Thank both of you for another treasured reflection. OK so somehow it reminds me of children if one cries, another cries, especially the littlest kids. That’s been a big cry, huge tears of confusion, fear, especially the unknown. I was very sad to hear the cancellation was when your life was beaming with light. I’m not sure the point of this. I’m never quite sure actually, but it makes me aware to escalate joy, look for joy, create joy, and smile at everyone. Is this mine the thickness of it is not mine. The biggest of it for me is to smile.
I agree that we are taught to push joy away. We are also taught that it is something we have to earn, that there are moments we are allowed to celebrate - like our birthdays and holidays, but also even like getting married or accomplishing a goal like writing a book (and please don’t get me wrong - those are absolutely things we should celebrate and feel joyful about, but not the only things).
I had a lot of chronic health issues several years ago, and with experimentation I have learned, that I am healthy, strong and full of life when I am pursuing my passions (all of them - even the ones I am not good at), when I am exploring my gifts and talents (again, all of them, not just the ones that can make money), when I surround myself with people who allow me to be all of myself and reflect back to me my light more than focus on my flaws - which usually translates to being more joyful together. The more joy I allow into my life, the more amazingly magical my life has become in ways I didn’t think were possible. The more loved, and valued and respected I feel just for being me. And the more I feel pulled to do, and am able to do.
Part of living in a world that has taught us to exist in survival mode is that we cannot thrive there. Simultaneously, to fit into the very unhealthy model of what society tells us is ‘normal’ is to be accepted on a large scale. We have to, at some point, make the very, very scary decision to thrive first and trust that everything else will fall into place, that we will be cared and provided for and that the right people, those who want nothing more for us than to have joy, will be magnetized to us.
So important! And wow that you lost so many followers by expressing your successes? Yikes! That’s where we really are, huh? Well, I absolutely love your work. I feel like you are a truly sane person with a message that is desperately needed in these times. Keep going! Big fan here :-)
This post pulled me in and I couldn’t be more glad that I read it🤍 Multiple messages today told me to embrace life as play, to recenter joy, and it makes me feel lighter already. Thank you for sharing this, it connected the dots for me
It’s counterintuitive, but the ability to feel joy couples well with our ability to feel all those darker, painful emotions (grief, anger).
We can fall into the trap of feeling guilty of joy, or that we shouldn’t get to experience joy until we’ve accomplished the next big thing.
But I’ve found the ability to open to joy when it arises (which, it really can in most any moment) - this supports our ability to also open to grief and anger. It also supports our ability to keep going when life is truly challenging.
Another way to say this… let yourself feel full of light (joy). This will help you when it is time to go deeper into pain and challenge.
Great post and love all the thoughts it stirred up.
I loved this post. Sadly, it seems we have all been divided from our joy. I don't think its a coincidence but manufactured by our culture. Its very telling that the highest rate of unfollowing came after sharing a success. The competition/comparison culture that dominates media. Instead of sharing in someone's joy we find a reason to shut it down or remove it all together.
Sharing my joy with others brings a feeling of vulnerability but also freedom. I am comfortable sharing my joy with my family most of all. My kids bring me so much joy and remind me to be joyful/silly/carefree. I treasure the joyful nature of my children and have to remind myself to let my childish nature out. We all need to foster more joy in our lives, on a daily basis! On that note, excuse me while I go have a little dance party. :)
I have been increasingly reluctant to join forces with what I call the laying of wreaths at the feet of the latest social media angsts and traumas.
Whilst I know that collectively there is pain and sorrow associated with how far we have fallen I also feel that keeping my heart open and protecting my connection to peace and joy is a way of being a bridge for what I long for.
WOW. What a meaningful and beautiful post. I couldn't agree more. Thanks so much for writing this and for sharing your wisdom with us all!
Thank both of you for another treasured reflection. OK so somehow it reminds me of children if one cries, another cries, especially the littlest kids. That’s been a big cry, huge tears of confusion, fear, especially the unknown. I was very sad to hear the cancellation was when your life was beaming with light. I’m not sure the point of this. I’m never quite sure actually, but it makes me aware to escalate joy, look for joy, create joy, and smile at everyone. Is this mine the thickness of it is not mine. The biggest of it for me is to smile.
I agree that we are taught to push joy away. We are also taught that it is something we have to earn, that there are moments we are allowed to celebrate - like our birthdays and holidays, but also even like getting married or accomplishing a goal like writing a book (and please don’t get me wrong - those are absolutely things we should celebrate and feel joyful about, but not the only things).
I had a lot of chronic health issues several years ago, and with experimentation I have learned, that I am healthy, strong and full of life when I am pursuing my passions (all of them - even the ones I am not good at), when I am exploring my gifts and talents (again, all of them, not just the ones that can make money), when I surround myself with people who allow me to be all of myself and reflect back to me my light more than focus on my flaws - which usually translates to being more joyful together. The more joy I allow into my life, the more amazingly magical my life has become in ways I didn’t think were possible. The more loved, and valued and respected I feel just for being me. And the more I feel pulled to do, and am able to do.
Part of living in a world that has taught us to exist in survival mode is that we cannot thrive there. Simultaneously, to fit into the very unhealthy model of what society tells us is ‘normal’ is to be accepted on a large scale. We have to, at some point, make the very, very scary decision to thrive first and trust that everything else will fall into place, that we will be cared and provided for and that the right people, those who want nothing more for us than to have joy, will be magnetized to us.
You had me at "thrive first".
I'm off to scrawl that in a notebook - thanks!
So happy to hear that it resonated.
So important! And wow that you lost so many followers by expressing your successes? Yikes! That’s where we really are, huh? Well, I absolutely love your work. I feel like you are a truly sane person with a message that is desperately needed in these times. Keep going! Big fan here :-)
This post pulled me in and I couldn’t be more glad that I read it🤍 Multiple messages today told me to embrace life as play, to recenter joy, and it makes me feel lighter already. Thank you for sharing this, it connected the dots for me
It’s counterintuitive, but the ability to feel joy couples well with our ability to feel all those darker, painful emotions (grief, anger).
We can fall into the trap of feeling guilty of joy, or that we shouldn’t get to experience joy until we’ve accomplished the next big thing.
But I’ve found the ability to open to joy when it arises (which, it really can in most any moment) - this supports our ability to also open to grief and anger. It also supports our ability to keep going when life is truly challenging.
Another way to say this… let yourself feel full of light (joy). This will help you when it is time to go deeper into pain and challenge.
Great post and love all the thoughts it stirred up.
I loved this post. Sadly, it seems we have all been divided from our joy. I don't think its a coincidence but manufactured by our culture. Its very telling that the highest rate of unfollowing came after sharing a success. The competition/comparison culture that dominates media. Instead of sharing in someone's joy we find a reason to shut it down or remove it all together.
Sharing my joy with others brings a feeling of vulnerability but also freedom. I am comfortable sharing my joy with my family most of all. My kids bring me so much joy and remind me to be joyful/silly/carefree. I treasure the joyful nature of my children and have to remind myself to let my childish nature out. We all need to foster more joy in our lives, on a daily basis! On that note, excuse me while I go have a little dance party. :)
I have been increasingly reluctant to join forces with what I call the laying of wreaths at the feet of the latest social media angsts and traumas.
Whilst I know that collectively there is pain and sorrow associated with how far we have fallen I also feel that keeping my heart open and protecting my connection to peace and joy is a way of being a bridge for what I long for.
For myself and for all.
Mary Oliver had it right: joy isn't meant to be a crumb.
I like to think cringe culture would alarm her. Our energy & time being finite things, why choose the things that deplete?
Thanks for the reminder that we're a genetic fluke on a rock that's not so happy with how we've been treating it.
What a gift
Saint John of the cross describes the Dark night of the Soul. I feel this on the collective.