“Joy is what happens to us when we allow
ourselves to recognize how good things are.”
-Marianne Williamson
These days I have made it my personal mission to only surround myself with people that are positive, optimistic, driven and most importantly bring joy to others. I have been blessed that my close circle reflects these attributes, but I have one particular friend that takes the cake! This friend we shall call “Felicia,” because I have not asked permission to write about her. Felicia, is a woman that you can tell has been through some hard things in her life. There is pain in her eyes yet her positive energy and forever smile tries to hide this fact. I say you can tell, because in the few months that I have been blessed to have her in my life, she has never shared her story. You know that childhood story from the past that many have lived. That story that can bring you to your knees. I know she has that story because I can be very intuitive. Yet, I respect her for her strength, but most of all I respect her for her joy and how she transcends this wonderful emotion to others. Felicia, walks into a room and is in awe of every person she encounters. She is fascinated by every positive thing she experiences and practice gratitude for everything she has. Her wonderful pleasant personality makes one believe that all is possible! She makes the ordinary feel extraordinary and is a true visionary. She is determined to be successful and I know she will! Felicia, inspired me to write about JOY in this post and how joy can change your life. Here are the four things you need to do to have a more joyful human experience!
Tell your present story.
We all have a story. We have all been hurt by people we loved, who should have loved us better. Staying in the past can make you bitter never better. Sometimes we may feel that if we share it one last time with someone it will heal something in us, but it never does! Accept your trials from the past and learn the lesson. As I already mentioned my friend Felicia, has a sad story. Her story is one of hardship and pain. Yet, she has decided to not share it or dwell on the past so she can move to a better future. I am not saying that we should not share our stories of pain with counselors, psychologist, best friends, or loved ones, but not with random people. One may think that sharing your story helps you heal, but if you use your story to get sympathy you will fail. Living in the past keeps you in the past. Live for the future by being present and looking forward to your future. Forgive yourself, as well as the people that may have caused you pain. Forgive them not for their sake, but because you want peace with your past. Give yourself the opportunity to get to know what your future self is capable of becoming and only share your present story!
Believe and be Joyful!
Believe that you deserve and are capable of receiving joy! Felicia, radiates positive energy all the time. She is full of confidence and people love to be around her. You need to believe that you are the creator of your energy of your existence. If you seek joy, peace and love you will find it. If you believe in fear, pain and disappointment you will find that too! Change your belief system and change your life. See joy and joyful you will be!
Show gratitude and happiness shall follow.
To have a positive mind you need to show gratitude for everything that is working for you. Focus on what is working and let go of what is not. Gratitude is a way of staying in joy. Gratitude put’s things into perspective, by making you see that in retrospect your life is not that bad. To change your feelings in your heart you first have to let gratitude in. Think about the effect of having a heart filled with gratitude will bring to your life!
Surround yourself with people that make your light brighter.
You are the company that you keep! Choose the people that will bring you joy and bring out the best in you. It is that positive energy that you need to live in joy. If someone is dragging you down with negativity it is OK to limit or eliminate them from your life. It is also OK to seek those that radiate positive energy. Remember, you have the power to bring only people who contribute to your personal growth and eliminate those who demise it!
What will it be? To live in joy or to continue in the past? Please choose to be like my friend Felicia! Choose gratitude, let go of the past and believe that you are the creator of your present and inventor of your future! Until next time Believe. Change. Become!
NancyJ