A Journey Into Joy
Step 7 — Week 4: 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 to color and learn more about this step.
Here’s my journal entry for step 7–week 4: My Purpose
I revisited “the call” regarding my purpose (step 2 — week 4) to remind myself of what it is: I’m being called to soar like the one I am meant to be. In working with Dr. Ben last week, we came to the realization that there’s a “kink” in the “hose” to my creative flow. Some stuff about my dad came up regarding his story along with feelings of “who am I to be my full potential”, and so on.
What also came up was the lack of play…which I’ve established as one of my two main values (curiosity being the other one). Even when I call in my Team of Guides and Angels (ToGAs) to begin a session on one of my pieces, I use the word “work”…as in: “I call in my ToGAs with the intention to continue working on _______”.
Dr. Ben gave me two homework assignments: 1) change my “call in” sessions to “continue playing on”, and 2) when my ToGAs are present, ask them to help me with the un-kinking of my creativity “hose”…so I can experience the full flow of creativity verses the mere trickle that’s been happening up until now.
I can do this.
That’s it for now.
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
bringing sanity to an insane world 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 