Mishe nechnas adar marbin besimcha.
When the month of Adar enters,
We increase in joy.
This teaching appears in the Talmud,
Tanit,
Where Rav Yehudah contrasts the increase of joy in Adar with the decrease of joy in the month of Av,
When the Temple was destroyed.
In the month of Adar,
The Jewish people experienced a profound reversal of fate,
From sorrow to happiness,
When the decree to annihilate the Jews of Persia was overturned.
The story of Purim reminds us that transformation is possible,
Even in times of uncertainty.
What does it really mean to increase joy?
Maybe it means gently elevating our mood,
Or cultivating optimism,
Or creating a more festive atmosphere in our lives.
Joy is not a switch we can simply turn on or off.
We're not machines.
Emotions move through us in complex and unpredictable ways.
Whatever we can do to increase joy holds value.
Creating room for joy can be seen as a mitzvah,
Something deeply meaningful and worthwhile.
And this looks different for each person.
It asks for self-awareness,
So we might ask questions like,
What nourishes me?
What uplifts me?
What brings lightness or aliveness into my day?
One way to increase joy is through increasing the joy of others.
During Adar in Purim,
We give tzedakah,
Or charity,
To those in need,
And share mishloch manot,
Gifts,
With members of our community.
There's something deeply human about discovering that our own joy can arise from the smiling faces of those that we touch.
But what if we're not feeling particularly joyful during Adar?
We can't force feelings.
We can cultivate conditions in which joy is more likely to emerge.
Mindfulness practice allows us to notice small moments of ease,
Pleasantness,
Connection,
Even moments that are just a little less heavy.
Gratitude is one path into this awareness.
Practicing gratitude doesn't erase pain or sadness.
It gently trains our attention to recognize that alongside difficulties,
There's also supportive,
Meaningful,
And positive aspects of our lives.
So let's move now into a short guided gratitude practice.
Let's start by sitting comfortably,
Or lying down if that feels more supportive,
And allowing your eyes to close,
Or softening your gaze,
And beginning by noticing the simple fact that you're here.
Feeling the contact of your body with the chair,
The floor,
Or the mattress,
Allowing your attention to rest on the natural rhythm of your breathing,
Nothing to change,
No special way to breathe,
Just breathing in and breathing out.
With each exhale,
Inviting a small softening,
And gently asking yourself,
What in my life am I grateful for today?
There's no need to search for something dramatic or force anything.
Maybe something very simple,
Like a conversation you had with someone,
A cup of tea,
A moment of quiet,
The presence of someone close to you,
The support and health of your body,
A memory,
Or something else.
Let whatever comes,
Come.
Notice how it feels in the body to remember what this feels like.
You might experience warmth,
Tingling,
Softening,
Or just a quiet recognition.
All responses are welcome.
And if you like,
Silently acknowledging to yourself,
Maybe by saying quietly,
Thank you,
Or putting your hand over your heart.
And now widening the lens slightly.
You might notice gratitude for qualities within yourself.
Qualities like persistence,
Kindness,
Humor,
Loyalty,
Curiosity,
Resilience.
Or you might notice gratitude for what supports you.
Like people around you,
Your community,
Meaningful work,
Nature,
A spiritual or religious connection.
Let whatever comes up be gentle touches rather than something forced.
And taking a moment to acknowledge this.
And now bringing curiosity to another question.
What activities or experiences tend to bring me a sense of joy,
Lightness,
Or aliveness,
Even in the smallest ways?
Every person's list is unique.
It could be music,
Learning,
Quiet time,
Movement,
Creativity,
Helping others,
Being outdoors,
Family time,
A tasty meal or laughter.
There's nothing you should enjoy.
Just noticing whatever comes up according to your needs,
Your own temperament.
You might imagine yourself engaging in one of these activities and sensing how it feels in your body.
So taking a moment now to imagine that.
And taking one more gentle breath.
And maybe making an intention to make space for one activity that brings you joy in the coming days.
Not just around pooling,
But throughout the year.
And feeling your body again here,
Supported.
When you feel ready,
Slowly opening your eyes.
Increasing joy in a Tao may not mean becoming happy all the time.
It might mean becoming more available to moments of goodness,
Connection,
Generosity,
Gratitude.
And just allowing these moments to accumulate.
And in this way,
Joy becomes less of a demand and more of a practice.
Chag Purim Sameach.
Thank you for practicing with me.
