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Catholic Faith Corner

Living in the Light
of Jesus Christ

Advice from Two Spiritual Experts

Arguably the world needs joy more than ever as we grapple with the natural disasters of fire, hurricanes, earthquakes and Covid in addition to human-made tragedies such as the horror in Afghanistan and the surge of refugees in our southern border. Besides these challenges, some of us are dealing with personal tragedies. How do we manage to preserve our inner joy and sanity?

I’ve just finished reading The Book of Joy in which the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu share their wisdom. Both of these renowned spiritual leaders and winners of the Nobel Peace Prize have been caught up in painful situations. The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India for decades, while Desmond Tutu fought for justice and reconciliation in South Africa. Yet both men have maintained their peace. During conversations with each other that are recounted in the book by Douglas Abrams, they are quick to tease and to laugh. From their advice I’ve gleaned a few spiritual nuggets that you might find useful. Each one is worth meditating on and applying.

The source of happiness is not fortune, fame, power, or status. It is within us.

Happiness is born of a compassionate concern for others’ well-being.

Concern for others’ well-being will create a happier world.

Just as we create most of our suffering, we can create more joy.

Each day is a new opportunity to begin again. Every day is your birthday.

When we discover more joy, we can face suffering in a way that ennobles rather than embitters. We have hardship without becoming hard. We have heartbreak without being broken.

Don’t worry. If something can be done about a tragic situation, why be dejected? If nothing can be done, what use is dejection?

Wherever you receive love, that’s your home.

When people are suffering, God is crying. But other people try to make thing better, and God smiles.

Suffering is not permanent. It can develop compassion.

Too much self-centered thinking is the source of suffering.

Joy can be cultivated as a skill.

The more joy we have, the more joy we bring to others. We become a reservoir of joy a pool of serenity.

Preserve joy by building mental immunity. Accept negative thoughts and emotions as natural, human, and refrain from self-judgment.

Look for the positive aspects of a difficult situation.

Often stress is caused by our expectations and ambitions.

Change a stress event from a threat to an opportunity.

View everything in a wider perspective: Over the centuries the world has been getting better.

A remedy for envy: gratitude. List what you are grateful for.

Be kind to yourself.

Laugh often. Laugh at yourself.

Forgive in order to heal yourself and be free from the past.

Compassion is contagious.

Interestingly, this week I watched the movie The Razor’s Edge based on Somerset Maugham’s novel with the same title. A few of the ideas mentioned by the two spiritual experts surface as themes in the movie/book as the hero searches for meaning in life.

• How do you manage to hold onto joy and peace?

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Jesus depends on us to spread the Good News of God’s love, offering the world hope and joy. Mary Kathleen, a Sister of Notre Dame from Chardon, Ohio, responds through writing, speaking, giving retreats, and teaching. Her motto, adopted from Eddie Doherty’s gravesite, is “All my words for the Word.”

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