Lessons

It is one week since Mother’s Day 2021 – a year and one week after I set the Mission for the year ahead – to be Joyful or Joy Filled.  I made a commitment to write 100 posts over the one year.

I am proud of myself that I have found Joy, that I now find Joy so easily, that I set the Intention each day of bringing Joy into my life and the lives of my family, that I know what brings me Joy, that I see Joy, that I feel Joy, that I can switch to Joy.  I see now that there are so many things that bring me Joy, that can bring me Joy, that I often text myself the words or write a list since it is hard to keep up with the writing to write about all that brings me Joy. 

Of the 100 posts so far I have achieved 78 posts.  Since I was enjoying writing so much, I then started to write and completed a novel.  I loved writing my novel so much, and experienced so much Joy in this process, that I found myself writing this story, being in Joy, rather than writing about Joy each night. 

I can easily make 100 posts about Joy.  I’m sure I could write so much more about Joy.  And yet at the same time I am keen to reach 100 posts, consolidate and then set a new Intention too.

This has been lifechanging for me in many ways.  Consciously being a Joy Seeker, consciously choosing Joy Starters, consciously wanting Joy for myself and my family and friends.

It is good to think about what I have learnt, the lessons, the new knowledge and wisdom I have gained through this process the last year. 

At the end of the process I will write a Conclusion or Summary post, as the final post and yet for now I ponder on what has been the greatest Lessons for me. 

Lessons defined as “a period of learning or teaching”. 

I don’t want to number the Lessons as all of them are important. 

One key Lesson for me is that Joy is so possible and so easily within reach where it really is about quietening the mind and being in the Present, being in the moment.

Another Lesson for me is very much about knowing what brings me Joy, the Joy Starters, I call them.  And by knowing what brings me Joy I can consciously bring them into my day, bring Joy into my day, every day.

I have also learnt that when I am in a place of Joy, it is definitely easier to bring Joy to others.  When I am in Joy I definitely get stressed less and less anxious and less cranky, I do not like the Cranky Mum in me. 

I know that I can switch the Joy, when I need to rescue myself from another state.  Of course it is normal and natural to experience a range of emotions, yet it is good to not get stuck in an emotion – and that’s when I can switch to Joy, shake it up, intentionally do something that will bring me Joy.

I know that being outdoors and out in the world, allows more opportunities for Joy to enter my life.  I am a homebody and love being home, especially in winter, all snug in my pjamas.

I find that there are some things that bring me Joy, that can then lead to the opposite, and so perhaps this is not the Joy that I want to be seeking, surrendering to, choosing - something such as chocolate.  I love chocolate.  Just ate some chocolate tonight.  And yet the feeling of Joy does not last long.  Normally it is overridden with a headache and a down feeling.  And yet I still go back the next week to have chocolate since it brings me Joy.  I know what I need at this time is to remind myself that this joy, with a little j, does not outweigh the downside that always comes following the fleeting moment of joy.  I was going to write a post about chocolate yet realise this is not the best type of Joy for me.  Perhaps a topic about Self-Control and the sense of achievement and Joy that comes from Self-Control would be better for a post.

I’ve learnt it is the simplest of things, the ordinary, that can bring Joy such as a cup of peppermint Tea for me now. 

I know that it is in the experiences, experiencing life, experiencing the senses, that bring the greatest Joy to me.  I am not wanting things, anything fancy, anything more than I have, I have enough, my children have enough.  The goal is to be living and doing and being and present. 

I learn, that I love the Quiet.  I love the Calm.  I love having Space.  It is rare.  I do not get enough.  Yet these rare moments do bring me Joy and allow me to be Spirit-Led too, to be inspired, to know the next steps, to just be too.

I learn that looking after my health, making healthy choices is so important for a Joyful life.  Feeling good about myself from making good decisions about my health, and when feeling healthy, being in the best state of mine to be activate in activating Joy and to receive Joy too. 

Another lesson for me is that when there is too much happening, too much scheduled, too many plans, this can rob the Joy of me and the members of the family.  Time at home.  Time to relax.  Time with nothing to do too is the goal and can bring in more Joy.

I know and have learnt that there are the Joy Robbers.  Knowing what robs my Joy, prevents my Joy, limits my Joy is really important too.  I know that running late brings on stress and anxiety for me which later can lead to guilt for having a terrible morning getting upset with my little ones.  I probably need to post about the Robbers and the importance of planning so that I can avoid the Joy Robbers so that Joy can easily come into my life. 

I have learnt that no matter how much I am enjoying something and know I could do something that will bring Joy, that Sleep is so important to me.  Lack of sleep is definitely a Joy Robber for me. 

I’ve learnt new things that bring me Joy such as Writing and am excited that this process of writing about Joy has ignited the Joy of writing, where I have so many books I want to write.  Now I hope there will be the Joy from getting them published and from achieving my goal.

I am a Mum On A Mission - many Missions - and while there is still so much to be done (particularly around my home in terms of de-cluttering) and looking at my life it may still look the same, it feels so different since I have discovered the Joy of Joy - each day I will still be on a Mum On A Mission – Joyful!