Choose Joy

When we're feeling emotional, full of restlessness, our hearts racing with nervous energy . . . what do we need?

When we're feeling anxious, we need to express . . . to release pent up energy, to allow for creativity. We are born natural seekers in need of healthy expression . . . and when we don't find healthy release or expression, we form unhealthy habits or addictions.  We might smoke, eat, work, exercise, shop, curse, drink, or sleep to numb ourselves from painful emotions.  

The mind needs to be busy.  It needs gentle direction or guidance.  We can help the mind out by finding healthy modes of expression.  Mindful walking, dancing, piano playing, writing, drawing, knitting, singing, playing a game or cuddling with a loved one are simple forms of physical release. Cleaning and cooking are also effective ways for releasing pent-up energy, but doing too much for others or doing too much of anything, for that matter, without recharging and nurturing the self, can leave us feeling depleted, frustrated, unappreciated, disconnected and stuck.

A good place to start when we're feeling overwhelmed or cluttered is to purge our physical space.   Purging personal space creates room for noticing how we're feeling within. It starts by simply taking fifteen minutes to scan your space -- look through clothing, books, personal possessions.  Get an overall idea of what's what so you'll feel motivated to take action.  Go ahead.  Grab some boxes, label one "keep," one "donate," and one "trash."  Hold each item.  Get a feel from it.  Do you love it?  Does it say something about who you are today?  Decide. Keep only those things that make you feel joyful. The rest -- donate or trash -- simply release and let it go.  Give thanks to those things that have been with you up until now.  Thank them for the purpose they've served.  Now it's time to make space . . . for creativity, for growth, for change.  It's time to let go. 

As you release each material attachment, you'll feel lighter, more hopeful. Tossing out old stuff creates space for "seeing" what's holding us back. Stuff muddles our path.  Stuff stifles our true hearts' desires.  

It's difficult to realize how we're feeling when we're so overstuffed.  Stuff traps, frustrates, and can make us feel angry.  Looped in a negative cycle of attachment, fearful and obsessed with saving or hoarding, results in endless frustration - organizing and re-organizing the same old stuff.  This dead-end cycle leaves us without space for simply "being" -- to think clearly, to dream, to create, to feel free. Instead, we're left with a sense of malaise, a touch of irritability and unrest, causing us to blame ourselves and others for our feelings of low energy, overwhelm, and disorganization.  Stuck in this negative cycle for too long can lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and even depression.

Depression is the opposite of expression; it's pushing down what you really need to expel and express.

Our society, especially our schooling system, teaches suppression. Suppression of thought, emotions, and imagination are byproducts of living in a power structure that must control the masses. Transcending today's oppressive forces can feel overwhelming.  However, learning how to focus within, by doing daily work to stay ahead of the clutter,  can get you feeling back in control, in touch with the self -- mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Realigning with our true power or Source brings us back to feeling alive. 

It's the little things that help us get back on our path, back to feeling attuned, balanced, harmonious, and joyful -- BUT this takes intentional effort.  It's a step-by-step process that requires willingness, determination, and daily effort if you wish to step into your true desires, to feel in rhythm with life.

Yes, life brings challenges and problems. . . . but problems are our opportunities for growth.  While obstacles can oppress and agitate us, they can also motivate and inspire. If we can become of strong mind, especially by keeping our mind fixed upon becoming our best Self, we can learn how to focus upon how to live rightly.  Once we make up our minds to want change, we can achieve whatever we intend.  We can begin doing all things -- with our mind,  heart, hands -- with all of our energy - to align and attune with our higher Self.

 
God wants us to find happiness living on this earthly plane. Joy can enter if we allow life to breathe through us. Focused breathing fosters non-reactivity.  When we're not reacting, judging, expecting from every little thing, we learn to send love to fear.  We are okay with not knowing, with accepting what is.  We can stay in the question.

It all starts with being intentional . . .  slowing down . . . learning how to be gentle with ourselves.  With Self-love, we can overcome fear. It's only with self love that we can ease up and overcome all of the small stuff keeping us stuck.

Every day is another test.  Each day is our opportunity to take stock at day's end. To ask questions, to reflect, to gauge whether or not it was a win or a lose.  Did we act in agreement with our Highest Self?  What did we do well?  What could we improve upon?  Simply asking.  Not judging.  Simply noticing.

Sometimes we get the lessons, sometimes we don't. If we don't judge; if we don't worry; if we can simply shut the mind off for just a little bit, we begin opening the heart, allowing love to enter.

Intending to live each day as though it's our last, yes!  We can better deal with each issue at hand when we see the big picture.   Each circumstance can be less haunting when every moment is lived as though it's the only moment that matters.  If we could open up our heart to the “present,” we might live more willingly, more excitedly, more passionately, without judgement and expectation, newly filled with hope for allowing life to unfold and lead the way.

Come Back To The Power of Center
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• Start tossing some old stuff.  
• Breathe. Breathe consciously . . . See each breath as a gift. Allow your breath to calm and ground you.  Feel anchored in your truth. As you feel calmer, you can be present for others.  You can become a silent witness
• Fill with positive thoughts.
• Find gratitude and appreciation.  Write it down.
• Listen for your inner voice, for the whispers from Spirit. With patience and practice, you will feel the breath of life support you & Allow life to completely unwrap itself.  
• Stand tall.  Stand firmly grounded.  Feel the Earth supporting you.  Feel rooted, deeply rooted.  Now, simply open up.  Allow yourself to fill up with the highest energy, the energy supporting you from below.  Surrender, allow complete acceptance and appreciation for this support and love.
• Refuse to waste another precious moment stewing over the past, stirring up regrets, or anticipating unnecessarily about the future.  Choose Joy.
• Step into faith, stay in the present and meet life right from where you are.
• Come as you are.  Show up.  Face life from right here, right now.  For where you are in this very moment is being - fully alive.

So if you feel like it, purge.  If you don't, breathe.  Accept what is.  Accept all things as they come.  Allow. Savor it all.  Taste the sweetness.  Taste the bitterness.  Taste it all.  

SOAR in *Self-discovery with an *Open your heart. *Allowing appreciation and enjoyment of the"present."  *Release all that no longer serves your highest best & *Receive all the deliciousness life has to offer.


xo
​Jewels