A Boomer's Footprint

Tag: joy

  • Our self beliefs

    The topic for these next five blogs post is self-belief.

    We will look at our belief systems:
    -how they were created and developed over time
    – which beliefs are true, which beliefs are false
    – how are beliefs drive our thoughts
    – how they are connected with our feelings
    – how our beliefs direct our actions.

    According to the merriam–webster dictionary: A belief is a state of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in a person or thing.

    With a self belief the trust or confidence is placed within us.

    We must trust that our skills, abilities, knowledge, and confidence will enable us to decide on and live a lifestyle filled with joy and meaning.

    Wikipedia states: Belief is a psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true.

    Our beliefs system began developing as children. First, through our family structure, we had expectations and behaviors we were taught and were are expected to follow.

    So before we could even walk or talk our belief system was forming. Did we hear laughter, singing, praise, cooing, soft, sweet words or anger, disapproval and yelling at home?

    “We tend to internalize the beliefs of the people around us during childhood.”
    -Wikipedia

    We continued to develop our beliefs through the acceptance of what we observed and were told by experts, authorities, role models, movies, television, entertainers and athletes, parents, teachers, religious leaders and even politicians and of course, our education, our own life experiences.

    So we can see that our beliefs develop over a very long time period and can change as new information becomes available.  What we believed as children, young adults, parents, workers, partners may not be true for us any longer.

    This month, let’s take time to observe our beliefs. Are they based on our truth? Are they empowering to us live the life of our dreams?

  • What is JOY?

     What is Joy?

    Joy is an experience that exists in our heart and soul. It can be that warm and fuzzy feeling we have all over.

    Joy is our natural state. Babies are naturally joyful. They don’t know any better.

    Joy can be an energy of love, is one of the highest vibrations on this planet. According to the universal Law of Attraction, as we think and feel we vibrate. And as we vibrate, we attract. When we vibrate with joy and love, we attract what is for our greater good.

    Sages tell us that joy is realized when the personality and soul are in harmony. Look for experiences that go beyond conditional happiness to the blissful state of joy and love. As you resonate with joy, love and happiness you automatically draw to you a more meaningful, healthy, loving life.

    Why choose joy? 

    The experience of joy can:
    – strengthen the immune system
    – regenerate our whole physical system
    – burn away the impurities in our emotional system
    – disperse worries, anxieties, grief, greed, irritation,
    – and other negative emotions
    – sharpen our intellect and strengthen memory
    – clarify and balance our mind
    – expand our consciousness and understanding
    – open us to receive higher impressions, inspirations,
    – and transforming energies

    Why bring more joy into our lives? 

    We are so weighed down with our lives. We can be over-committed, over-stimulated, stressed, out of time, frustrated, annoyed,
    afraid and so many other emotions and feelings in a single day.  Because of the daily grind, we have forgotten a couple of things.
    First, how important it is to take time for ourselves everyday, how to laugh and how to play.

    (According to “Higher Awareness.com” )

    How to be joyful?

    To begin to live with a joyous spirit:

    – be in the moment
    – take time for self
    – work on self
    – meditate
    – be grateful
    – appreciate the good
    – let go of the bad
    – be mindful
    – stop and smell the roses

  • Joy and Happiness

    I believe there is a fine difference between experiencing joy and happiness.Happiness comes from outside, an external sources.
    It may engage thinking, using our brains.  An external force or event creates the emotion of happiness for us.

    To experience happiness you can do something fun, see a funny movie, read a good book, hear an hysterical joke, be creative, laugh, learn something on your interest list.

     

    Completing the "red menace" jigsaw puzzle.
    Completing the “red menace” jigsaw puzzle.

    Some happiness comes from material things – the feeling when receiving an incredible gift, buying a new car or house, completing a project, finding the love of your life.

    We know when we feel happy.  We smile, we laugh, we generally just feel good.  I often think that I experience happiness
    in my head.  Not only because it involves my mouth when laughing but also because my thoughts are happy.

    Joy is a more personal step than happiness.  Joy comes from within. It connect to the heart. It is more a feeling, a state of being,
    a sense of satisfaction and well being.  You feel it in your mind, body and soul.

    To experience joy you can live more in the moment, live with a peaceful heart, feel gratitude, appreciate the good in life, let go of the bad, be mindful, stop and smell the roses.

    Russian River Peace
    Russian River Peace

    To attain happiness you do, to achieve joy you be.

    Joy is to experience happiness like you really mean it.

    This may seem like a fine distinction but joy is usually experienced on a deeper level. It can consume more of our senses.

    There is a place for both in our lives. They each provide us with a different result.  This month the focus is on bringing both more
    joy and happiness into our daily lives.

    To get started, each day in your journal record a joyful or happy experience.