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Choose Joy, YOUR VIBRATIONS Vol. 2, No. 12 - 12.08
In his book Inspiration, Your Ultimate Calling, Wayner Dyer tells us that we are of Spirit and that our ultimate calling is to return to Spirit, regardless of what occurs in the external world. Our task is consciously choosing to live a life of joy, moment-to-moment, day-to-day. I saw this exemplified in Isabel, my Colombian great-aunt. She lived through many difficult circumstances in her life, from being driven by violence from her childhood home, to becoming a widow at a very young age, with two sons to raise on her own. Even in the last years before her death, with many worries about her family and her own well-being weighing on her mind, with her body giving itself over to age and illness, she never dwelt long on those aspects of her life. She didn't ignore the difficulties, she was pragmatic and realistic. But she didn't stay focused on her struggles, she was quick to laugh, and she always, always, always found a way to bring joy to the forefront. Regardless of external difficult circumstances, she chose to find many daily joys in her life! And so can we.CHOOSING JOYThis kind of living is not abstract, wishful thinking available only to those with a naturally "optimistic" attitude. Practically speaking, there are many ways we can create joy. You can return to yourself and choose joy by doing anything that raises your vibrations: playing or walking in nature, listening to music that moves you, helping others, or feeling and showing gratitude, for example. In my own case, Reiki has been crucial to helping me return to myself. Its healing energy helps me get down to the essential, to FEELING my true self, and it brings to my awareness the baggage of my ego. The continual discovery of Reiki's power in my own life has allowed me to understand Wayne Dyer and my aunt's experiences on an even deeper level. Each day is a new opportunity to remember who I truly am, to discover myself anew. TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOU CHOOSE JOYA great way to clear yourself enough to choose joy is by raising your vibrations with breathing. All it takes is a few deep breaths. Breathe in deeply, holding the intention of raising your vibration, being aware of the air filling your lungs and feeling it reenergize you, fill you with positivity. Let out the air, pushing out the tension and negativity in your body along with it. Do this at least three times and then choose what your next thought or action will be. Joy will come easier after this exercise! Since many times our thoughts and our feelings are "happening" to us and we are unaware of choosing them, sometimes an unexpected reminder is helpful. For example, you can write CHOOSE JOY on a small piece of paper and carry it in your pocket, so that each time you put your hand in your pocket, you remember. Or, if, like me, you don't always have pockets, wear your wrist watch on the wrong hand! Take care of yourself, do the things that you love, follow your inspiration so that you may discover the thoughts, the actions that connect you to yourself, that you can rely on when you need to change the energy of the moment and choose joy for your life! Speaking of joy, one of the many gifts I experienced in 2008 has been witnessing the return to Self that many of you have experienced. Thank you for sharing your stories with me and for allowing me the honor of working with you this year. That form of work truly creates exhilaration! Please continue to share your stories and thoughts about your journey! I love to hear from you! And if there is anything you would like to see me write about in Your Vibrations, please tell me! May you choose to have a joyful, warm and loving holiday season! About the Author
©2008 Andrea Friedmann. All rights reserved. |
