inner dialogue and give different direction to our thoughts.
"True happiness is found in purity of thought.” (Abdu'l-Baha-SOW)
“..concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony and well-being... Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 29)
We’ll find happiness when we bring joy to others. When we are joyful, others are made joyful too.
"Turn all your thoughts toward bringing joy to hearts... Be a source of consolation to every sad one...cheer every heart." – ('Abdu’l-Baha, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.453)
"...Man can receive no greater gift than this, that he rejoices another's heart." – (Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 203-4)
“Be not the slave of your moods, but their master. But if you are so angry, so depressed and so sore that your spirit cannot find deliverance and peace even in prayer, then quickly go and give some happiness to someone lowly or sorrowful, or to a guilty or innocent sufferer! Sacrifice yourself, your talent, your time, your rest to another, to one who has to bear a heavier load than you -- and your unhappy mood will dissolve into a blessed, contented submission to God.” (Abdu’l-Baha)
Prayer revealed by Abdu’l-Baha:
“O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord."
"Be a source of consolation to every sad one...cheer every heart."