Tag Archives: #joy

Express Joy

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“You are an incredible mystery that you will never figure out. To be this mystery consciously is the greatest joy.”
~Adyashanti~

Life doesn’t happen to us, life responds to us; therefore, the process of awakening requires that we take full responsibility for our state of consciousness in the present moment. Joy is something that we must choose repeatedly and there are many ways to align with its energy. Surround yourself with sparkles of magic and gratitude and let your life be a living, evolving conversation with the Divine.

Joyfulness opens us to receive the vibrant blessings that are all around us. Sharing smiles, kindnesses, optimism, heartfelt hugs and compassion feeds our collective consciousness in miraculous ways. The greatest gift that you can give those who grace your life is to be a source of joy.

Purposely choose to slow down, breathe and experience the fullness of this moment. You are a vibrant expression of the Divine and there are infinite layers and levels and facets to explore. Your light brings a unique energy into the world. As you evolve, you perfect the ability to express a deeper joy of being throughout all the various aspects of this sacred journey.

Abundance and Fulfillment

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“What is truly a part of our spiritual path is that which brings us alive. If gardening brings us alive, that is our path, if it is music, if it is conversation… we must follow what brings us alive.” 
~ David Steindl-Rast~
Look beyond challenges to the beauty that fills your life experience. The present moment provides an opportunity to awaken in a way that allows you to give rather than being propelled by desire. The awakened heart sees through the eyes of love and gratitude with the realization that abundance is a state of mind.
Spiritual abundance and fulfillment have greater depth than simple prosperity or obtaining a particular financial goal. Things, by their very nature, bring limitation and the worry of “what ifs?” that can destroy one’s sense of well-being. One who is truly abundant is already complete. Outer expressions of prosperity can ebb and flow; however, the heart that is fulfilled is untroubled and lives in a state of grace.
Celebrate existence! Embrace the joys and beauty that life has to offer. See yourself as an expression of the divine, step into service and discover the love that resides at the core of everything. Then, your walk will become flowing and harmonious.

Appreciate the Little Things

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“Find magic in the little things, and the big things you always expected will start to show up.” ~Isa Zapata~

Life offers us many choices. The lighter you become, the higher your vibration and the more easily you’ll align yourself with the Divine. We can choose to bring a sense of love, light and laughter to our experience.

Granted, there will certainly be moments that awaken compassion and empathy, frustration that (hopefully) leads to a shift in perception, and the sadness which comes from losing a loved one… that’s part of the human experience. But through it all, our ability to realign with joy is a powerful way to shine the light of consciousness in times of darkness.
Misery, struggle, hard work without appreciation and drudgery are all aspects of perceptions we inherited along the journey of awakening. They have no value except as teachers. Feel what needs to be felt, own your response to the present moment, but do remember to look beyond it to the truth of existence, which is to live vibrantly, filled with gratitude, empowered, passionate and joyful.

Inspiration

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Sometimes it’s far too easy to chat with people about the challenges we face together – war, fire, drought, inflation, politics – forgetting that what we place our attention upon grows stronger as we feed energy into it. Observe, and it’s likely that you’ll notice perfect strangers commiserating about something today… the ego masquerading as “human connection”.
I propose that we utilize love, joy and enthusiasm in order to change the conversation. I have experimented with a few questions and had the most wonderful interactions with strangers as well as people I know well. What I discovered is that the energy between us shifted immediately. Souls opened up and we were able to bond through inspiration and love, shared positive experiences that have a deeper connection than shared frustration.
  • What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?
  • Who is your greatest inspiration or has had the greatest impact on your life?
I noticed that it was occasionally challenging for someone to pick just one “best thing” and could see them mentally going through the events of their lives only to say, “Wow, I’m not sure. There have been so many.” The answers weren’t as important as the energy created in the present moment. Try it, and let me know what you discover…

Consciousness

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“You are an explorer, and you represent our species, and the greatest good you can do is to bring back a new idea, because our world is endangered by the absence of good ideas. Our world is in crisis because of the absence of consciousness.”

~Terence McKenna~

Both collective and personal, all chaos or conflict is caused by a lack of consciousness. Our state of consciousness matters whether anyone bears witness to it or not. The energy that we emit contributes to the whole – always. Understanding this, the awakening master purposely tends to consciousness first, and then acts.

Observe how you choose to respond to life. How often are you reactive rather than composed? Do you notice any patterns that trigger temporary unconsciousness? The most powerful tool to increase consciousness is to consistently set the tone for your day by utilizing meditation, gratitude or mindfulness. Choose to step into empowerment rather than waiting for outside factors to dictate your level of happiness.

Every moment offers opportunities to practice Presence. Use whatever is in front of you and purposefully approach it from the highest level possible. Infuse the Now with compassion, acceptance, love, joy and peace. Your state of consciousness matters.

Finding Your Voice

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“The Buddha left Bodh Gaya to teach others. Jesus came out of the Judaean desert to preach. Spiritual awakening is meaningless if it does not culminate in finding your voice and speaking up for what is right.”

~Anthon St. Maarten~

Creativity is the art of expression. No matter what form it may take – music, cooking, writing, decorating, beading, sculpture, color and texture in your wardrobe, painting, chanting or anything else you can imagine – creativity is an authentic union with the Divine. We become channels of light and it flows through us into all that we do. Tangible items then carry a spark of the infinite as expressed through you.

Whatever you choose to do, do it joyfully. Fill your creations and actions with love and conscious intention. When we over-think creative action, the mind attempts to be clever and sabotages our efforts by blocking that powerful and mysterious flow of unity. You can break free from patterns that limit your creative expression. It is simply a matter of finding your voice and living in the flow of your truth.

Your gifts are unique, your story divine. Find the joy of sharing them without attachment or expectation.

The Wonder of Nature

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“A monk asks: Is there anything more miraculous than the wonders of nature?

The master answers: Yes, your awareness of the wonders of nature.”

~Angelus Silesius~

Sometimes the smallest things can capture our attention and add bits of magic to our life experience. On my daily gratitude walk, I enjoy seeking out things that are smile-inducing. Time stops as I watch the clouds form ever-evolving pictures that gently move with the breeze. My imagination is inspired while listening to duck dramas play out on the lake.

As we walk through summer towards autumn we can choose to appreciate the way the sun lights up the morning sky. The artistry of life is fleeting and all too often, we sleepwalk right through it. Awareness is a powerful way to immerse oneself deeply into Presence. Just a moment of consciousness, a deep anchoring breath, or a feeling of universal love opens the doorway into the timeless Now.

This is your point of power: this feeling, so immense, yet so meaningless… from here, anything is possible. We are the bridge between the sacred and the mundane. Allow your light to sparkle with wonder and openness as you reside in the fullness of this moment.

Everything Changes

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“Look around you. Everything changes. everything on this earth is in a continuous state of evolving, refining, improving, adapting, enhancing, and changing. You were not put on this earth to remain stagnant.”

~Dr. Steve Maraboli~

Greet each day with an open heart. When we view life as an ever-evolving, active participant in our awakening, we create a playful movement of energy. Instead of resisting change, we seek expansion as we navigate the fields of discovery. Experiences are then transformed into opportunities to grow.

Change prompts us to explore new aspects of ourselves and the resulting seeds of wisdom become stepping stones to new levels of understanding. Be led by intuition, joy, passion, and wonder, and you will find your own rhythms in the ebb and flow of life.

Seek to bring the best version of yourself to the present moment. Deeply immerse yourself within the Now and the future will take care of itself. Presence indicates that we are calm, clear-sighted and conscious with whatever task is at hand. Spiritual maturity is simply the growing ability to trust the processes of life. Conscious action is a wonderful by-product of awakened living.

You Are Joy

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“You will arrive at the realization that you are just joy itself, and everything you do arises out of this joy, out of this spaciousness, light, and love.”
~ Mooji~

You are an aspect of the Divine experiencing the illusion of separation. Your loving awareness sparks awakening in those with whom you interact. When you are led by love, when you can step out of the maelstrom and into joy, you become a peaceful haven through turbulent times. Through contrast we discover the Oneness that connects us.

Give those you love space to work through their own lessons. Interact with kindness and integrity, knowing that everything works toward the highest good for all involved. Regardless of how it appears on the physical plane, love ultimately resides at the core of all things. As we each do our work to heal both personal and collective wounds, keep in mind that awareness is the first step of transformation.

Observe without commentary or judgment. Take ownership when necessary and then choose right action. Right action arises through expanded consciousness and mindful choices. Purposely utilize the lessons contained within every situation and you will awaken a version of yourself that is  peaceful, inspiring and empowered.

A Day Filled With Infinite Possibility

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“Every moment has infinite potential. Every new moment contains for you possibilities that you can’t possibly imagine. Every day is a blank page that you could fill with the most beautiful drawings.”

~John C. Parkin~

Every day provides opportunities to do things differently. Life is an ever-evolving masterpiece and the slightest changes can set amazing energy in motion. If you can keep things simple, show up with an open heart and take full responsibility for your experience, you’ll discover the joy of being a conscious creator.

Be led by love and enthusiasm. Sometimes inspiration comes from a chance encounter or a suggestion from a friend. Perhaps your inner wisdom speaks in a whisper saying, “What if…?” These seeds of awakening may blossom in ways that you never expected. I have found that it’s helpful to take some type of immediate action – speak it aloud, write it in a journal, reach out for guidance. Do anything to set something new into motion.

When we shift the trajectory of awakening with mindful action, we step into the realm of infinite possibility. You don’t have to plan grand gestures or flip your world upside down (as fun as that can be sometimes). Simply allowing the new to enter creates space in which the Universe can surprise you, and from there, anything can happen.