Taking life too seriously is a common roadblock on the way to achieving the type of success and satisfaction that we all truly desire. We get our heads full of ideas and misgivings about what other people will think of us and how the story of our life will read. We forget that joy is the greatest currency in the business of living. When we are filled with joy, our best comes shining through and we gravitate toward people and experiences that will turn out in better than expected ways. It is never too late to dust off our enthusiasm and go for a joy ride.
I worked with a student who was having trouble with certain elements of her school day. She was struggling with organization and socializing with her peers. At the same time, she was doing a wonderful job with academics and excelling in one particular area of interest. Her parents were worried that their child was going to be misunderstood or not have her needs met. These concerns started to overshadow the success she was having. As a result, the team hit a barrier in communication that was interfering with what we were trying to accomplish.
After attending several meetings and listening with an open mind, it became clear that the joy of success had been replaced by excessive concern and frustration. Rather than add to the building pressure, I set an intention to tap into the joy that was falling by the wayside and celebrate the success that was occurring in the program. As time went on, I found ways to express the joy I was feeling to the other members of the team. It seemed to open up space for others to follow suit. It did not take long for healthy communication to resume and the team to start firing on all cylinders.
Many of us have confused joy with weakness. We might have bought into the belief that bliss implies ignorance. The truth is that joy comes from being in touch with what really matters. Life is a mystery and we are not in these bodies forever. Spending time worrying and being critical, while overlooking the beauty and the gifts all around us, is a waste. It greatly diminishes our capacity to experience the best that life has to offer.
If you are feeling out of touch with your joy, now is the time to rekindle the fire. It takes practice. Start by making a list of the things you enjoy and all that is going well in your life. Write down the wonderful things that you have been overlooking. While being serious and critical may seem like it is protecting you, it is not. It is only attracting more criticism and blocking the good feelings and experiences you desire. When you practice letting joy be your guide, life opens up in new and wonderful ways. It is never too late to be happy.
Edward Biagiotti is the inclusion specialist for Culver City Unified School District. For questions, comments, and ideas for future columns, send an email to EdwardBiagiotti@ccusd.org