Inner Harmony: The Joy of Everyday Living
The definition of happiness through the joy derived from everyday tasks suggests that a true sense of happiness arises when every moment of life embodies not only external activity but also deep internal harmony. This state is achieved when daily actions—whether work, caring for loved ones, or personal self-realization—reflect the inner fullness and unity of the soul. In other words, if a person feels that they are doing everything necessary, that their actions are meaningful and resonate with their inner essence, then joy, as a pure internal feeling, naturally emerges.As noted in one source, "Joy is a purely internal feeling that is, 'when everything necessary is done'; it is needed not for a person's needs, not to enrich him, but sometimes even contrary to these needs, thereby limiting that enrichment. Its source lies in originally pure humanity. Just as the idea of 'happiness' corresponds to a person's external activity—embracing and guiding it—this other concept corresponds to his inner activity: it accompanies what is right in it and immediately disappears when that correctness is disturbed. We have already said that in it hides the true source of a person's enrichment..." (source: link txt).At the same time, the sense of happiness arising from everyday tasks reflects the interconnectedness of various aspects of human existence. It indicates that external activities (self-realization, a love of life, close relationships) are inseparably linked with the inner balance required to experience a "state of absolute fullness." This is the alignment of the inner world with external reality, where every aspect of life harmoniously complements the other, allowing a person to feel complete and whole.Another source underscores this idea: "A person, by nature, in a certain sense is everything—'quodammodo omnia' (St. Thomas Aquinas)—and naturally demands an ensemble of everything that alone could fill his entire being. After all, happiness is always the harmony of the subjective structure with the objective. However, considering that by his very nature man is a composite of everything... his inner world, his inclinations, and desires can only be harmonized with the ensemble of everything, with what encapsulates the fullness of being." (source: link txt).Thus, when everyday tasks are imbued with joy, they become a manifestation of inner harmony. This reflects the balance between the pursuit of self-realization, a genuine love for life, and the maintenance of warm, sincere relationships with loved ones. It is precisely this harmony and integration of all aspects of life that allow a person to experience true, enduring happiness, one that is independent of transient external circumstances and emanates from the very depth of his being.