I ran into this playful monkey while visiting my nephew in Costa Rica last spring. I love how he is completely at home whether he is crawling down a branch or taking a flying leap. Surefooted and acrobatic, he goes where he pleases. There is no hesitation, only a lovely moment of enjoying a ride and a surefooted landing. Watching him enjoy his environment brings an automatic smile to my face.
It’s a good reminder that emotions are contagious and infinite. I find it impossible not to smile when I watch him jumping from tree to tree. Most others do too. Do you?
In Zen, sympathetic joy is practiced formally to increase happiness and build empathetic bonds. We can all practice it simply by being happy for someone else. When we share in each other’s joys, joy multiplies. One person’s happiness becomes two people’s happiness, or a whole roomful of happiness.
We can share in each other’s sorrows as well, and sometimes that empathetic understanding makes us feel less sad and alone. When we withhold empathy from others, we make ourselves and others unhappy and we both feel more isolated.
A world of infinite joy is what we share when we choose to participate in others’ happiness. These two monkeys are still somewhere in Costa Rica, swinging from the tree limbs, climbing and jumping with ease, and at least for me, thinking about them brightens my day.
This is Day 3 of My Gratitude Project. This year I’m focusing on what we share.
#gratitude #joy #enjoy #whatweshare #unity #mygratitudeproject #lisadfostercoach
