If joy were a flavor, what would it taste like?
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite places to go was Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop. They had thirty-one flavors of ice cream and you were allowed to taste as many as you wanted. That was heaven on earth for a sweets lover like me. I would try a few flavors and realized they were all good, how can ice cream be bad? Ironically, I would choose one of two flavors every time- either chocolate brownie chunk or pink bubble gum blast. They were quite different in taste, color and texture, yet each made me smile and satisfied my craving for something delicious.
Today, life offers us at least thirty-one flavors of joy. They are not offered in a cup or cone, yet they can be just as satiating.
What flavor of joy are you craving today? What will put a smile on your face and fulfill your spirit? Maybe it’s doing something nice for someone in your life, like calling them to just say, I love you. For some of you, your flavor du jour may be accomplishing a task you have been putting off for a while. Doesn’t that sound good, taking something off of your list so you are back in integrity with yourself?
Then again, it could be to slow down a minute so you can savor what it is you have created for yourself. The taste of appreciation is mighty good. Not only is it good in them moment, but acknowledging yourself for what you have accomplished will keep you quenched for a long time. And if you are like me, you will try other flavors to see what you like, but will keep coming back to the flavor that lets you feel fulfilled and satisfied. Now that’s delicious!
So how do you get started? Begin by choosing your flavor of joy; swirl it throughout your experience and notice how it enhances a multitude of areas in your life. Then share it with others, even if it is just a taste.
Four Ways to Leverage Your Thoughts for Success and Fulfillment
- Notice what you are thinking. Do your thoughts make you feel good? Do they give you energy or are they draining? If the thought doesn’t feel good, then why are you choosing to continue to think it? It’s habit, it is auto pilot. Once you notice, you can then make a different choice.
- Decide that you want to feel good. There are a lot of people out there who enjoy their misery. That is their choice. We are actually wired to feel good, but throughout life, we somehow learn to wallow in the suffering that comes with the drama in our lives. A positive vibration is going to allow you to manifest the things you desire in your life. In my book, The Joy Factor Recipe Book – A Common Sense Approach to a Delicious Life, I share the perspective of using your MSU to feel good. This is a made-up degree, that gives you permission to Make Stuff Up. Make up that you feel good, and eventually you will.
- Replace the negative thoughts with the positive thoughts so that you feel good and accomplish your goals. Take a minute and think about something that you love. It could be a delicious meal, being in nature or cuddling with your children or partner. When you think those thoughts, how do you feel? Yes, your thoughts create how you feel. When you feel good, you can easily move into action to achieve the results you desire. You do not have to monitor every thought, that would make you crazy. You will know if your thoughts are serving your or not by how you feel. When you think good thoughts, you feel good. And when you feel good, the possibilities are endless!
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. Life will throw you curve balls. It’s not what happens to us, it’s how we choose to respond. Is the glass half full or half empty? When one door closes, does another one open? You get to choose your perspective. You get to be the chef! If you choose each day to live a more conscious life, I applaud you. Living a fulfilling life is a radical act.
An Olympic Commercial
While watching the summer games last week, I expected to be inspired by the feats of the amazing athletes. They did not disappoint; from the cycling, to the swimming, the volleyball and the water polo. As usual, I wept, hollered and marveled in what these fellow human beings were doing with their body, mind and spirit.
Since we do not have cable t.v. and Tevo, we often watch the commercials–sometime on mute, but they are on the screen. I must give kudos to the many advertisers that chose to ride the wave of inspiration and shared messages that left me in the question of how can I be my best.
One that stood out for me was an advertisement from Special K cereal. There were all these women, getting ready to stand on a scale and learn their weight on the streets of NYC -really? When they stood on the scale, instead of a number showing up, they flashed words like confidence, courage, joy, laughter and excitement.
They posed the question, What will you gain when you lose? OMG–such a powerful question. This type of inquiry makes a personal growth passionista like myself have “goosies”, to quote Jennifer Lopez.
As I ponder my transition from providing services that I have offered for eleven years, to offering something new, I’m experiencing a blend of excitement and fear. I think it’s similar to what that Olympic diver feels as she steps to the edge of the platform…..breathes…….adjusts…..visualizes….and jumps.
Back to the question, What will you gain when you lose? What will happen when you let go of the fear, doubt, worry, paralyzing thoughts and frustration that your new endeavor or habit is not perfect now? This is such a delightful perspective to explore as you stretch into achieving things you have never accomplished before.
Let’s try it on and see what happens. If I were to lose the nagging belief that I must know everything about being a professional speaker in the same way that I know about professional coaching, I would be willing to try new things without the attachment of getting it right the first time. In turn, I would acquire experience, which would build my confidence. Over time I would obtain the knowledge and confidence I desire to create this new career.
Gain vs. lose–i like it. Thanks for the delicious nugget Special K.
There are many ways to create a life you love, click here for my free e-book, 9 Tips for Living a Joyful Life.
An Idea
So you want to start a business? Or you already have one and want to create more success and fulfillment.
This short video gives you 10 steps to creating a successful business while enjoying the journey.
Now that’s joyful.
If you are ready to create more success and joy in your life, go and grab my free e-book, 9 Tips for Living Joyful Life. You’ll be glad you did.
“You are the chef of your Joyful Life-now is the perfect time to create delectable days” ~Wendy Watkins
Eye on the Prize
They say that the best things in life are free. If that is true, then why do I want to go shopping so much?
I am happy and grateful to say I really do have everything I need. It is the things I want, that I crave, that drive me a bit crazy.
Recently, one of my favorite stores had their semi-annual 50% off everything in the store sale. Oh my gosh – I cannot resist amazing deals like that, yet this time, the first time in five years, I chose not to visit my would-be outfits and shoes. In a previous post about instant gratification, I’ve been paying attention to my insistent need for wanting things now! On the flip side, I’ve spent more time with my ten-year old niece, Emily; talking to her about saving money for the things she must have. Oh yes, I ‘m starting to sound like my parents and grandparents when I talk to my niece and nephew, and it is scaring me a bit.
As I look at my decision-making process around the things I want and the things I need, I notice that it all comes down to what my passions and intentions are in my life right now . One of the things that brings me immense joy is to travel and everything that goes with that; the research, planning and dreaming about the trip. The preparation and anticipation of going on a journey is as fun as the adventure itself.
When I have a trip or two on the calendar, they become my touchstone for my superfluous spending. Do I want those pants, or do I want to have those extra dollars for Portland? Those shoes are cute, but I bet they will have fabulous shoes in Italy. It all comes down to making conscious choices, choices that are in alignment with the things I really want. Now don’t get me wrong, if I need a new pair of shoes, I buy them. I’ve started to keep my eye on the prize, opting for holding out for the grand finale rather than just the door prize.
What I am noticing about this seemingly adult decision process is how good I feel about myself. This process boosts my self-worth and self-esteem because I ‘m actually doing what I told myself I’d do. When my Joy Factor increases in this way, all things are possible and I am the winner of the best prize every day.
Now, where is that shoe catalog?
If you would like to learn more about how to raise your Joy Factor, click here to receive my free e-book, 9 Tips for Living a Joyful Life.
The Gift
At the beach last month, I marveled at the gifts that Mother Nature shared with us daily. The sun came up and the sun went down-beautiful. The tide came in and the tide went out-sometimes very quickly. My cup was full and then it was empty-delicious.
Because of the leisurely pace that vacation offers, it was easier to slow down and enjoy these moments. The presents I received daily reminded me of the constant craving I have for a slower pace, so I can truly be in the moment and enjoy the gift of presence.
It is in the moment, where Eckhart Tolle points us, to the Power of Now. In this powerful book, Tolle shares the benefits of shifting your consciousness, away from the egoic mind, the thinking mind, to the present moment – what he refers to as now. This is a quest that so many of us are on, yearning for peace of mind and fulfillment.
When I returned home from vacation, it only took about a week for me to notice how hurriedmy pace had become causing me to lose the gift of the moment. I eased my foot off of the proverbial gas pedal that was propelling me forward and reconnected to the souvenirs I brought home from the beach.
- The sun will always rise and always set.
This gives me approximately 8 hours to accomplish what I want to accomplish in a day. When I put my attention on what’s most important and do the best I can, I’ll complete what I can. Whatever is not complete, will get done tomorrow. My “to-do” list is never complete. When I remember that, I can enjoy the task at hand, connect with the people I am spending time with and truly enjoy the moment.
- The tide comes in and goes out.
There are going to be days that I’m feeling good and operating at my best. There will also be days that my energy is lower and I will not be as energized, focused or excited about the items on my list. The gift here is to notice this energetic shift and to honor how you are feeling. The bonus gift to give yourself on days like this is to not beat yourself up for having a lower energy day. Your tide is out and it will come back in. Be gentle on yourself and get done what you can get done.
- My glass if full and then empty.
The best way for me to refill my glass, is to spend at least thirty minutes a day, four times a week, moving my body. Whether that is taking a spin class at the Y, swimming in the pool or walking Abbey and Eli( they love when I choose them), it helps me to fill up my cup with optimism and reduce the stress in my life.
These gifts are ingredients that you can weave into your recipe to create a more delicious life. You do not have to wait until you are on vacation to take advantage of these delightful presents. You can open them each and every day without spending time wrapping them.
To learn more about these gifts and how to raise your Joy Factor, click here to receive two free chapters from The Joy Factor Recipe Book – A Common Sense Approach to a Delicious Life.
Instant Gratification
What are you craving?
It seems I get a hankering for something satisfying day after day.
It could be something to eat, something to make or something to learn. It could be to spend time indoors or outdoors, walking or sitting. It is hard to say what my craving will be.
One thing I know for sure is that I get to choose, each and every day, how I will satisfy my desire.
I have a few criteria to help decide which direction to go. In my new book, The Joy Factor Recipe Book – A Common Sense Approach to a Delicious Life, I share recipes that will raise your Joy Factor, so you can attract more of what you want.
One of the ingredients I offer is to honor your passions. Your passions are the things that bring you the most fulfillment. When you make decisions from what you’re passionate about vs. what you think you should do, it opens up space for being pleased. Imagine experiencing satisfaction instead of distraction or frustration. How would that impact the flow of your day?
On a recent Sunday, all I really wanted to do was to stay home and chill out. My inner chatter had me believing I had too much to get done to sit and relax. Yes, I’ll always have a lot to accomplish. Thankfully, over my morning coffee, I remembered that one of my top passions is ‘to be satisfied with what is.’ With that in mind, I chose to stay in my pajamas. All day. I had to decide time and time again that this act of self-care (another ingredient in my book) was satisfying my craving for serenity.
Putting my attention on what’s most important to me, rather than running here and there and worrying about what I was missing by staying home, was wonderful. It gave me the energy and zest to ease into the week with a knowing that I honored my craving. That is delicious.
What are you craving? How will you satisfy that desire?
Learn more about The Joy Factor Recipe Book – A Common Sense Approach to your Delicious Life here.
A Summertime Rant of Joy!
Cold drinks, cold air, give me chill in this warmed up air.
I crave to quench my thirst for more; more of the things that make my heart soar.
Those are simple things, like someone who pays attention when the light turns green and makes the arrow-
yes, I am talking to you, canary yellow 1978 Firebird!
Or the joy of using a public restroom without having sprinkles of someone else’s p-p on the seat-
yes, I am talking to you, the lady who used the bathroom before me at the Starbucks in Decatur!
And, meeting delightful people at the tables around me as we all get cool and caffinated.
That is what makes my heart sing, bringing my internal temperature down to cool and joyful.
Sister Talk
http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=vXcBa63djd4
Joy comes from spending time with my sister and sharing juicy information. Here is a combination of both to raise your Joy Factor.
