Joyful living comes from choosing to be joyful. Not from circumstances. It comes from deciding, despite circumstances, that you can find joy in your life. It won't guarantee that you'll always have joy, forevermore... but it will certainly give you a better shot at an overall joyful life if you decide it for yourself. So, … Continue reading Joyful Living
Tag: joy
Enjoy
Enjoy your time. Of course it's impossible to enjoy every moment of your life, because there will be times that aren't great. There will be times that are horrible. But, you don't have to let that determine your whole life experience. Life should have joy in it. See if you can find the joy, whenever … Continue reading Enjoy
Heart
I believe that your heart is much more than a simple organ that pumps blood. I believe your heart is the center of your feelings. Why else do we feel emotional pain, and amorous love in our heart center? Why do we instinctively grab at our chests when we feel joy, fear, concern or pride? … Continue reading Heart
Joy
The best way to happiness is to cultivate joy in your everyday life. The best way to cultivate joy is to simply choose it. Choose to be joyful, and choose to bring joy to all the moments in your life. Happiness is sure to follow.
Youth
They say that youth is wasted on the young. I think it's a state of mind. While we can't stay young forever, we can certainly keep a youthful spirit. It simply means to embody the qualities of honesty, staying open, ever excited about what you can learn, a sense of playfulness, and joy. Keep a … Continue reading Youth
Joy
Life just has so much more meaning and sparkle when it's lived with joy. Joy comes from making choices that are for your highest good. Joy feels light and happy and free. Joy comes from choosing to be joyful. It doesn't just happen to you. You choose joy, and then continue to choose joy, and … Continue reading Joy
Jump for Joy
The most magnetic people are the joyful ones. And the thing is, they aren't exclusively entitled to joy. Every one of us can be joyful. Joy isn't randomly gifted to you. You get to choose joy, for yourself, at any time. You don't need to wait for certain circumstances to happen before you can be … Continue reading Jump for Joy
Joy
When you stop waiting for things to happen before you can be happy, and start becoming aware of how good things already are, that's when you feel joy. Joy is a choice you can make at any time, no matter what. In fact joy must always be a choice that you choose. Once you choose … Continue reading Joy
Joyful
When life seems to get too difficult, that's when I realize I'm taking it too seriously. That's when I need to remind myself that I just don't know enough of about anything to be too upset about it. That's when I should just relax, look around at what to be grateful for, and be joyful. … Continue reading Joyful
Alignment
We have a natural sense of well being. Our bodies are meant to heal and regenerate, they just already know how to do it. And we just need to stay out of the way. Better yet, we just need to go easy with life, and drop resistance. Without holding on to resistance, we glide naturally … Continue reading Alignment
Laughter
They say that laughter is the best medicine. Life is certainly much better when laughter comes easy. I've read several different studies that say children, on average, laugh something like 300 times a day, while adults barely laugh 20 times. It's no wonder then why the little ones are so much more vibrant and joyous, … Continue reading Laughter
Enjoy
Are you enjoying life? Do you take time to notice all the wonder and beauty of the simple things around you? How often do you just play and have fun? Doing these things are the mark of a successful life. Little kids and puppies are experts at this. They marvel and wonder and enjoy the … Continue reading Enjoy
Choose
A peaceful life is the result of choosing to be peaceful as many times as you can make that choice. A joyful life is the result of choosing to be joyful as often as you possibly can. A life filled with respect and dignity comes from making respectful and dignified choices. You get to help … Continue reading Choose
Present Moment
It's usually much scarier in your mind, than it is out there in the present moment. So, when it does start to get too scary for you, remember to take a breath and get into the present moment. That's where the magic is to feel real joy, and it's certainly where you have all the … Continue reading Present Moment
Saving Grace
Focus on gratitude. It's your saving grace. No matter what you may be going through, there is always, always something to be grateful for. Focusing on gratitude calms your worried mind, and helps joy to seep in. The more you focus on being grateful, the more you realize how blessed you really are. It's a … Continue reading Saving Grace
Energy
Trust the energy. If something doesn't feel right, don't ignore that feeling. If it feels like a struggle when interacting with someone, pay attention and find out what that strained feeling is telling you. Maybe it's a warning to avoid that person. Or perhaps it's indicating that this person is a perfect teacher for you … Continue reading Energy
Success
Success happens from having a life filled with successful days. A successful day is one where you were fully present, and experienced joy. I often refer back to a quote I copied from Abraham-Hicks, that says to: "See your 'career' as one of creating a joyful life experience." We are all creators, just not of … Continue reading Success
Begin
You can't wait until things are perfect to begin whatever you want to begin. It will never have a chance to become anything great, let alone perfect, if you don't begin and get after it. Jen Sincero says that "procrastination is one of the most popular forms of self-sabotage because it's really easy." It's so … Continue reading Begin
A Good Life
The key to creating a good life is to remember a simple truth. Whatever you focus on expands. We get to choose what we focus on. And if what we focus on expands, then it just makes good sense to focus on the blessings. Focus on all there is to be grateful for. Fill your … Continue reading A Good Life
Choose
Each day we get a chance to choose kindness, be joyful, and speak with love. Some days it may be harder to make this choice, but those are the days that it's essential. Add enough of these days of choosing kindness, joy and love together, and you've created a wonderful life. We get to choose … Continue reading Choose
You Are Loved
I know that I am loved. I am too blessed to not know. So when things looks dark and scary, I only need to remember what I already know, which is that I am loved. It's this knowing, and the reassurance that it gives me, that propels me to want to share love with my … Continue reading You Are Loved
Have Fun
Have fun, because life was meant to be enjoyed. Have fun without keeping score if you're having more fun than someone else, because that's tinged with the pressure of competition. And competition may spike you with a jolt of adrenaline, but ultimately it feels more like work, which has it's value, but isn't purely fun. … Continue reading Have Fun
A Good Day
It's a good day to be happy. I know it's common to wish this insane year would be over already, but I can't help but think about all of the people who's loved ones never even made it to see this year, be it crazy-terrible or not. I agree that this year sucks, but if … Continue reading A Good Day
Choose Love
A Course in Miracles says: "There is only one problem, choosing fear over love." The world seems to be chock full of problems, or as ACIM points out, it's full of fear. Even all of the anger that's coming up in our distressed society is really just a cover for fear. The answer to this … Continue reading Choose Love
Precious Commodities
Wasting time focusing on all of the things that are wrong with the world is no way to live. What's the point in living if you give away all of your energy and attention to bad news, horrible acts and moronic behavior endlessly displayed online and on TV? Considering how short our lives really are, … Continue reading Precious Commodities
Shook
It's so easy to get wrapped up in the petty inconveniences of life. But then out of nowhere, the earth can shake from underneath, and rattle you out of bed at 4 am, just to remind you that you don't have as much control over your life as you think you do. Major life-altering catastrophes … Continue reading Shook
Wherever
Destination Happiness is a trap. Thinking that you'll be happy, that you'll finally feel abundant, or be at peace once you reach some place other than where you are, is just a trick you're playing on yourself. Even though I know this, I still fall for it and need the reminder myself. The feeling that … Continue reading Wherever
Spark Joy
Every few months I like go through my closets and drawers to take inventory of what I have, and purge what I haven't used it in a while. I like to follow Marie Kondo's KonMarie method and clear out anything that no longer "sparks joy" with me. Then I can tidy up and neatly store … Continue reading Spark Joy
Forgive Often
Forgiveness is not a one-time act. Forgiveness will set you free, and sometimes you will just need to repeatedly forgive another as the same hurt may come up again and again. Each time you forgive, you release yourself from that pain. So forgive, and forgive often.
Look for the Good
The media and social networks have been showing a lot of people with bad behavior lately, and it can feel like the whole world has gone topsy-turvy. And while there are a whole bunch of folks who have indeed decidedly lost their minds (with the video to prove it), we need to remember that it's … Continue reading Look for the Good
Within
I'm sailing through on a lifelong quest to fully experience (and maintain) joyful living. And all of my discoveries keep pointing out that it comes from within. In other words, we don't have to look very far to find joy. It's already there, inside of us. Eckhart Tolle says, Pleasure is always derived from something … Continue reading Within
Practice
As I look back at my day, I notice that the times I felt the most ease and at peace, were the times I was just in the moment. I wasn't lost in thought. My attention wasn't being pulled by something online. I wasn't stuck up in my head. Time had no meaning, and I … Continue reading Practice
The Why
Why do you want what you want? If you know the answer to that, then getting it is a cinch. We're usually so much more wrapped up in how to get it, and that seems to be the trouble. If there's anything I've learned in my lifetime, it's that I just don't know enough to … Continue reading The Why
Consciousness
This is a heavy concept, but it's fundamental. Consciousness is a steady stream of Source Energy intelligence that runs throughout all of the Universe as pure Love. And we have access to this intelligence at all times. In fact, we should be accessing it to live a fully heart-centered life. What blocks it from us … Continue reading Consciousness
Integrity
I think one of the main reasons that animals are so appealing to us, is their pure integrity. They don't speak with words, so they don't lie. When they interact with people, they show us exactly how they feel about us, whether its favorable, or not. There's no subtext, no passive aggressiveness, no labeling, and … Continue reading Integrity
Light
Challenges in life, and troubling situations can cause such despair, but it's crucial to remember that there is a higher power, always available for us to turn to. Even in the darkest situations, we can ask what can we learn from it, and how can we help bring light through to it. Genesis 50:20 says: … Continue reading Light
A Joyful Heart
I'm no doctor, but I know that there is a force running through us that is ultimately responsible for our health and healing. It's the same force that sparks life into us from the start. Doctors are most definitely needed, but the best of them know that they are there to brilliantly help create the … Continue reading A Joyful Heart
Get Happy
On a recent interview, Dr. Joe Dispenza said, Get Happy, what's the worst that can happen? You'll be happy! What are we waiting for? Are we waiting for the world to settle down again before we can be happy? It may never settle down, especially if we don't actively choose happiness first. I don't believe it's … Continue reading Get Happy
An Empowering Choice
One of the most powerful pieces of advice I've ever received, is that it's vital to mindfully give your energy and attention to what you are for, rather than what you are against. There's a lot of bad behavior out there, and too much negativity, but it does no good to feed it your energy … Continue reading An Empowering Choice
Be cool
Most of the great teachers advise to let go of desperately wanting so much, and relax. It seems tricky, but it's true. If I'm focused on wanting something desperately, then I'm focused on the fact that I don't have it. I can't get it, because I'm busy wanting it. Wanting and having are two different … Continue reading Be cool
Miracles
Wayne Dyer said, So many people are expecting a miracle instead of being a miracle. And really, I think it's all about accepting your being the miracle that you are. Because you are a miracle. The fact that you can read my words and process the meaning that I'm giving to them, while your heart … Continue reading Miracles
Don’t forget
We forget all the time that this day could be our last. We forget all the time that we're not guaranteed another Monday, whether manic or chill. We forget all the time that the last text we sent, video we uploaded, or comment we posted could very well have been our final one. We forget … Continue reading Don’t forget
The Real Deal
I was never a fan of dress rehearsals. The anxiety of a production is at an all time high that night, and anything that can go wrong, usually does. Actually, they say that a terrible dress rehearsal means you'll have a great opening night. Because, essentially then you've gotten all of the kinks out. They … Continue reading The Real Deal
It’s all here, now
When I feel overwhelmed, it's because I'm thinking I need to solve all of the problems in my world right in that immediate moment. I don't even know where to start, but I already feel like I'm behind. The deal with thinking about all of your problems is that you're actively directing your thoughts towards … Continue reading It’s all here, now
I’m awake!
My absolute favorite moment of the day, is when I first wake up and realize that I'm awake! It feels like a light switch is turned on, and I'm surged with electricity. The first thought that pops into my head is Thank You-for my life, and then I get so excited at the thought of … Continue reading I’m awake!
Life is short
Life is short. That's what they say, anyway. I know that when I'm at my lowest, life feels like its too long. Like if I catch myself sitting around waiting for a horrible pandemic to end, the days can seem to drag on forever. On the other hand, when it's time to turn in for … Continue reading Life is short
Their turf
A bright spot during this uneasy time of social distancing / self quarantines, and one of my favorite things to see, are the pets that seem overjoyed to have their fitness people around all day filming at-home workouts. These cute doggies and cats can't help but participate as their person is all over their turf, … Continue reading Their turf
Unconditional Love
Unconditional Love is one of those phrases that sounds so nice to say, and yet usually at that very moment we are expressing it, we don't really mean it. Instead, that's usually when we are placing conditions. Here's an example: "You have to know that I love you unconditionally. You just have to." In other … Continue reading Unconditional Love
Focus on what you want
Make the most of winter. Louise Hay says: The more we dwell on what we don't want, the more we get it. This is how the Law of Attraction works most consistently for us. You see, in its essence, the Law of Attraction means like attracts like. The thing is, we are all programmed to … Continue reading Focus on what you want
Clean up that lens
"The world is so bright I gotta wear shades!" What lens are you choosing to see the world through? We all have our own unique worldview perspective, brought on by our default programming. This programming creates a filter through which we see the outside world. And based on this filter, our magnificent brains will constantly … Continue reading Clean up that lens
Heed that ping in your heart
Here's a very simple moral philosophy that you can follow: If what you're about to say or do feels bad, then there is no way that it can you bring you anything good. I told you it was simple. It's so basic, that it can almost be overlooked. But I believe it is the best … Continue reading Heed that ping in your heart
Loneliness
Do you suffer from loneliness? Or, do you enjoy solitude? People are only lonely if they don't like the person that they're alone with. So they need distractions. If those distractions are taken away, they feel the absence with a great sadness. They are lonely. But if you like the person that you're alone with, … Continue reading Loneliness
Appreciation by Default
Look for the Good. Look for what you like. Look for what you what you Appreciate. There is always something to celebrate! Look for the good everywhere. These statements could have been pulled from the script of any self-help guru. (Of which I have studied many!) I love reading those statements. Even when they pop … Continue reading Appreciation by Default
Control Freak
Confession Time: I am a recovering Control Freak. I grew up thinking that the way to become successful (which I equated with happiness) was to control every aspect of my life. And I tried to excel in the controlling of how others acted around me. Let's just say that early on I got smacked upside … Continue reading Control Freak
Defending yourself is a waste of energy
I'm sure you've heard the sage advice to not worry about what others think of you. Someone has even effectively put it all nice and blunt, perfectly phrasing it to fit inside a fortune cookie with these words: What others think of you is none of your business! It's great advice. And you know what? It … Continue reading Defending yourself is a waste of energy
Like a Fox! 