Namaste Dear Sonic Yogis,
I’m beginning this new decade with a contemplation on Happiness vs. Joy. What’s arising for me is that happiness is something we achieve through outer experience. It comes to us from the outside in. Happiness is elusive. We create certain circumstances by making choices in life and what we create can affect our present state of mind and our happiness level.
Joy is cultivated from the inside out. It comes from our inner world, our spirit, or soul. Joy is enduring. We can foster joy by engaging in practices that enhance and refine our inner realm.
The beauty of inner joy vs. outer happiness is that our inner joy cannot be affected by outer circumstances. It is always alive in our hearts and souls.
My shaman and teacher, Rene Dust Walker, teaches us to polish both our ego and our energetic field. If we engage in daily spiritual practice it offers us the opportunity to hone our inner experience and release the natural joy that is inherent within us.
One of my favorite practices from Rene is the simple practice of saying Thank You.
I have been engaging in this practice for the past year and I feel a significant difference in my inner joy. My natural set point has gone from just feeling a small flicker of joy to a raging fire of joy that is overflowing and abundant. Sometimes my heart feels like it will burst from feeling so full of joy!
The practice is simple.
As you move through your day, take the opportunity to say Thank You to all that you encounter through the experience of the senses.
Everything you see with your eyes, the beauty of nature, the trees, rocks, hillsides, sky, sun, moon, stars, art, architecture, designed objects. Watch, pause and say, Thank You.
All of the sounds that you hear, music, your TV, your friends chatting, sounds of nature, birds, your kitty cat, conversations. Listen, pause and say Thank You.
Everything that you touch, your body, your mat, your products, your clothing, your bed, your loved ones, your phone. Feel, pause and say, Thank You.
All of the tastes that you experience, the spices, the flavors, the delicacies, the drinks, your latte, the sweets, the savories. Taste, pause, and say Thank You.
Every scent that you inhale, your perfume, fresh air, essential oils, delicious food, your morning coffee. Inhale, pause and say Thank You.
Even take time to thank the things that you might not like, the dirt, the crowds, certain people, the noise pollution, bad music, the cold, the heat, the pain, the bitter, the sour.
For even these impressions that you judge as bad, create an aspect of your experience that you learn something from. They become your teachers as you learn to tolerate and overcome them. They also create a contrast to make the things you love even more special.
So, say Thank You to the things you don’t like and see how it helps to cultivate your Joy.
I promise you even if you do this practice for one hour a day, you will begin to feel a shift in your joy level. Your inner joy will glow brighter and you will vibrate at a higher frequency which will allow you to exude joy wherever you go!
Let me know how it goes !
Join me this month for 3 amazing workshops to polish your field and awaken your JOY!
Jan. 11th Lower Triangle Manifesting Chakra Master Class
Jan. 12th Upper Triangle Liberating Chakra Master
Jan 21st Aromatherapy and Sound Meditation Workshop with Chris Temple.
With Love and Light,
Lauren
