Joy

My day was going in one direction this morning and I completely switched gears around 11am which turned out to be a very favorable decision on my part!  Joy was calling out to me and I followed her to Devon Street, a neighborhood in northwest Chicago, to the sights, sounds, smells of South Asia.

As I was posting the beautiful photos of my day's adventure on my FB page, I decided the whole experience had a bigger story.  

 

This is the deal, when I follow my joy I am rarely disappointed.  Following one's joy is a concept I would love to see ALL the women in my life embrace because it is so deeply, soul satisfying…DeLightFull, the perfect word! 

In order for me to say "yes" to JOY this morning, I had to say "no" to my indelible "to do" list.  In hindsight, it just wasn't that hard. 

Turn away from the imagined "have to's" and turn toward joy. 

Reward: joy…joy that spawns and blesses me and all the "others" in my life.  I feel so happy today after having followed my joy.  I bet if you ask my children, they prefer my joy to  folded laundry and a clean house!

In order to follow your joy, you have to know what brings you joy.  I like food and cooking, exploration, nature, good wine(yes, I will classify because I really don't like so, so wine) and books. 

So, what feels delicious to you? 

If you're not sure, call me for a coaching session.  Seriously.   Knowing what brings you joy is essential to living life full of DeLight not Dread. 

Believe you can follow your joy.  This is huge!  The majority of American  women  I know just don't believe they are deserving of joy.  Sorry but I have no time to beat around an imagined bush.  Why do American women love to be martyrs?  If we're not slugging away care-taking and serving our kids, community and church our time is being wasted on "pleasures."  OMG,  Pleasures, dirty word.   

The biggest hurdle is believing you CAN follow your joy.   You CAN simply GIVE yourself permission.  Please do!  If you can't, well…try coaching, you're up against deeply held beliefs that are hindering your JOY and you need freedom.

A few qualities to foster which will help you follow your joy.

Agile:able to move quickly and easily.

Flexible: able to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances or conditions.

Spontaneous: performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner
impulse or inclination, and without premeditation or external stimulus.

Once permission is granted, intention is set.  When opportunity strikes, GO FOR IT, full steam ahead and enJOY. 

Treasures from JOY