I was a student at the Faculty of Medicine in Turkey. The famous comedian Altan Erbulak had a performance at the İzmir Fair. I went with some friends to watch it. He truly was a talented artist. Even the simplest subjects, through the eyes of a comedian, were shared with the audience in a delightful way.
During the intermission, I went backstage to visit him and asked, “Don’t you ever have any problems? Whenever I see or watch you, you are always smiling. Don’t you have any troubles that prevent you from laughing this much?”
He asked me, “What is your profession?” I replied, “I am currently a student; after I graduate from medical school, I will become a doctor.” Then he said, “When you become a doctor, patients will come to you. Would you ever say, ‘I’m not in the mood today, I cannot see you’?” I answered, “This is my profession. No matter what troubles or difficulties I may have, of course I will carry out my duty.” He then said, “Well, this is my profession too. Right now, I am practicing my profession. Even if I have problems or troubles, I have to do my job.”
Therefore, every person may always have problems and concerns. Yet, while performing their profession, they must fulfill the requirements of their position. In fact, they should do so in the best possible way, giving full justice to their role.
A person, depending on their environment and circumstances, can experience different states of mind throughout the day and in the days that follow. One may be optimistic or pessimistic, joyful or hopeful, discouraged or well-intentioned, determined or paralyzed. These traits can be extended even further. Naturally, the factors that nourish and highlight these states often stem from the conditions in which a person finds themselves.
There are periods in life when one feels like a weary traveler. The burden is heavy, the road is long, and the horizon is misty. In such moments, something within either begins to fade or reignites. That “something” may be the very truth we need most: the joy of living.
Fethullah Gülen Hodjaefendi did not see the joy of living as mere superficial cheerfulness or fleeting happiness. In his view, it is an inner dynamism nourished by faith, deepened by hope, and given meaning through service. He regarded despair as one of the most dangerous illnesses of the human soul and emphasized that hope is a divine breath that lifts a person back onto their feet. He also expressed that the more a person benefits others, the more strongly they become attached to life.
Indeed, when a person lives only for themselves, they become constricted; but as they share in the concerns of others, they expand, deepen, and multiply. Perhaps the strongest root of the joy of living lies here: going beyond oneself and reaching others.
Within a single day—within 24 hours—a person may experience many different emotional states: lively or lifeless, calm or irritated, indifferent or highly sensitive. Sometimes these are balanced throughout the day; at other times, one or two of these states dominate and shape one’s lifestyle.
In such a case, by reading, listening, and reflecting, remaining on the path of the “ideal human being”—the state that should be essential—is of great importance both for this world and the hereafter. Recognizing the value of this state, practicing it, sustaining it, and eventually becoming an example to others through one’s actions and, when necessary, words, is extremely important.
For this enables a person not only to possess the joy of living but also to share this beauty with others, allowing them to learn and practice it as well.
In general, these states can be grouped under two main categories: optimism and pessimism. The conditions that nourish and sustain them are of great importance.
By nature, human beings are influenced positively or negatively by everything. The duration of this influence varies from person to person. Likewise, due to their nature, individuals may remain in one or more of these emotional modes for extended periods, influenced by their environment and experiences, and may even drift away from the essential qualities of being human through extreme words and actions.
For this reason, by striving consciously and in a balanced way, and by benefiting from the help of others, a person’s ability to accept existing and emerging events, understand others, and act with empathy for both their own good and the good of others is known as the “joy of living.”
The joy of living here does not mean ignoring all troubles and problems and, as the saying goes, “dancing with bells on.” Just as there are things in life that bring joy, there are also things that bring sorrow—and indeed, they do. One should neither magnify sorrowful matters to the extent that they dominate one’s entire life, nor indulge in joyful matters to the point of forgetting everything else and seeking only worldly pleasure.
The concept of hope is like a star that guides one through dark nights. No matter how difficult a situation may be, a person can rise again with that spark of hope within. For hope is not merely an expectation about the future; it is also a force that sustains the present.
To look at life with joy does not depend on perfect external conditions. On the contrary, it is about finding meaning even amid deficiencies, disappointments, and trials. At this point, the human heart becomes like a scale: on one side are troubles, on the other are faith, hope, determination, resilience, and active patience. If we can strengthen the latter, life becomes bearable despite all its weight, and the joy of living emerges.
Reaching such a state is not easy; it requires effort, active patience, faith in God, and determination to fulfill what He asks of us. It requires consistently looking at both the present and the future with hope and maintaining that commitment. When all these dynamics are fulfilled and sustained, a person establishes a certain level for themselves and strives both to preserve and improve it every day. All of this is initiated, developed, and maintained through the consciousness granted to humanity by God.
God has created human beings as vicegerents on earth. Therefore, at the foundation of the earth—and indeed the entire universe—lies the principle of benefiting and serving humanity. All these qualities have been granted by God. Knowing Him, recognizing Him, loving Him, and striving to fulfill His commands precisely are also among the qualities and beauties of being human.
So, at what point are we now as human beings? At what level do we stand, and what levels should we strive to attain? By asking ourselves these questions, we should fulfill all the conditions that give rise to the joy of living. Then, with hope, we should strive for and pray to be granted Paradise—not as a mere reward, but as a divine grace—together with our loved ones.
May our Lord guide us all along the path of His pleasure, free from expectations of people, and enable us to embrace every human being on earth—regardless of religion, language, color, or homeland—as our brothers and sisters. Let us include in our prayers the wish to share the joy of living with them in the hereafter.
Is there another way? What do you think?
