{Mindfulness + Joy}
Best Self sits down with licensed professional counselor Matthew Quick to discover the secrets to finding your personal joy By Jill Becker circumstances aren’t so favorable. I think finding your joy is the process of uncovering and recognizing what’s already present in your life, which can ultimately bring a sense of satisfaction, hope and security.
Q
Did the pandemic have an effect on the population’s ability to find joy?
MQ: Finding our joy was especially important over the last year since our collective experience was one of anxiety, panic, hopelessness and depression. Being socially distant and seemingly disconnected from others forced us to become creative and find joy in establishing new ways of connecting to others and ourselves.
MATTHEW QUICK, LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF NORTH ATLANTA PSYCHOTHERAPY
There’s no denying 2020 was a rough year, and many of us may still be feeling some of the effects. That’s why it’s more important than ever to concentrate on the positive things in our lives and discover what truly makes us happy. We sat down recently with Matthew Quick, a licensed professional counselor and the founder and director of North Atlanta Psychotherapy, to gather some insight into finding our personal joy.
Q
How would you define “finding your joy?”
Matthew Quick: First, I would make a distinction between happiness and joy. Happiness comes from the word ‘happenstance’ and indicates that good feelings are a byproduct of favorable circumstances. Getting a raise, receiving a compliment and buying new clothes are examples of circumstances that can produce happiness. Joy is similar, but it communicates a deeper sense of well-being. Joy points to something less dependent on the circumstances of life and more on something that can be tapped into when
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Q
Why is it so important to find your joy? Can’t people live a full and satisfying life even if they’re not necessarily happy all the time but at least not sad all the time? MQ: It’s important to find joy because people naturally don’t want to feel pain or go through struggle. Pain and struggle remind us of the boundaries of our control. If you can find your joy, then you’ve gained the ability to exercise some form of control when life turns upside down. Joy can be a deeper source of positivity that assures us that BEST SELF ATLANTA
Finding y ou is . the pr r joy of uncov ocess er recognizin ing and g already p what’s resent in your life —Matthew .
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