A Journey Into Joy
Step 11 — Week 3: The Final Exam
Step 11 The Final Exam Now comes the true climax of the journey…the final test, when everything is at stake: the final chance for “evil” (fears, limiting beliefs, etc) to triumph. We are also at the peak of our powers. Joy is within sight…should we succeed. We must draw on everything we have learned and prove once and for all that we have truly internalized the lessons of our quest.
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 11–week 3: The Mandala Lady
A lot has happened since step 10 regarding my business. The biggest thing being coming to the realization that I’ve been treating “The Mandala Lady” more like a hobby than a business. Weirdly, I knew it in the deep, dark recesses of my mind…and then little by little it came to the surface and then brought it right in front of my face.
With that revelation, I signed up for a couple of different “business” related webinars that I “just happened” upon…out of the blue. I even signed up for a three-day intensive summit…all addressing the business side of being a spiritual entrepreneur.
I had a 1-1 45-minute session with a marketing expert who works with introverts…in general I lean more towards being an extrovert but when it comes to selling/marketing/business, I’m an introvert. It was that session where it became painfully obvious that I’ve been operating as a hobbyist who occasionally sells stuff…mostly in safe, small, comfortable environments.
The summit open my eyes even further and focused on embracing the idea of “selling” from a variety of vantage points. I gleaned lots of helpful advice on how to be more comfortable with selling.
Then I met with Jennifer, a person who founded the concept of soul languages. Through the summit we could have a free 15-minute session with her. More eye opening! After that, I opted to work with her. I’ve already had two 1-hour sessions that have help me sort out more of who I am and what my business is all about and how the two work together.
From a left-brain perspective, I attended a web site webinar through SCORE. I opted for a free consultation from the presenter about upgrading my web site. I’ve since received a proposal from them and hope to work with them soon—after we’ve ironed out a few details.
In December I’ve signed up for a business plan webinar, also through SCORE. I’m also attending a social media webinar and another soulful selling webinar. And I happened on a free-to-read 1-page marketing ebook through Prime.
Whew! that’s a lot.
It’s as if as soon as I decided to take “The Mandala Lady” more seriously, a bunch of opportunities came my way to support me. It’s scary and exciting at the same time…it feels like when you’re on a big roller coaster, going up the first hill before you have the first big drop at which point there’s no turning back…then you just gotta relax and enjoy the ride all the way to the end.
That’s it for now.
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
🌟creating mandalas — awakening our creativity
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 