383: The connection between mindfulness and joie de vivre

The boys drink and review Founder's Breakfast Stout then discuss the similarities between mindfulness and joie de vivre (starting about 3:30). The very act of reviewing a beer is an example. The point is not to see how fast you can get a beer into your belly, but to savor the moment, pay attention to the world as it's going by, and understand its complexities. What does mindfulness have in common with joie de vivre? They're both about noticing what's going on and taking pleasure in the small things. "Mindfulness" is often associated with New Age weirdness, but it doesn't have to be. At its core, it involves one part of your mind dispassionately observing what's happening in another part of your mind, or in your body. It seems to have a connection with the acceptance of suffering. Joie de vivre is similar except that it has an emphasis on cheerfulness and enjoyment. For both, you're focusing on the present moment. Most of our lives are chores and obligations. If you view all those things as drudgery, and your "real life" is only the fun stuff, you're not going to have much real life. You need to learn to enjoy all the aspects of your life. Are you going to allow your circumstances to control your life and your emotions, or are you going to take charge and live the life you want to live?