While scanning the forums on Goodreads, I came across a thread about intention words. The idea, as I understand it, is to pick a word or words as your intention for the new year. Your word is something you wish to strive for in the coming months. Most of the words chosen have been attitude words such as empowered and others have been things like patience or passion. Once a word is chosen you must keep it in your conscienciousness. This can be done in many ways, such as writing it on the dry erase board on the refrigerator and adding it to your desktop wallpaper. I have chosen the word joy. I want to create joy for myself and others, seize joy in the moments and people around me, and share joy. I think that it is also important to hold on to joyous memories even in sad or scary times. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I wish everyone a new year full of joy and I invite all of you to pick your own intention word(s) and make this new year one of growth and hope and love.
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven? –Kahlil Gibran
There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us. ‘Tis good to give a stranger a meal, or a night’s lodging. ‘Tis better to be hospitable to his good meaning and thought, and give courage to a companion. We must be as courteous to a man as we are to a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a good light. –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Joy is not in things; it is in us. –Richard Wagner
Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy. –Sarah Ban Breathnach
Do not judge men by mere appearances; for the light laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace and joy. –Edward Chapin
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. –George Bernard Shaw
Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is love – Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. –Mother Teresa
Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile. –Sir Wilfred Grenfell
Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves. –Sir James M. Barrie
You’re a happy fellow, for you’ll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than that. –Ludwig van Beethoven
One joy scatters a hundred griefs. –Chinese Proverb
Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give. –Eleanor Roosevelt
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. –Thich Nhat Hanh
Such is human psychology that if we don’t express our joy, we soon cease to feel it. –Lin Yutang
The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things. –Henry Ward Beecher
It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys. –Antoine De Saint-Exupery
