Sneaky Joy

Joy is a difficult emotion to consider right now, with life so challenging and the earth in crisis. I've decided to experiment in the next weeks with a sneaky path to joy, finding happiness through indirect, unexpected, or subtle methods rather than chasing it directly.

Agenda:

1. Read the Antidote
2. Stoic exercise of releasing control
3. New narrative for embracing the unexpected
4. Ongo journal

1. Read "The Antidote":

I'm just starting this book by Oliver Burkeman (2012), with the subtitle, Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. I hope that I can get a handle on some reasonable practices to help me out of this quagmire of negativity.

The first chapter is a rambling introduction that makes the point that positive thinking (and all the trappings of New Thought, such as affirmations and positive visualization) can actually be damaging, because you can pin your hopes on unrealistic expectations. Modern psychology experiments have also shown that if we only visualize the best outcomes we are less motivated to work towards changes that will bring about the best outcome, because it causes us to relax - as if we've already succeeded. We need to stop chasing and clinging to positivity so intently and have a subtler approach.

Chapter 2 is What would Seneca do?, about my friends the Stoics who focus on the negative rather than the positive. 

2. Stoic exercise of releasing control:

Stoics practice Hormê, which means impulse to ethical action;"impulse" is translated also as appetite, or the "directed movement of the soul" toward an action. In Stoic theory, it is the initial, internal urge that drives a person to act, specifically an action that is in accordance with reason and virtue: an act that serves humankind. Quakers call it a Leading, and that's how I will continue to talk about it.

Having a leading or urge to act is the first crucial step. Next, leadings must be tested to assure they are true, and not simply from the ego, or an action of fear or guilt. Stoics called it "correct judgement".

The third step is to release all control of the outcome. This is what Stoics called the "Reserve Clause" (Hupexairesis): Because outcomes are not entirely in our control, Stoics add "Fate permitting" or "if nothing prevents it" when making plans for right action.

Hormê then becomes the application of ethics for daily living of a virtuous life, in harmony with the community of all mankind - and all living beings that share the planet with me - benevolently wishing all of life to flourish and achieve happiness, but releasing the outcome to the Universal spirit.

3. New narrative for embracing the unexpected:

One of my weekly Creative Perspective tasks is to define a new narrative to re-frame a mind-set and expand my thinking. Today I'm working on a plan for releasing the outcome; The Power of Letting Go of Control.

Joy often arises when we stop trying to control experiences, fix situations, or manage time, allowing spontaneity and play to occur. This is the practice of embracing the unexpected: Joy is frequently found in moments that take us by surprise, crossing into our lives when we are least prepared.

"I will live in harmony with all life, and speak truth to power, but release the outcome to the universe. I will embrace the unexpected!"

 

4. Ongo journal:

I'm going back through this book by Catherine Madden and Jesse Weiss Chu (2022), focussing on the solo practices. I'm on week 10, and Day 1 is The Courage to Speak, about truth-telling. Sometimes the truth we need to speak is hard for others to hear. But when we speak up we share a higher purpose that unifies and inspires collective creation. 

"Today's practice offers a template for finding the courage to speak, by remembering who you stand with, what you stand for, and how you'll get there ... together."

Courage to Speak Truth practice: 

1. Draw out the diagram shown here.
2. Take a deep breath and settle into presence with the body, the breath, and the earth.
3. Reflect: What is the current situation that needs to be talked about? What has happened? -write it in the left rectangle.
4. Consider: Who might benefit or be supported? -write them in the heart.
5. Reflect: What Needs do I want to have met, and values do I want to have voiced? -write these in the left circle.
6. Consider who I want to have hear the Truth: What Needs might they be trying to meet? -write these in the right circle.
7. Meditate: What is the higher purpose or Need that unites us all? -write this shared desire in the center of the 2 circles.
8. Reflect on the (left rectangle) situation in light of the higher purpose: What doable request might you make that would move us toward the higher purpose? - write this in the arrow.