Quote by Rumi

Often when there has been trauma, and especially if that trauma has been chronic and on-going, there can be the loss of a sense of joy in life.

But I think that Rumi has the right of it, the capacity for joy is still there, we just have to find the right way to get it’s attention.

One impediment is sometimes a sense that you do not deserve to know or experience joy, either because of what happened or because of what you have been told about what happened. Unlearning this lesson can help unlock the moments of joy in life.

Another impediment is the perception that life needs to be taken seriously and that there is not room for joy. This is especially true for people who live on the margins, such as those who live paycheck to paycheck. While it is true that their lives have much need for ‘adulting’ and taking things seriously, there is always room for joy.

Finding a way to loosen up and allow yourself to get silly can do a world of good for your mental health. Moments of joy can make a hard life worth living. It is not about finding joy and living in that experience indefinitely, but it is learning to allow yourself to feel those moments of joy that do come up.

As with most things in life, it takes practice to allow oneself to catch and experience joy, but it is worth the effort.