Saturday Journaling Prompt:

What makes my heart sing? Make a list.

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So many times on our journey in life
We’re chasing after the elusive star
Occupied by the hope it may seem to bring
But in the process forgetting who we really are

We embarked on a search often so futile
To fulfill each worldly desire
Not realizing that one by one
The goals are becoming so much higher

Our minds are wandering from place to place
Lost in the past or fantasizing tomorrows
In the state of turmoil, we fail to see
It’s the undeniable source of all our sorrows

Each waking moment is desperately spent
Trying to accumulate even more possessions
In our reasoning to rationalize the fact
The acquiring has become an obsession

We search for happiness in different forms
Trying to gratify our sensual pleasure
We complete the chase to discover once again
We fall short of that unending measure

Often times in our efforts to pursue
That which will bring ease to our condition
The satisfaction is found in a fleeting moment
Then we fall prey to yet more hopeless missions

We play the game of running from ourselves
And hiding in the most painful places
Not understanding in our endeavor to escape
What we deny, will one day have to face us

We fill our lives with all the distractions
We hope that will bring us bliss
The house, the car, the perfect job
But yet something deeper is amiss

We occupy our thoughts and unwittingly act
To achieve every possible goal
We then become victims of life’s constant demands
Until it all spirals out of control

In our assessment of this sheer insanity
We’ll be forced to accept one conclusion
That which we try so hard to satisfy
In reality is, is just an Illusion

For we live in a world that sets us up to fail
Because it keeps us focused in the wrong direction
If only we could look beyond what we see
And free our Soul to its ultimate expression

For what we perceive and have come to know
Through our mind, our body, and our senses
Deludes us of the highest truth
That we are so much more than these outward complexes

So all that we seek and hope to find
Lies not in our earthly pursuits
But transcends to a place of rich-fertile ground
Where our freedom and happiness takes root

Where stillness abides and joy is inflow
Where love is in its fullest abundance
The dwelling place of your power, that reflects Who-You-Are
And anything less is entirely redundant

© Poem by Michelle Williams

Joy Never Runs Dry

Deep joy and happiness do indeed reside within. Material possessions, distinguished credentials, and lofty titles will only take you so far and satisfy you so much.

But the happiness that lasts a lifetime and the joy that never runs dry are constructs of both your inner and outer world. Happiness is not just a passive state of being, it is an ongoing process of fresh challenges, creative expression, and meaningful pursuits. It takes the right attitudes and activities and a proactive approach to continue to be happy.

Happiness is not at all about how much money you can spend, it’s about how you spend your time with friends, family, and loved ones. It’s the deep connections that imbue your life with a sense of purpose and belonging.

Happiness isn’t in loud music and neon lights, it’s in the quiet company of yourself, in a life-giving and introspective space.

Your search for happiness is not in the pounds you lose at the gym, it’s the lifetime membership you sign up for to take care of your physical and mental health, to nurture your well-being, and enrich your spirit.

The beauty and charm of nature are entwined in the joy of your soul. There is wonderment in every beat, every breath, every pulse, and every pause, moment to moment as the universe unfolds in perfect orchestration.
Nature’s healing qualities nourish and bring a profound sense of balance, harmony, and joy.

Happiness is short-lived in your looks, for you will get old and wrinkled and lose this transitory youth. But those qualities that last forever are much more than skin deep. They are in your humanity and kindness. Your capacity to love and show compassion. Your goodness and your grace. The depth of your heart and the power of your humility.

You find happiness and joy in the skills and abilities you develop over time. You grow in self-esteem and your confidence gets a gigantic boost.
In the process, you expand your network and become a valuable asset and a sought-after and respected friend.

Where there is happiness and joy, gratitude is seldom far away. That warm inner feeling of appreciation for life and everything encompassed, engenders happiness and joy. You can always find something to be grateful for. Be grateful for the air that you breathe and the freedoms that you may sometimes take for granted.
You may travel to unspoiled places, explore unchartered lands, adventure to the back and beyond but the deep-rooted and lasting happiness is in the coming home and BEING yourself.

Joy is not found in things. It cannot be forced, Instead Joy arises from deep within us.

Let’s work with these 5 questions to amplify and boost your capacity for joy.

1. With whom do I love to spend time with? What do I love to do?
2. What am I thankful for? What has deep meaning for me?
3. How do I get in the way of my own happiness?
4. What fills me with joy? (Make a list, then look for patterns!)
5. When I feel Joy, what am I doing and what am I not doing? What am I doing differently and how am I different?

Ponder these questions over the week. Journal around them to go deeper.

JOURNALING

There are many automatic reactions that have become etched into your nervous system for the sake of self-preservation. The amygdala, for example, is responsible for processing emotions and triggers your fight/flight/freeze reactions under such conditions as fear, anxiety, threats, or stress. According to research, processing your emotions through journaling helps to calm down the amygdala and over time, the intensity of your emotions is reduced. There are thousands of scientific studies that support journaling, and the benefits are endless. Bottling up your feelings and emotions is guaranteed to lead to a massive explosion at some point. Journal your feelings away and experience a greater sense of happiness, peace, and well-being. Make it your go-to self-care tool and must-have space to relieve stress, celebrate yourself, dig beneath the surface, and to just…be you!

With grace and gratitude

Michelle

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