Dear Patient,
My sister-in-law Stephanie recently introduced me to the wonderful book Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee. It’s about the joy-producing power of our physical surroundings, and our emotional resonance with colors, patterns, textures and shapes. For example, research shows that curved lines make us more relaxed and happy than jagged ones, and that repeating patterns of small identical shapes, like polka dots, can lift our spirits.
I usually devour a book in a few sittings but I’m taking the time to savor this one, stopping periodically to notice how my environment affects my mood. What makes me joyful?
Joy is the emotion of the Fire element and the Heart organ system in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Heart is the Monarch—the home of our Shen, or spirit, and the filter of all emotions. Joy flourishes when the other emotions are in balance. But sometimes fear, anger, sadness and worry clamor for attention. Joy gets lost amid the emotional demands of life.
It’s said that the Shen opens to the eyes. To find joy, sometimes we simply need to open our eyes and look. Here are some places where I’ve found joy this week:
A blanket of bright yellow leaves covering my neighbors’ driveway
The tiny little whimsical plastic robot standing atop another neighbor’s fence post
A sweet note from a co-worker on my desk
A sunset lighting up a bright mural on the side of a building
A friend’s new puppy
Gold confetti sprinkled across the table at a friend’s birthday party dinner
Joy is everywhere, waiting for us to notice. I hope you find joy today.
Love and gratitude,
Your Acupuncturist
I needed this reminder today. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed with the tasks we have ahead of us. Now I see the JOY in student work that surrounds me in my classroom.
Everyday you literally speak to my soul. LOVE this!