Awakening Joy: Finding Well-Being in Difficult Times

True happiness is not about acquiring anything; instead, it comes from opening to the natural joy and aliveness inside you. As we are bombarded with messages that heighten our fear and sadness about the world, more than ever, it is vital to understand the importance of joy as a central aspect of mindfulness practice. We need to remember how to stay connected to that place inside that makes life worth living. Our cultivation of well-being and joy can become our gift to a troubled world.

This workshop is based on James Baraz’s popular 5-month Awakening Joy course that thousands have taken since 2003. You will learn basic principles and other supportive practices to develop your natural capacity for well-being and happiness, presented in a user-friendly way. 

This workshop offers practical tools to incline the mind towards joy through silent meditation and interactive experiential processes. 

Themes include:

• Inclining the mind toward healthy states
• How mindfulness weakens negative and strengthens positive mind states 
• Gratitude practices to deepen well-being
• Working skillfully with difficulties
• The power of letting go
• Integrity practices and healing from the past
• Learning to love ourselves
• Compassionate action

Recommended reading: Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness by James Baraz