A line of thunderstorms is rolling through this morning. It is the leading edge of a cold front that I hope will blow away the last of our leftover humidity and heat.
The Joy Diet has been blowing through my life in much the same way. Every chapter has been met with an initial storm of resistance. Once I move through those dark clouds, I find the air is clear and clean on the other side.
It has been a good week for me. Last week's TRUTH washed away a lot of negative self talk for me. I'm not saying the negative stories have magically disappeared. They are still there. I'm just a little quicker at recognizing and silencing them. It's a subtle but powerful shift and it is changing the texture of my days in a way that feels really good. I'm experiencing more joy.
DESIRE turned out to be a piece of cake. Spending time each day getting quiet and thinking about what I really and truly want has been an incredible gift. Every day I followed my desires down to intention and came up with a way to satisfy them. Wanting something delicious to eat, led me to a deep desire to be nurtured. "I want to rest" was honored with a quick 20 minute nap that change the tenor of my entire day. "I want to tell a story" became a heartfelt blog post.
Here's the amazing part. I took the time to think about my heart's desires and then (gasp) did something about it and the world did not come to a screeching halt. The laundry was done, dinner was cooked. No one starved or suffered from neglect because I took some time and expended some energy on my self and my desires. In fact, I think I did a better job in the world this week because I felt so nurtured and cared for.
I'm looking forward to next week and adding CREATIVITY to the mix!
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Laura, what a beautiful written post!! I love the imagery you created and I love that you were able to identify and honour your desires! You nurtured and cared for yourself as you said -- how beautiful!! You give me hope for myself and showed how easily we can introduce desire in our lives in some of the smallest, yet easiest ways!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! It's such a comfort to know that finding and embracing our desires will not bring the walls crumbling down around us!
ReplyDeleteI too have felt the resistance with each chapter but working through it I find *JOY*
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this journey. It is so much better doing with a group than solo. It is so helpful to see similar experiences.
You know I sometimes don't think I know what I want...what I really want...and if the couple things I am thinking of.....are really my desires...they are so incredibly simple and yet so far from my reach sometimes it seems.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog today and leaving a comment! ;)
You did a wonderful job with desire. Your week sound perfect.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your week with desire. It is beautiful to see how desire has made its way in to your life.
ReplyDeleteSo great that you came up with ways to satisfy your desires this week, and that the storms have worked to clear the air for you. Isn't it funny how simple it can be? I love how your world did not come to a screeching halt when you took care of your desires. A valuable lesson for me.
ReplyDeleteI had some resistance as well with Truth but Desire went pretty well for me also. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful insights! I must say, I'm learning too that things don't fall apart even when a load of laundry that doesn't get done or I leave a sinkful of dirty dishes for my partner to do when she gets home from work.... there's a wonderful opening that happens when we loosen our grip and simply take the time to experience what we want in any given moment...
ReplyDeleteWhat a serene and centered way at approaching The Joy Diet. Reading this post was like reading a joyous meditation. Learning to identify the negative is such a boon. Taking time to acknowledge and act on desire is a gift. How wonderful! :)
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ReplyDeleteTake two: Thank you all for your kind comments. I can't wait to tackle creativity!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found the gift in desire, thanks for sharing your journey this week.
ReplyDeleteI chuckled when I read you actually took some time for yourself and the world didn't fall apart. I needed to hear that. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDelightful!
ReplyDeleteI've been reading 'My stroke of Insight' with another book group, & REST is one of the things she craved & needed after her stroke! How wonderful to 'allow' ourselves rest without anything but our own prompting!