Let the Joy begin!

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JOY - A source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something exceptionally festive or satisfying. 

"Speaking of Joy" by Marielliot

So funny how JOY week keeps ending up on a holiday week. I've mentioned that I didn't do any big planning session to figure out the order in which I would examine my virtues. I just sort of looked at them and kept the series the way they came to me and here we have Joy ending up on the holidays of Christmas, Easter and now the 4th of July! How festive for for my festive virtue! 

Over the long weekend, My Sweetie and I did not do much of anything in the way of exciting entertainment but we did get to spend a lot of time hanging around together as a family. It was terrific. At some point while we were enjoying The Girl's squeals of laughter, which she often shares, my Sweetie said, "There's your Outrageous Joy!"  He was referring to the fact that I had discovered and created myself as the possibility of outrageous joy many many years ago (In a Landmark Education Seminar) and a recurring conversation for me is how do I manifest Joy on an ongoing basis. 

Watching my happy girl in action is the manifestation of my and now her joy! If children come to us as pure potentiality the best gift I can give my girl is an optimistic and joyful heart. It is so satisfying to see it happening and to have my partner in parenting recognize it.  What makes the whole thing even more fun is Sweet's joyous nature actually compounds my own.

If I am off track or feeling like things aren't going the way I would like I ask myself the question, Who are you being Kathy? Are you being a possibility of outrageous Joy in this moment? Over the years just asking myself this question has been enough to shift even the darkest of moods. At the core of my being I am Joy and in the moments when I forget this is when I feel lost. Lately I have not been feeling lost but I have been wondering what I might be creating next and/or in addition to parenting my daughter. I am hopeful that this week exploring joy may lead me to some of those answers!

This week's "Bliss Initiatives" are color coded in purple for quick identification. They are specific things that you too can try, if you want to play along with me. However, because as Earl Nightingale says, "you become what you think about," even if you only follow along, and never take on any of the bliss initiatives, I expect some positive results. I will be exploring and encouraging JOY this way:

• Study - This week I will be considering the Practice of Joy as a spiritual endeavor. From the Spirituality an Practice website:  

  Joy is an essential spiritual practice growing out of faith, grace, gratitude, hope, and love. It is the pure and simple delight in being alive. Joy is our elated response to feelings of happiness, experiences of pleasure, and awareness of abundance. It is also the deep satisfaction we know when we are able to serve others and be glad for their good fortune.

  Invite joy into your life by staging celebrations. Host festivities to mark transitions and changes in your life. Toast moments of happiness you notice as you go through your day. Dance — jump for joy — as often as possible. Life is not meant to be endured; it is to be enjoyed.

• Do something you love - Don't just say hi on Facebook, actually pick up the phone and call an old friend, share an ice cream with your child, get a massage, paint your nails... what ever it is that brings you joy. Be conscious and choose joy!

• Carry a pocket charm - I find that I forget about this game as I navigate through my daily life.  I will carry this small totem around with me,  and as I happen upon it,  I will be reminded that I am focusing on JOY.  I found this small pewter stone with the word joy engraved on it but any small pocket sized item can work for you as long as you associate it with this project. 

• Field work - I've done this before and am repeating it because it works! Each day I will be doing at least one thing from Daphna Caperonis' terrific list of 50 ways to find Joy.  Click here, even if you have no plans to do anything from her list.  Just considering it is a joyous experience! 

• Get in the mood for Joy - Watch this very short (less then 5 minutes!)  Finding Joy Movie which is a nice, meditative way to begin any JOY filled day.  If time during the week permits, watch one of these feature Films on Joy.

Next Post: More Joy

My 13 bliss virtues are 

joy, order, creativity, passion, whimsy, serenity, inquiry, community, 

romance, gratitude, moxie, humility, and surprise.



This week we are exploring Joy. 

Next week is all about Order.