A Journey Into Joy
Step 5 — Week 4: The First Step
Step 5 encourages us to “cross the threshold”, in order to take our first step towards answering “the call” (step 2). With this step, it’s time to “bite the bullet” as it were, take a deep breath in, and on the exhale take that all important first step. Once the momentum has started, taking the next step is a bit easier.
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 to color and learn more about this step.
Here’s my journal entry for step 5–week 4: My Purpose
My plan for working towards my purpose is to 1) use EFT, 2) work with my functional medicine doctor, and 3) work through Pam Grout’s books: E2 & E3. I started the E2 book. I have to say, only 1 of the 5 experiments have worked for me so far. The one with making the divining rods was a total bust. It’s like the pendulum for me…it doesn’t move. I’ve seen other people online use them with ease, but for me it’s a no go.
That being said, I successfully use my body as a pendulum, so I’m not sure what’s keeping the rods/pendulum from working. I imagine I could look into why these devices fail to work for me…but is it worth the effort? Just for the heck of it I googled “why doesn’t my pendulum move” and I received links on how to make a grandfather clock work. Duly noted.
As for EFT…I know it works for me and yet I still feel some resistance to it…which is a conundrum because I know the doing EFT will help me deal with the resistance to EFT. It begs the question: what am I afraid of? What’s really going on here? My first guess is that the more I transcend my limiting beliefs, the more my “old” me fears disappearing forever. Intuitively I know that the exact opposite will happen. The more I transcend my limiting beliefs the more I’ll be my true self…not this distorted version that I’ve held onto for decades. Stay tuned for updates.
In Step 4 I also talked about working with my functional medicine doctor who uses NET to help me process through any emotional issues that hold me back. I also know that he can help with the limiting beliefs that may be tougher for me to process on my own.
Getting back to the E2 and E3 books. I’ll continue to work through the experiments. I know with Step 6 we focus on any challenges we’re facing as we embark beyond The First Step. Hopefully, I can figure out what’s going on there…and it could be that the whole process is about accepting that some will work and some will not…and that’s okay.
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.
Mandala of the Week 