Where did the joy of life go? Joy gives us a feeling of lightness of being. It’s an expression, I believe, of our true natural state, but even in “normal times” it gets buried beneath the problems of life. Joy is relief from those heavy feelings that we inevitably must deal with in our daily lives, and lately those have multiplied exponentially.

How do we reclaim our joy, right here, right now? (We must actively do this, while we still remember what that state feels like.) If you are currently restricted from those activities that bring you joy, then carve out a bit of quiet time in your day to close your eyes and play them like short movies in your mind. As you watch the pictures roll through your mind, tune into the happy and joyful feeling(s) within you as you observe. Let the movie flow throughout your body.

Further, rather than treating it just as a replay of the past (which keeps us stuck in the past), imagine yourself doing those things (as well as new things you desire to experience) again in future. Strong feelings and images are very powerful when combined with intention to manifest what we desire.

This is extremely important! If we constantly focus on the negative narrative in the news, we are actually helping with our minds to manifest it. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting pretty sick of the doomsdayers trying to create my future!

We can also help each other to do this. For example, I have a good friend who started a social media group, and she shares beautiful pictures of the Alps in Europe – the gorgeous scenery, the activities, the famous spots to visit in a cluster of countries – and together the members of the group protect and keep alive the beauty of life.

Only you can decide what may bring you some relief from this current feeling of oppression. This is very subjective and personal. This is a memory that brings me great joy and makes me feel light of heart, without fail.

The Magic of Dragonfly

The magical dragonfly is a fond girlhood memory of summer for me. Paddling around the lake on sultry afternoons, I loved to watch their iridescent colors flitting among the graceful lily pads. They captivated me. There was a purity and magic about these tiny gossamer creatures. They seemed to occupy a mysterious, unseen world, to which for a few moments I was privy.

Peace and a feeling of the goodness in the world were mine, and they still are when I close my eyes and revisit this memory. I also strongly connect to a feeling of freedom.

There is extensive symbology attributed to the dragonfly in various cultures. For such a tiny creature, it sure has made a big impression on us. More reading on dragonfly symbology here: The Meaning of a Dragonfly: What Does a Dragonfly Symbolize?

Whatever brings you joy and however you would like to envision your future, commit to fiercely protecting this vision in your mind. Work on manifesting the future you want, rather than letting someone else create your future for you. In this time of great change, it is absolutely essential.

Inspirational quote:

“…What if the point is to stop, then,… and listen to the birdsong, to watch the dragonflies hover, to look at your lover’s face, then up at the undersides of leaves moving together in the breeze? What if the point is to invite these others into your movement, to bring trees, wind, grass, dragonflies into your family and in so doing abandon any attempt to control them? What if the point all along has been to get along, to relate, to experience things on their own terms? What if the point is to feel joy when joyous, love when loving, anger when angry, thoughtful when full of thought? What if the point from the beginning has been to simply be?”  ~ Derrick Jensen, A Language Older than Words

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© Susan L Hart 2021 |  Friendly comments welcome