A Journey Into Joy
Step 12 — Week 1: Health
Step 12 Home We return home before continuing onto the next journey, bearing the treasure that has the power to transform the world as we have been transformed. We are not the same as we were when we began this journey 12 months ago. It’s time to embrace it, celebrate it, and acknowledge how much we’ve grown…bringing us that much closer on our quest into Joy.
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 12–week 1: Health
As I enter into the closing weeks of 2024, I’m up seven pounds from when I started in January. I haven’t been tracking my BP, so I don’t know what it is, and I have yet to have my cholesterol checked. While I’m not pleased about it, I’m actually feeling hopeful for 2024. A couple of days ago I started tracking my food again with a much simpler system and I’m back to walking more regularly.
I also took advantage of ChatGPT to ask for its advice on fun ways of getting to a healthier weight. Of all the helpful suggestions it offered, with regard to emotional eating, the one that intrigued me the most was the idea of a “procrastination jar”. First you write down on small pieces of paper, a bunch of 4-7 minute activities that would be fun, light, or helpful to do. I put them all in a jar (well over 90 of them). Then whenever I catch myself wanting to eat something when I’m not really hungry or I feel myself procrastinating (stalling), I reach into the jar and do whatever it says on the paper I picked.
As for what activities to put in the jar?…after a couple of exchanges, ChatGPT and I came up with a bunch of fun and/or lighter activités based on my preferences. I’ve already used it twice and both times it kept me from going into the kitchen. I’m actually excited to use this system. I love the randomness of it and it also helps keep me moving rather than scrolling social media for hours.
Last month I mentioned doing a “Doodle Mandala Meditation” and doing some IFS activities as a way to process some of the wounded “parts” that affect my health. I have yet to do that but I do plan on starting in 2025 as part of making the meditations available via my YouTube channel.
I have yet to get a handle on walking and exercise as part of a daily practice. Although I went for three walks over the last four days. One thing’s for sure, I’m learning that I do much better with having systems in place…creating more of them is the next step in moving forward.
So, I have to ask myself: was my 2024 journey into joy with regard to my health a success? If I define success as reaching my goal weight, exercising regularly, and lowering my BP? Then no. If I define success as looking into different perspectives with regard to my overall health, testing some of them out, learning what works and what needs adjusting…than I’d give it about a 70% success rate.
I’m optimistic about my new food tracking system, the upcoming mandala meditations, and the procrastination jar…as well as being open to new-to-me practices that can help my overall health and well-being.
That’s it for now,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
🏵️ creating mandalas — awakening 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 