A Journey Into Joy
Step 7 — Week 1: The Approach
Step 7 The Approach Time to approach a “dangerous” place. In an adventure movie this is usually an impending big battle. For me/us, it’s more like a mental barrier. In essence, the approach is marked by a setback of some kind. It becomes a lesson in persistence, where we must cope with failure, change our mindset, and/or try new ideas.
This step is about the approach itself, where we must navigate to get closer to our ultimate goal. The stakes are rising, and failure is no longer an option. Well…that’s a bit over the top…but you get the picture.
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 7–week 1: Health
Since my last “health” post, I’ve taken the sensitivity tests and met again with Dr. B. Fortunately, I can eat a lot more than I thought I’d be able to eat. The most challenging thing I have to cut out is eggs…of any kind. On the plus side, I can bring back certain cheeses. Bottom line: I need to rethink my food plan.
My husband and I went on a 2.5 day trip to the Oregon coast two weeks ago…and with that we ate at restaurants for all of our meals. I came back 3 lbs heavier. I’m struggling with getting back on track with my food and tracking my weight. Also, it’s a challenge trying to figure out nutritional info when it comes to restaurant food.
So I’ve had a set back…now it’s time to approach it again. This time I want to focus on how I want to feel about my overall health. I want to feel confident, strong, and light in my body. And with each action I take around food and/or activity, I want to remind myself of how I want to feel and ask: is what I’m about to do or eat going to help me feel confident, strong, and light in my body? At least, that’s what I’m striving to do this month.
I’m back to walking however something is going on with the bottom of my right foot near the joints of the middle toes. Dr. B. didn’t get a chance to look at it. In the book “The Healing Questions Guide” by Wendi Jensen, she offers up three questions regarding “the right foot”:
- what is in my relationship that needs to be resolved right now? what will resolve it?
- what do I need to do to progress that I feel unsure about?
- what will it take to get a clear answer regarding the direction I want to go?
In checking in with my foot right now, I’m feeling pulled to both questions 2 and 3. In general, I’m not really sure how best to approach my health. I know I want to be healthier. Carrying this excess weight can’t be helping. With regards to the first question: the relationship I need to resolve is the one with myself. That much I know.
She offers this as a mantra: “I know what I want to do and what needs to be done. I am ready to take the nest steps, even if I make a mistake. I know I will be given what I need to succeed.”
Last month I posted: “And while my intentions were good about doing the Pahla B/Eccentrics videos 3-5 times a week, I resisted here as well. My challenge is to not beat myself up over it. But rather to be go easy with myself and then give it a go on Monday.” I have yet to do this.
This month I need to work on an approach that I’m honestly going to stick with doing…it’s going to require a mindset change and a plan that I can embrace.
That’s it for now,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
bringing sanity to an insane world through 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 