A Journey Into Joy
Step 9 — Week 1: The Reward
Step 9 The Reward The ordeal was a major milestone. At last, the “sword” is within their grasp. The hero can take the time to cherish the reward, even celebration it. However the hero has yet to embark on their journey home. Thankfully they have the knowledge and skill to face the final conflict, even if they have yet to fully realize it.
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 9–week 1: Health
Last month I came up with three tools to help me with my health. Right now I mainly want to focus on my weight because that feels like the basis for my feet/ankle pain and blood pressure issues. Since last month, the idea of using that mantra that I wrote about the last time I focused on health, didn’t resonate with me. So I let that go and replaced it with:
My subconscious has the power to heal my body.
In my last session with Dr. Ben, we uncovered a part of me that went to food as a source for love. We processed through it and gave that part a revised assignment to “look for love in all the right places”. Anytime I feel myself wanting to go after potato chips or ice cream and the like, I ask myself “is that loving myself?” It seems to be working. So where did that part go? Well, she showed up in another area, which I’ll talk about in post 24-37.
Even though my right foot is still giving me problems, it seems to work itself out when I go for my daily 1.5 mile walk. I’ve now added doing Pahla B and Essentrics workouts…which reminds me I have yet to do my Pahla Be workout today.
Since last month, I’ve met a like-minded woman who is interested in working through the Self-Therapy book and workbook together. This feels like a win-win for both of us.
I did a meditation to connect with the part of me that always seems to want food, even obsessed with food and here’s what came up:
In my minds eye, a 5yo girl walked up and sat next to me at this large conference room-like table. She had what looked like a coloring book or a workbook and a pencil. She was dressed up in a pretty dark blue dress with some kind of flower pattern and a white peter pan collar…as if to go to a birthday party. Her hair was done up nice in pigtails with a ribbon or two. She had on patent leather shoes with white laced trimmed socks. Even though she walked up and sat next to me, she didn’t look at me the whole time…but I sensed that she was aware of me. She was focused on writing or drawing in her book. I sensed that conversing with her right now was not an option. She told me that I could draw in her book if I wanted. I sensed that maybe our conversation would best be done via drawing versus talking.
I’ve listened to all the lessons of the MBRX course and three of his four audio meditations. I find his yoga nidra and resistance ones put me to sleep…and that’s ok…it can work on my subconscious. All I have left to listen to are the Q&A, Zoom call, and the panic attack meditation.
I haven’t incorporated much of the EFT since last time. I’m thinking I need to connect with that part of me that’s resisting it to see what that issue may be about…it could be that a lot of these parts are holding on tightly because they fear what will become of them. I need to make sure that they know that they aren’t going anywhere…they are just getting new and improved assignments.
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 