“Joy is not the ecstasy of the moment, but the glow inherent in being.” 

Erich Fromm 

Joy begins with a small spark of willingness. That spark grows into interest, pleasure, inspiration, and enthusiasm. Joy is a cultural achievement. If you cultivate the smallest spark of joy in the activity you are doing, it will grow and flourish. If you neglect the cultivation, the garden will wither. 

The opposite of joy is utilitarianism. If you live your life as a means to an end, joy dries up. If you take pleasure in doing, it grows. Liking something takes you from the mind to the heart. Following joy is the best orientation in processes, once liking is involved, you can’t go wrong. 

You cannot create joy, it is a quality of being alive. You can, however, create a climate in which the joy inherent in being can unfold in the best possible way. Find what brings you joy and ask yourself What opportunity does life offer me to live the joy that is within me?