Sometimes we forget, in the craziness of our lives, that joy is a choice.

Henri Nouwen was a Catholic priest from the Netherlands whose life and works were rooted in psychology, social justice, and ministry. His writing and travels won him international acclaim in the areas of peacemaking. He is also known for his work in clinical depression, using his own experiences to bring hope as he described both love and forgiveness as unconditional.

I wonder how many of us forget to choose joy on a daily basis. We get sidelined by something someone said, the burdens we carry, and the injustices of the world. We become disheartened by our circumstances and, at times, feel the distress to our very core.

The good news is that we do have a choice in the matter. You see, we are not defined by our circumstances but by our stances. We have the ability to choose our mindset and the course of our day. It may not always be easy, but our hearts and spirits soar when we take a stance for joy!

The challenge is to choose to be joyful, even when it’s tough. Who knows, maybe our joy will help someone else see their own circumstances differently. Have fun on the quest. I think you’ll discover that joy is really contagious!

In all things be joyful….