Do You Feel the Joy?

When you think of the word "joy", what comes to mind?  Your children or grandchildren?  You wedding day?  Maybe graduating from college or getting that long-awaited promotion at work?  Although these are each wonderful things that may bring us happiness, I would argue that they do not truly bring us joy.

You see, all of the things I mentioned above are external.  Joy comes from the inside and radiates out.  When you look outwardly for your joy, what happens when something goes wrong?  What happens if you don't get the job or your child disappoints you or your marriage ends in divorce?

Joy is a sense of peace and contentment.  It is the knowledge that no matter what happens, everything will be okay.  Joy is the satisfaction of knowing that God (or whatever higher power you believe in) loves you and wants what is best for you. Joy is a love of life and a thankfulness for waking up to see another day.

So, look inward for your joy.  As you look inside, feel those feelings of happiness that you experience when you think of your children, your wedding day, or the day you landed that job.  Then multiply that happiness by 100.  That's joy!  Make a habit of feeling the joy each and every day!

Do You Trust in the Process of Life?

If I know nothing else, I know that as we go through life, we will all face challenges, obstacles, and setbacks.  The type of challenges, obstacles, and setbacks we'll face are not as important as how we respond to them. 

When you are faced with adversity, do you worry, whine, and wallow in self-pity?  Do you talk about your problems with anyone who will listen?  If you do any of these things, then you are not trusting the process of life.  By worrying, whining, wallowing, and rehashing, you are investing energy in your problems.  You are sending out vibrations to the universe that boomerang back to you, bringing you more problems.

When you trust the process of life, you understand that at any given moment, you are exactly where you are supposed to be.  No matter what problems you encounter, you pray and ask God to deliver you and your faith carries you through.

When you trust the process of life, you don't worry, whine, wallow or rehash.  You invest your energy in the knowledge and belief that the universe is aligning itself to bring you the resolution you desire.  You focus your energy on being grateful for all that you have and all that is right in your life.  You consciously and purposely send out positive energy into the universe because you understand the boomerang will return to you loaded with more positivity in the form of happiness, prosperity, and joy - all things that you can  never have enough of.

By trusting the process of life, you set aside fear and actively position yourself to receive favor and grace from the universe.