Living Joyfully In The Sorrows Of The World: A Recipe For Spiritual Growth

April 13, 2026 / Jim Lockard

“Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.”

~ Joseph Campbell - Reflections on the Art of Being: A Joseph Campbell Companion

During the past two weeks, I attended a retreat and a convention in the United States. Both had the idea of joy as themes, a reflection of the times in which we live.

At the Deepening Roots retreat in Carefree, AZ, 35 of us spent four days processing topics from peacemaking to family constellations, to Spiral Dynamics. The focus was doing deep work to awaken a remembrance of joy in our lives for those who had lost it.

At the Centers for Spiritual Living Convention in Reno, NV, the theme was “Together in Joy” where presentations focused on bringing joy into our lives as an aspect of our spiritual development.

At the heart of both events, which came on each side of the Easter weekend, was a recognition of the importance of facing our world and our experiences, with a deep connection to our inner joy. It was a case of kindred spirits together in the joyful process of supporting one another in our spiritual development.

“Someone said that our ‘calling’ is the place where our deepest joy intersects with the deepest needs of the earth. I add a further definition: Our calling is the place where our inner joy and our inner terror meet. Our place of both joy and sacrifice.”

~ Sharif Abdullah

Creating a World That Works For All

Living joyfully in the sorrows of the world does not mean that I do not care – quite the opposite in fact. What it means is the quality of the energy that I put into the Universe is more important than any political argument or the need to convince anyone that what I believe is better than what they believe. My greatest work is within, not without. I gain nothing by arguing old arguments; sharing the outrages of the day; or doing battle online with people who, even if convinced of my beliefs, have no power to bring them into being. When I engage, it is to be positive, to plant seeds, and to be unattached to any specific outcome.

“Power demands sad bodies. Power needs sadness because it can dominate it. Joy, in consequence, is resistance, because joy doesn’t give up. Joy as a life force leads us in places where sadness never can.”

~ Gilles Deleuze

When we choose to confront our challenges from a sense of joy, we are empowered in unexpected ways. To joyfully resist oppression, greed, tyranny, and injustice brings a sense of passion to the process. Deep within our soul, joy resides. It is time to bring it forth into the fray of living in these times. We bring joy throughout the process, not only when victory is won. Living joyfully in the sorrows of the world is the essence of being a spiritual warrior, living from our own power and creating a world of beauty, joy, and justice together.

“Attention to gratitude and beauty — to what, in the words of the Buddha, ‘gladdens the mind’ — helps one unfreeze reactivity and attend to what is painful, based on a rhythm of moving back and forth between relaxed or joyous states and painful states. The trauma worker Peter Levine calls this ‘pendulation.’”

~ Joanna Macy

Joy lubricates the psyche. It opens us to greater potential, sharpens our senses, and reminds us of our connection to everyone and everything. It lets us gain a higher perspective on what is to be done and with whom we are dealing. Joy tempers our pain but does not erase it. We need to experience the pains of life to grow and develop. Joy is self-care, strengthening our resolve and bringing clarity of mind and heart.

We are called, as students of New Thought teachings, to bring our best selves to the challenges of humanity. We are called to know who we are, divine expressions of the Creative Intelligence of the Universe. We are called to remember our inner strength and to become immense in these times of challenge to our core values.

The great George Bernard Shaw sums it up well in this memorable quote:

“This is the true joy of life — that being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. That being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.  I want to be thoroughly used up when I die.  For the harder I work the more I live.  I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me.  It’s sort of a splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

~ George Bernard Shaw

As always, your comments are welcomed below. Please share this post with others who may be interested.

Copyright 2026 – Jim Lockard