Finding Joy: A Practical Spiritual Guide to Happiness

by Dannel I. Schwartz, Mark Hass

Searching for happiness in our modern world of stress and struggle is common; finding it is more unusual. This guide explores and explains how to find joy through a time-honored, creative―and surprisingly practical―approach based on Kabbalah and the teachings of Jewish mystics. The very core of the Jewish mystical tradition is centered on the belief that if our focus is spiritual, then true appreciation of our lives, and true joy, are possible. Step by step, Finding Joy describes the basis of happiness in the context of Jewish mystical tradition and shows, in an easy-to-understand way, how we can use its concept of the 10 divine "rays of light," the Sefirot, to remedy the everyday unhappiness in our lives. Clear, creative, personal and down-to-earth, Finding Joy introduces the ancient insights of the Jewish mystics, and offers practical week-by-week exercises for the soul which bring them into our daily routines. Finding Joy is not an instant cure for modern life's burdens. Instead, it’s a guide to a time-honored method for thinking and living ... and finding real joy.

Genres: Jewish, Mysticism, Spirituality

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[KB]

For People of All Faiths, All Backgrounds

A couple of concepts from the beginning of the book:

Pursue Clearheaded Spirituality by practicing the little things and paying attention to (being mindful of) what (and who) does or doesn't help or how well things work to find happiness and joy.

Focus on the large canvas of possibilities, rather than the small dot of "imperfection."
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The bold-font phrases in the chapters:

Happiness comes with the right attitude under any circumstance
Learn to recite blessings over the ordinary (words of kindness and gratitude)
Joy must be practiced

Learn to trust yourself

God is Present when we positively react to problems
Take control of your thoughts

Every crisis is an opportunity
Use your negativity productively
Initiative is required to control negativity

Visualization helps us create the future we want

Insecurity burs away our spiritual centers

Bring happiness by setting reasonable goals
Even our heroes struggle for happiness
Joy comes from following our dreams -- and helping others follow theirs

Cultivating the strength to see Good
Transforming sorrow to joy
When God closes a door, God opens a window

A formula for success - persistence, "a fixed time" (keva), not quitting, attitude
Six warnings about desiring success (careful what you wish for, etc.)
Challenge and pleasure are the best motivations

We collaborate with God on our destiny (be proactive to make it so)
Depending on God's intervention may obscure divine gifts (use the tools provided by god)
Charting our map to happiness (know what brings joy and make time for it daily)

Repairing the fragments of our lives

Excitement is genuine if the interest is genuine

Weaving joyous moments into daily life

Stop feeling sorry for yourself
Seize opportunities - or they'll be wasted
Take control over your time (make priorities and time for them)
Don't be a "victim" who blames others for their unhappiness
"Making sense" instead of excuses makes us succeed (things will happen, but it's how one reacts)

Too may "No's" are dangerous
Use discipline sparingly and wisely - and use trust
Say "no" to fear and meet new challenges

Spiritual maturity means a problem is a potential opportunity
Let your soul catch up with you (meditate)
"Giving away gratitude creates wonder

Connecting sparks that unite mind, body, and soul
Melding mind and soul
Make things go right
Being One with the World
Define success...then succeed happily
Repairing your world (Rabbi helps monks at monastery with Messiah and tikkun olam)

Happiness Is... Happiness means:
Accepting ourselves as we are.
Accepting the fact that we are vulnerable and can be hurt.
Accepting that all of us will fail, at times.
Accepting that, in order to be happy, we need to take risks (on ourselves, other people, and life).

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books tempt me to re-read them the minute I am finished but this was certainly one. The best way to remember it is to list some of my favorite quotes.

p.46 Talmud teaches: "Life is neither fair nor unfair; it is time and space that we have to fill with the best we can give, the best we can be."

p.81 "We do not control what happens to us, but we can control how we react. This is essential to stopping the pain in our lives."

p.94 "When Israel's army faced Goliath with swords and shields,fleeing soldiers moaned,"He's so big. How can we win?" When David faced the same giant with nothing more than a crude slingshot, he said, "He's so big. How can I miss?"

p.98 "We don't have to be world class to be a success. As a Yiddish proverb says, "The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except the best."

p. 153 Yiddish proverb: "When your only tool is a hammer, make every problem a nail."

p.156 "Saying thanks for anything makes us stop and become even more aware. As a Yiddish proverb says, "If you are going to be miserable when you are sick, be thankful when you are well."

p. 168 "Persistence is the key to getting what we want. Persistence is better than luck. Persistence is always in our control. Luck is not."

[Margaret Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. This is a re-read this time together with a congregation as an introduction to Kabbalah. I like the fact that after each chapter there is a week's worth of short, simple exercises which if done faithfully might increase joy and happiness. There are so many pearls of wisdom it is hard to pick. Reading it with a group proved to be a good experience leading to many great conversations. After much debate about what is joy, happiness, contentment, success, we finally in the last two pages receive a definition of happiness. Sprinkled in between in a good introduction to Kabbalah, some lovely, personal and accessible stories to illustrate his points and a formula that will work towards bringing more happiness.