A Journey Into Joy
Step 8 — Week 2: The Ordeal
Step 8 The Ordeal This marks the greatest test thus far. We may face a major hurdle or obstacle which causes us to hit rock bottom. It’s a pivotal moment in our journey. It’s time to face our greatest fear, it’s time to overcome our weaknesses and step into the title of hero.
Translating this to our journey into joy, this is the moment where we go into the “belly of the beast” of that which is blocking our joy, to face it directly, and challenge its hold on our joy. We have the skills, we know what to do, now is the time to put it all into action…it’s time to put down the self-help books and apply what we’ve learned.For me I plan to continue with the areas covered in the weeks of Step 1 (health, home, The Mandala Lady, and my purpose).
Here’s my journal entry for step 8 – week 2: Home
Well the “get to” mindset worked for a little bit. Actually I just used it right now when I started a load of laundry: “I get to do the laundry” … “I get to do the laundry in my own home instead of a laundromat” … “I get to do the laundry in our reliable washer and dryer”. And it did lighten the load…so to speak.
Since last time I’ve also come to learn about Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy where we work with the different parts of our selves. For the longest time I’ve heard myself say things like: There’s a part of me that we would love a clean and tidy, clutter-free home but there’s also a part of me that doesn’t want to do what it would take to make that happen. Learning that “parts” is a know thing and part of a therapy system, feels like a good fit.
I bought the book and have read the first couple of chapters that gives the background and a bit of the process. Now I’m at the point where I can start processing the parts.
I also listened to a pod cast two days ago about setting up 30-day challenges…where you pick one thing to focus on for 30 days and each day you do something tangible towards that challenge. Interestingly enough, the podcast used “decluttering” as an example. Her suggested daily task was to remove one bag of stuff from the house each day…it could be a bag for trash, donation, or to sell…doesn’t matter. While it may not all get done in 30 days, the point is you will have made major progress and the momentum is now there to continue if necessary. I’m going to talk with my husband about trying this one out.
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 