Why deny yourself joy? Why would anyone deny himself joy? Why would people put themselves through less then joy? People do seem to put themselves through less than joy and endure what is not necessary in the first place. It is not necessary to have less than joy. Less than joy is not demanded of you. You can have joy even in extremities. There is no cost to joy. You forfeit nothing. You are meant to hold joy in your hands.
Beloveds, no matter what surroundings you find yourself in, you are the dispenser of your own joy. When you are not happy, it is your own doing. Yes, events may occur, and people may enter your life that seem to block your happiness, making it hard for you to be happy, yet events and people are not responsible for your happiness. You are. The responsibility is yours. Let go of your thoughts about events and people that you do not derive joy from.
Here is My fervent advice to you: Even when you are not happy, be happy anyway.
You can do it. It is up to you to do it. It is not up to anyone else. Keep seeing joy in front of you. This is how you call to joy. Do not think: “Joy, where are you? Where are you when I need you?” Think: “Why, hello, Joy, here you are. You have been here right along.” Smile right now.
Do not forswear joy. It is your birthright. No matter what, take joy as your due. Take it with you. Wrap it around your heart.
Also, no matter what, you can give joy. You can do it. It will inevitably come back to you. If it does not appear of itself right that instant, give more joy then. It is inevitable that joy given becomes joy received. You can have equal joy right now, and you can, in addition, have joy coming to you in ripples, wave after wave, splashes of joy that you splash joyously. All near you get wet, and in the process, you get wet too. In truth, beloveds, you splash joy to the far corners of the Earth. Everyone receives it. No one is left out. You are not left out.
Consider what a powerful splasher you are, and splash only joy. Every drop of joy is to be shared. And every drop of joy is shared.
There is no need to confirm or affirm anything else to the world near or far but joy. This is love. Love is not painful. Attachment can be painful. Love, never. Know the difference.
There is nothing you have to have. Yet joy is at your command. That is different from demanding joy, yet joy is on demand. Place your order for it. Ordain joy. Recognize it in a crowd. Joy anywhere is yours. Joy everywhere is yours. Like the sun, joy shines for everyone.
When you pout, you are suppressing your joy. Consider that joy is always yours, always available to you, unless you repress it. Do not turn away from joy. Do not think for one minute that you deserve even the slightest suffering. You deserve joy. Suffering is not your birthright. Joy is.
There is no virtue in suffering. Do not sacrifice joy for some far-flung thought of virtue or future benefit. There is absolutely no benefit to suffering. You absolutely do not need the contrast of suffering in order to know joy. Be ignorant of all suffering. Weep for joy, beloveds. Even in grief, weep for joy that you loved, and now, go ahead, and love some more.