Find the Joy...

 Happiness can be found, even in the darkest times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.  - Dumbledore, Harry Potter

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. - Ghandi

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"Find the thing that brings you joy and just do that.  Be happy."  This is advice I find myself giving and receiving on a daily basis.  It seems silly to talk about doing the thing that makes you happy when there are so many serious issues and problems to face.  But the truth is, facing those from a place of anger, fear, worry, anxiety, or any other emotion that is not peace and love, will only bring about more of that which we do not want. 

When I talk about the things that make you happy, I mean the real simple joys of life.  Today, I was feeling icky.  I didn't sleep well last night.  The same thoughts were circling in my mind that I had no answers to, and on top of all that, I had to get something done for a client that felt overwhelming.  For the old me, these would all be reasons to hunker down and get to work.  But the new me knows that nothing good would come of trying to create anything of meaning while feeling icky.  So, I went to my go-to joy activity - taking a walk.  Mind you, it was 29 degrees out when I left, and I had a conference call that I had to be on in 20 minutes (my walk takes about an hour), and... But, the sun was shining super bright and my soul needed a walk.  While I fiddled with my phone to put on something motivational, I heard birds chirping.  I didn't put my ear buds in and just listened to the birds.  I noticed that lining the road I was walking on were hundreds of bare trees, with no leaves, looking dead and depressed (you get an idea of the ick feeling I was in).  As I walked and thought, of course the trees look beaten down, a beautiful, bright, red cardinal flew in the branches.  And, then another, and another.  I kept walking, and another bird, with a beautiful blue head flew into a different tree.  And, then I saw a beautiful evergreen tree.  And, all of a sudden, the entire dead scene around me had specks of color in it - a black and white cat in the field on the side of the road, a golden retriever, birds, and a small flower growing out on the side of the road in the dead of winter.  That is when I knew, the Universe was sending me a message.

Its not about the LARGER picture scene, because that was pretty dreary.  But, it is about the little specs of beauty in a moment.  My client was 20 minutes late to our call, allowing me more time to enjoy my walk.  By the time I got on the call, I was in a great mood.  By the time I got home, the call which would have lasted an hour was miraculously done.  I realized I was hungry and went out to grab myself something to eat.  Normally, I would consider this wasted time when I had stuff to do - but I was so happy, I knew this would only add to my productivity.  It took me about an hour to get the document done.  And, while my co-workers were reviewing it, I took a bubble bath.  When I was done, I had their feedback and I sent it off.  Not a bad day at "work".

When things start to feel overwhelming, our go to is to dig in, try harder, and do more.  In that moment, the best thing to do is let go and find something (one tiny, little thing) that will bring you joy.  And, when you do, when you go back to the task at hand it will either be handled or you will see it with new energy and new eyes.

The hard part is STOPPING the vibration you are in and forcing yourself to just go do something that would make you happy.  That's why I created the Joy Challenge.  For 30 days, we commit to doing one thing that would bring you joy.  Sounds so easy... but previous challenge participants will tell you it is harder than you may guess.  The results of this are astounding - long held goals, accomplished with ease and while people were having fun!  Joy really is the secret ingredient.  If you are doing something, and in that moment it is not bringing you joy, take a minute to take a break, and do something small that will bring you some happiness.  You will see when you go back to the task at hand, it will be easier to do.  Join us for Joy Challenge (for FREE) in April!