24-14 The Guide #1

The Mandala Lady,

A Journey Into Joy
Step 4 — Week 1: The Guide

Step 4 encourages us to find a guide/mentor or something (externally or internally) to help us overcome/heal/process the root cause(s) of our refusal (step 3) so that we can turn towards the call (step 2) rather than continue to turn away from it.

With this step, it’s time to seek guidance and/or take a deeper look within to help clear the fears, disbeliefs, apparent inadequacies, or plain ole unwillingness to make the sacrifices so that we can answer the call…as it relates to the areas of our life that are calling us to action (work, health, relationships, personal, leisure, play, and so on).

For me I plan to continue with the areas covered in the weeks of Step 1 (health, home, The Mandala Lady, and my purpose).

To join in on the journey, visit the MandalaoftheMonth.com to download the mandala and learn more about this step.

Here’s my journal entry for step 4–week 1: Health

My holistic functional medicine doctor (Dr. B.) suggested a while back to do this GI Map test as a way to figure out what’s going on with my rapid weight gain over the last year. I balked at it at first and then he reminded me of the value of good health and well-being. Without it, my body will continue to rebel/dwindle. Since I would rather stay away from the pharmaceuticals as much as I can, I prefer to go the healthier way now.

Yesterday I did that test. It will take a couple of weeks to get the results, which will tell me the current state of my GI health. Maybe I can finally get some much needed answers and guidance.

Dr. B. also recommended I follow the GenoType Diet from my gene type: I’m a gatherer. This plan was created by the same Dr. who created the blood type diets. I used to follow it years ago and it did make a difference until I stopped doing it…mainly because I struggled with the feeling of being deprived of foods I really wanted to eat…which is a mindset issue.

Another strategy that has worked every time in the past is tracking my food. It’s so WW. I did it for four years and I had resentment about tracking because it felt like I was being punished…like I did something wrong. I know, it sounds ridiculous to say out loud, and yet…another mindset issue.

I honestly believe that most of my health issues are related to my mindset. Dr. B. has been and is a great help in this department. He uses NET (neuro emotional technique) to clear out unprocessed emotional wounds. I need more of this.

I also learned about applying EFT (emotional freedom technique) to my food issues. I signed up for an online class about 2 months ago and I have yet to take it…procrastination…yet another mindset issue.

The way forward involves the guidance of Dr. B along with doing the inner work:

  1. follow whatever plan comes out of the GI mapping test
  2. do more NET with Dr. B. to root out the blocks to my good health and well-being
  3. implement the “gatherer” genotype food plan
  4. track my food
  5. take the EFT class that I bought

That’s it for now,

Maureen
The Mandala Lady

inspiring and encouraging creativity, curiosity, and play through the art of mandalas

ABOUT “A JOURNEY INTO JOY”

With all the anxiety and stress in the world right now, focusing on joy may seem a bit counterintuitive. Mais contraire mes amis. We actually need more joy in our lives…now more than ever. And it starts within each of us. It’s been my experience that when in that higher vibrational state of joy, it helps raise the vibration of those around us as well. 

Brené Brown defines joy as “an intense feeling of deep spiritual connection, pleasure, and appreciation”. Of late, I mostly experience only moments of happiness and on a rare occasion, joy…thus my desire to journey into joy.

My quest throughout this year is to explore, experience, and express this state in a variety of ways, including following a variation of the hero’s journey, as professed by Jospeh Campbell.

Care to join me? Here’s how…

MandalaoftheMonth.com: On the first of the month, I’ll create and post a mandala for coloring. Each month we’ll take another step along the “journey into joy” by following a modified version Joseph Campbell’s a hero’s journey. Included in each step will be a description of the step and prompts for coloring and/or journaling for the month. You’re welcome to color them as well…they’re free to download.

MandalaoftheWeek.com: Each Monday I’ll be posting my coloring of that month’s Mandala of the Month, which will produce 4-5 colorings of that design. With each one, I intend to dig deeper into the message of that month’s mandala. You’re welcome to color along as well.

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Published by The Mandala Lady

My Mission: connecting with our Inner Light in delightful, inspiring ways For me, creating mandalas is more than just coloring pretty patterns in a circle. I do it because my spiritual evolution and creativity require it of me. My mandala designs come about within an active meditative state, connected with my higher self, my spiritual guides and nature spirits. Together, we bring into form, mandala art the allows me to re-connect with my own inner peace and joy, letting me explore and expand my own creative spirit to however far and in whatever direction I want to take it. As part of my own spiritual journey, I encourage, and hopefully inspire, others to explore their own creativity, to help them re-connect with their own inner peace and joy. As a means to that end, I make all of my mandalas available for people to color. Why should I have all the fun?

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