Small Business Owner Finds Joy in the Creative Moments
Barry owns “The Filling Station” deli down the street. He makes a mean Cuban and my favorite egg salad and bacon sandwich. He’s a hard worker. In fact, most of the conversations we have are short and on the run, because as you know, small business can encompass most of your life.
But the other morning Barry came into the coffee shop right before opening, and we were able to have a slightly longer conversation. Barry was lit up, even before having his caffeine. That weekend he did something that allowed him to express his creativity and passion – he catered a nice dinner for just one couple celebrating their anniversary.
Barry talked about the menu items, the special requests from his client, the way he set the table and how he was able to ready the meal and leave the couple to be alone and enjoy their wonderful date. Barry described how the clients’ wife looked at her husband, and how that warmed his heart.
It was fun to see such enthusiasm on Barry’s face and hear such passion in his words – all because he was able to express his creativity. If we could all do that from time to time, we could really make a positive impact on the world around us with our joy.
Do you express your creativity through painting, song, writing, problem-solving, gardening or a wonderful meal? Figure out what lights your fire like Barry and be sure to make time to do it.
The Peacock
Yesterday I was reminded of magnificence!
I am enjoying time in Northern CA this week. I assisted the Passion Test certification training in San Francisco last weekend, which was the start of my magical journey. That work is so transformational-I am honored to take people through the Passion Test process of clarifying what is most important to them in their life.
I came to Sebastopol to spend the rest of the week with my family. One things that we do each year I come here, is to visit a hot springs. This year we went to Vichy Hot Springs in Ukiah, CA. The mineral baths there are over 150 years old. It was a very relaxing couple of days.
I did an amazing 2.5 hour bicycle ride through the vineyards up there. As I was heading home, I came to The City of 10,000 Buddhas. Needless to say, I had to stop. It was exquisite. It is a Buddhist temple and retreat center. I rode around for a bit, until I came across a peacock in all of its glory. You met him in the photo at the beginning of this post.
My #1 passion is to stand in my power, while being connected to my heart. I believe that this is what the peacock was doing. This experience called me to share these words with you–a reminder for all of us:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson
Go and let your light shine, and shake your tail feathers while you are at it!
What Does It Really Mean to Be Authentic?
I know a lot of people hate labels, but for me, it sometimes helps me understand a person or help someone express who they are quickly . . . IF they are authentic about it.
As a lesbian, hippie of sorts, some of my friends were surprised to learn that I enjoy Christian music. Regardless of beliefs, the message is positive and the music itself makes me feel good. Seven years ago, my partner and I went to see Christian singer/songwriter, Jennifer Knapp play at the Tabernacle in Atlanta. Needless to say, the audience was a very different crowd from us, and we expected a laid back musical show. We were pleasantly surprised when this tattooed rocker came out and entertained us with the passion and stage talent that we really didn’t notice on her CD. We had a new respect for Jennifer as she expressed her “authentic self.”
But after that concert, Jennifer didn’t release any new music. There were no tour dates and her website lie dormant for years. Fast forward to a few months ago, my partner discovered that Jennifer Knapp was playing at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur of all places. We had to go to satisfy our curiosity. Turns out, she spent the past several years disconnecting from the Christian commercial music scene and discovering more about herself while exploring Austrailia. On stage seven years later, we witnessed even more passion and a deeper connection to her music. Jennifer still has a strong faith, but her beliefs have broadened to embrace all people and the incredible world around her. What an inspiration!
I am amazed that when a person discovers more about who they are and what brings them joy, the expression of what they do and how they impact the world is extremely powerful. I am on that journey myself, and am finding greater satisfaction when I make decisions that are in sync with my authentic self. How about you?
Puppy Joy
I learn so much about raising my Joy Factor from my dogs.
Until recently, we only had Abbey Road, our Australian Shepherd. We just adopted Eli Moses Velcro Watkins a month and a half ago. He is a border collie/terrier/hound/wild man mix. Abbey is 8 years old and we think Eli is a year and a half or so. They have raised my Joy Factor in ways I could not have imagined. Watching them play with each other is so sweet – it fills my heart with joy. They truly exhibit the ingredients of raising your Joy Factor.
Passion is a way of life for them. Whether it is eating, playing, sleeping or stalking the squirrels, they do it at a 100%. When they want love, they ask for it. When they want to give love, they do – sometimes by licking my face in the middle of the night.
Authentic Expression is all that they know. They have not been taught to be anyone but themselves. They do not care what other people think. This is evident by a bit of their Self-Care. Who else can sit in the middle of a room of people and clean themselves in areas that I do not have to describe here today?
When they play, and they play hard, they have boundaries that they honor most of the time. When Abbey needs her own time, she takes it. Eli gets it and leaves her alone. They take a break and go at it again later.
My intentions today are to honor my passions at 100%, be myself and not let what others may think of me stop me from doing what I love. I will take care of my body and my spirit. I will take time for myself to re-energize, so I can jump back into the game feeling great. And most of all, I will wag more and bark less.
What do your pets teach you?
Passionate Breadcrumbs
If passions are the breadcrumbs that lead to a fulfilling life, where do you find the breadcrumbs? I am not talking about the ones you find on Aisle 3 at the grocery store. You’ll find these breadcrumbs when you stop long enough to answer the question, “What does living my best life really look like?” When you determine that and start to align your life around your passions, you are using one of the core ingredients to raise your Joy Factor- Connecting To Your Passion.
Passion can be expressed as a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm, or compelling emotion towards a subject, idea, person, or object. When you have a passion for something you have a strong positive affinity for it. It is amazing what happens when you put your attention to the things that are most important in your life.
As a certified facilitator of The Passion Test, I have watched magic happen again and again. One of my clients here in Atlanta took the test in October of 2009. I saw him at a meeting on Tuesday and he told me that since he took the Passion Test his income has doubled. That made my heart sing. Did I mention that The Passion Test is a test that you will never fail?
Imagine what your life will be like when you are clear about what your best life is. As Janet Bray Attwood, co-author of the New York Times bestselling book The Passion Test states, “Clarity is power.” Once you gain clarity on your passions, you can use them as a compass, moving you in the direction that brings you the most fulfillment. Doesn’t that sound delightful?
Tomorrow’s ingredient du jour: Authentic Expression
Crash!
Last week I was driving past a bunch of kids playing in a playground. They were having so much fun! As I was passing them, I watched a little boy, about 4 or 5 years old, crash his tricycle into the fence. It was hard to tell if he couldn’t stop, or if he was intentionally looking to bounce off of the fence. When I looked back, from the red light that stopped me, I saw that he got up, dusted himself off and got right back on his tricycle.
That kid inspired me and reminded me that there are times in our lives that we are going to “crash”. At that point, we have a choice. Do we get up, dust our knees off and keep going? Or, do we stop a minute, access the damage and make choices accordingly?
The key to raising your Joy Factor, so that you are living a life that you are madly in love with, is to be conscious about your choices. There is no right or wrong-only what is. If you can bounce back up like one of those weebles, remember them? Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down. Take what you can from the experience and move on.
Everytime we are stopped on our paths, it is for a reason. Opportunities to make sure we are going in the right direction are presented to us again and again. When these choices arise, I invite you to use the components of the Joy Factor to support you in deciding what your next steps are. Is it in alignment with your Passions and Purpose, your Authentic Self? Does it support your commitment to Self Care and Strategic Optimism? Look there and then choose what your next steps are. In the meantime, look out for fences and remember to use your brakes-sometimes slowing down will prevent that crash! That is a another conversation for another day.
With conscious joyful awareness,
Wendy
Patience and Passion
What happens when you mix passion and patience? It is a recipe for delight!
My latest focus has been on The Passion Test. Some of you have experienced it. It has been life enhancing for me. The things that are showing up in my life are the things that I have been dreaming about for years.
Yes my friends, it sometimes takes years for us to align with our passions. It could also take days.
About a week after returning from becoming certified as a Passion Test facilitator in Seattle and gaining clarity on my passions, something very cool happened.
One of my passions is to add value to millions of people’s lives. I know that through coaching, training and writing that I am making a difference. I received a call from a writer of a local paper, The Champion, that I was the champion of the week for Dekalb County-how cool is that? 100s’s of people will be introduced to the magic I offer the world.
I could not have imagined that I would be recognized like that. That is the beautiful place of letting go of the “how’s” and focusing on the “what”.
Another piece of patience that has paid off-my gardenia bush gave me my first flower a couple of weeks ago. We are no longer gardenia bush killers–this is the third one that we have planted.
By just putting attention on what I wanted, loving it as it is and being patient, I got a bloom. I am hopeful and anticipating more and more blooms. Imagine what it will be like when it blooms in season!
Where is patience and passion showing up in your life?
Funky or Dressy?
There are times when we think our connection to our purpose has to look or feel a certain way Some days I feel like it has to look very dressy; buttoned-up and prim and proper. Those days feel like they are going less with the flow; days that I feel like I have to make things happen. I am working on my projects and with my clients and it feels like work. The “shoulds” show up and I may do things that I really do not want to do, but feel like I should. No fun, less joy!
Other days, I feel like my connection to my purpose of supporting others in being the best they can be looks more funky and eclectic. Those days, I feel more creative, more juicy, as author Sark would say. Things seem to flow more. Those are the days that my Joy Factor is way up there and amazing things happen.
What is different about those days than the buttoned-up days? Those are the days that I let go of wondering about what other people think. That is one of my personal challenges; I let that get in the way of staying connected to my purpose and my authentic self. On this journey of increasing my Joy Factor, I like wearing my funky clothes and allowing magic to happen, in connection to my purpose. You?
The Joy Factor
Welcome fellow Happiness Pioneers! You've come to the right place if you are looking to raise your Joy Factor and create a life you are madly in love with. My vision is for everyone to live a life aligned with their passions and full of joy. Visit often to read what the Joy Posse has to say, watch uplifting videos and gather other delightful resources that will make you smile. This is also a place to share what raises your Joy Factor - do tell! Let’s have the ripple effect of joy change the world!
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