BRENT MARCHANT: At this time of year, as we become filled with the spirit of the holidays, joy is a notion near and dear to many of us. But what is joy? Our individual interpretations of it undoubtedly vary, but I’ve found that, for many of us, at its core lies the concept of 'creation'.

If you doubt that, think about the joy that comes from even the simplest acts of creation. Consider the happiness that arises from doing something that puts a smile on someone else’s face, like baking them cookies, giving them a personalized gift or sharing a special pearl of wisdom. Such gestures might not seem like much, but they’re all inherently creative acts. And, when we see the joy these deeds evoke among others, it returns to us, filling us with the happiness that brought delight to their recipients. Everybody wins. 

What’s more, while creation’s role in spreading joy is perhaps most apparent during the holidays, it certainly need not be limited to this festive time of year. I remind myself of this daily with a simple but profoundly uplifting expression that I have taped to the top of my computer monitor: “The greatest joy is in creation.” I draw inspiration from this adage, beaming a smile whenever I look at it. And the source of this insight? A fortune cookie from my neighbourhood Chinese restaurant, which goes to show that even a seemingly trivial creation like this can work wonders on one’s outlook. 

There's tremendous power in this, and the potential for producing abundant joy from it is significant. Of course, to realize such results, we must allow its unfolding through the practice of conscious creation, in which we link the power of our beliefs with the power of the divine to manifest the reality we experience around us. I’m reminded of the words of Mahatma Gandhi in this respect, who so astutely observed, “There is a force in the universe, which, if we permit it, will flow through us and produce miraculous results.” Think of the joy that could come from that! 

Indeed, by working collectively, with a cohesive message of joyful intent, we can bring ample bliss into the world. Look at programs like Toys for Tots, for instance, and see how much happiness it brings into the lives of children who might not otherwise experience it during this festive season. But, again, remember that joy can (and should) be a 365-day affair, so let’s consider using our joyful intents year-round to bring it to those who could use it. I’m reminded of the soup kitchens run by various missions that get flooded with volunteers to help serve food to the needy during the holidays – and the charities’ reminders that volunteers are needed all year long; after all, the needy don’t get hungry just during the holidays. 

And, of course, while in the process of spreading joy to others, don’t forget to include yourself in that effort. The more readily you’re able to create it for yourself, the more readily you’ll be able to share it, because it will become an extension of your true self, beaming outward into the world around you and blanketing others in its wake. This is also important because a spirit of joy strengthens our individual creative capabilities, making it possible for us to spread even more joy around. No matter what creative acts we might tackle, we always achieve better results when operating from a position of personal strength, whether it’s assisting others with a particular challenge, offering guidance in times of need or even spreading joy. Even simple gestures aimed at delighting yourself, like getting that weekend massage or splurging on a gooey dessert, can yield bountiful joy for ourselves that put us in better frames of mind for working joyful wonders, be it for ourselves or others. 

This festive time of year is a potent reminder to go forth and create joy. But use it as a springboard to launch yourself into an effort to do the same all year-round. It’s hard to imagine any beliefs (i.e., excuses) that could justifiably be used to prevent oneself from doing so. 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year everyone!