Finding Joy In Our Work: An Ode to Joseph Campbell.

What is Love? What is Bliss? What about Prosperity? Why are they so important?

Love is any positive thought, word or action that makes us feel good about being alive – both in the short-term and in the long-term. In other words, any positive emotion or being part of an activity in such a way where it sustains you and your enjoyment of life…Is Love. This also goes for our relationships, as well. They are also a key place where we can directly share in and grow the joy of being alive together.

Bliss is a state where a person feels a sharp rise in energy that makes them feel ecstatic about a particular moment in time. This can also be felt as a very peaceful and quiet calm, where one feels grounded and centered in what they are doing, even if it’s just standing still…

Why are these states so important to us?

When a person is at peace or feeling joy, every part of their body is aligned and in harmony with each other. This place of resonance is energy in our body, making itself known to us in a positive way. It is both a physical and an emotional state.

When an atom or cell is operating in a healthy way without obstruction and stress, just like water, that energy is not only free to move, but it’s electrical “charge” is at its highest peak. Since we are made up of both atoms and cells, this is why we feel the way that we do when we are in a very positive place! Our biology is actually just transmitting a positive message directly to us.

“Following Your Bliss,” as Joseph Campbell put it so well, means that we are following what makes us feel our best, and staying with that feeling or activity, as much as possible. While he seemed to imply that this was to be found in a few places that are specific to us as individuals, every major action that we are a part of during the course of a day – or over a lifetime, was not only meant to sustain us, but to bring us to a very joyful and appreciative place, about life.

Think of most of the activities that we take part in during a given day. Some of these activities could include: working, eating, writing, reading, listening to music, resting or observing a place within nature, moving ourselves from place to place, having a positive conversation with someone, planning for our future, and the list could go on and on.

The purpose of all these activities is to accomplish just two ends. One is emotional, and the other is logistical, which means that it produces a positive outcome on the outside of us. Each one of these in their own way can not only bring us pleasure, but they also add to the quality of our lives, so that we can continue living, happily. So, do you see the circle? A pleasurable step leads to more of them in activities that are meant to keep us alive, just so that we can continue to experience more joy. Underneath of everything that we are doing or that we desire to do, joy is always at the beginning and the end of it. That’s the only real goalpost we are aiming for in life, even when it’s disguised as something material that we desire. It’s the positive emotions we are after. So, if we desire to bring more joy into our lives, there are more than just a few ways to go about it!

The first would be to re-establish a positive relationship with yourself, and the activities that bring you joy. The second would be to remember how each one of your daily activities is helping to keep your life going in some way. With this understanding, our tasks become meaningful again. We can find joy in the process of doing them, as well as in the feeling of accomplishment we have, when a particular activity or outcome is complete.

So, are you beginning to see how joy and our appreciation of life were built right into the activities that are necessary for us to continue to live? Again, no matter where we are, the feelings and the movements we are making are magically intertwined...

The last and final part of this perfect equation is not just from following what makes us feel good, but the joy we find in being alive, was ultimately meant to be shared with others. This is the final piece that allows us to come right back to front and center in that little “sacred space” of reflection between our life’s activities, and in the moments we share with others.

This little space to breathe (or rest) is time to think about what we have been able to do, both alone and together. From here, we can not only become grateful for the process of life, but for our direct part in it. This is where we can see the true value of ourselves and those around us. That place of contentment becomes home-base for our next series of goals, and the movements we make that lead us into the future we desire to see.

With every day that passes, we can grow a little bit closer to not only staying in joy more often, but to celebrate that life has given us everything we need to make happiness possible; for ourselves and in how we participate in that experience, with others.

In that state of happiness our health and well-being are restored in the process, as well.

So, in one way or another, this circle of positive energy not only makes us feel good and sustains us, but it also assures that we can keep these positive feelings about life “up,” for as long as possible.

This is the magical “happy place” where everyone desires to be – at any given moment in time.

The real magic, comes from knowing that you can step into this happier place at any time. A positive experience or moment spent alone or with others, or even with a positive memory or a future goal, will put you right back into it! Now is just a step into a happier place, which leads us to having so many more of them...

In essence, there are only two places to go in life. One path and action leads us to joy and fulfillment, and the other to eventual emptiness, pain and sorrow. We often hop to both of these places during the course of a day, but with a little practice, we can stay in a place that feels good much more often.

But what about Prosperity? How does this link up with Love or feelings of Bliss?

Enjoying your time at work or spending more time on something that you love to do, guarantees that you’ll probably be back the next day, and the next. A positive feeling about something naturally produces motivation and the inspiration to keep going. These are the by-products of doing something in such a way, that produces a positive emotion and outcome. When you put your focus on how you feel first, everything else that’s needed falls right into place. So, love, bliss, prosperity and longevity are all part of the same process.

When you are relaxed and happy, the logical side of your brain is working better, so you’ll actually be more productive and make better choices from here, as well. Because you'll be fully connected and aware of what you're doing, your profits will grow to their highest peaks, as well. So, do you see how these three parts are connected together to produce your final results?

If you happen to be in business and are making some important decisions about it, then you only have two choices to make. You can keep on working very hard to produce profits stressfully, which wears you and the company down (which eventually drops your growth rate), or you can simply put in what’s needed, so that everything works with ease – and produces a maximum growth in profits at the same time. (Everything positive that happens in your business circle, only adds to an increase in your bottom line.) Both avenues will eventually give you what you want. However, only one way will sustain both you and the process at the same time, so that it becomes easier to succeed; which naturally boosts your happiness, as well. What sounds like a better option to you?

I’m sure Joseph Campbell would tell you that you already know where some of your joy can be found. So now is the time to make – joy – a much larger part of your life. Again, you can find it in what you are already doing, what you love to do, you can see it in the simple activities of life that help to keep you going. And, you can create this with the people that are right there with you – as everyone desires to feel good, about where they are! That's one thing we always have in common, especially when we spend so much time working together. The ability to make our workplace much more enjoyable, productive and profitable is always with us. So, what are you waiting for?

If the goal of life was to enjoy it to the fullest, then you’ve got nothing to worry about as far as following that call, and seeing where it takes you. If you came to life for a very happy, exciting and prosperous ride, then “Following Your Bliss” especially at work, will take you – right there! So, see what keeps making you feel good about where you are now, and...

Enjoy the trip!