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:)
Posted by Scarlett40 on March 16, 2010 at 13:17:56

In reply to: Rediscovering joy* posted by catsmeow on March 16, 2010 at 11:16:49*

What a great way to break it down. I do think I am in a time of rediscovering myself and my direction. And focusing on each good moment in this way could really make a difference. I'm thinking it might help to journal about happy moments daily. I'm definitely going to check this book out.

Thank you so much. :)

> First, after only one month, you very likely are still in mourning mode, which is a state that is necessary in the overall perspective of letting go and moving on, but it is not a comfortable place. Part of getting through it is experiencing it without fighting it. Observe and note what you feel. No energy? Maybe the Universe is telling you need a rest, just time to be with yourself and relearn who you are and what you want from life, what you are going to do differently in the future so you do not repeat the past.
>
> A good book for this stage: In the Meantime by Iyanla Vanzant. Meantimes are not comfortable, but they serve a purpose.
>
> To find joy in yourself, you will have to exercise the part of you that makes the joy. Do that by catching yourself in the act of being happy. Bring it up to your consciousness and hold the experience in front of you where you can focus on it.
>
> When you find yourself feeling content, say to yourself: "I am happy when..." and fill in that blank with whatever the moment is. These are little things like:
>
> "I am happy when I am looking out my window and the sun is shining."
> "I am happy when I see my child playing quietly with her toys."
> "I am happy when I am lying in my bed on clean sheets."
> "I am happy when I hear a bird singing."
>
> These are tactile experiences that help you focus on yourself and what you feel. No one is giving you these moments of happiness; they are coming from inside you. You might at first be able to hold that happiness for only a few seconds a couple of times a day, but practice will result in an increasing number of happy moments for longer periods. These individual moments will accumulate like beads on a string. Before you know it, you have a beautiful necklace of shiny moments; and you are experiencing contentment, happiness, and joy more and more often. And like Kat says, you will see that it was there all the time.
>
> I "cured" myself of a lifetime of depression by starting with focusing on small moments like these. It becomes a habit that changes your entire outlook on the world.
>
> Take care of YOU, S40!

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> What a great way to break it down. I do think I am in a time of rediscovering myself and my direction. And focusing on each good moment in this way could really make a difference. I'm thinking it might help to journal about happy moments daily. I'm definitely going to check this book out. > > Thank you so much. :) > > > First, after only one month, you very likely are still in mourning mode, which is a state that is necessary in the overall perspective of letting go and moving on, but it is not a comfortable place. Part of getting through it is experiencing it without fighting it. Observe and note what you feel. No energy? Maybe the Universe is telling you need a rest, just time to be with yourself and relearn who you are and what you want from life, what you are going to do differently in the future so you do not repeat the past. > > > > A good book for this stage: In the Meantime by Iyanla Vanzant. Meantimes are not comfortable, but they serve a purpose. > > > > To find joy in yourself, you will have to exercise the part of you that makes the joy. Do that by catching yourself in the act of being happy. Bring it up to your consciousness and hold the experience in front of you where you can focus on it. > > > > When you find yourself feeling content, say to yourself: "I am happy when..." and fill in that blank with whatever the moment is. These are little things like: > > > > "I am happy when I am looking out my window and the sun is shining." > > "I am happy when I see my child playing quietly with her toys." > > "I am happy when I am lying in my bed on clean sheets." > > "I am happy when I hear a bird singing." > > > > These are tactile experiences that help you focus on yourself and what you feel. No one is giving you these moments of happiness; they are coming from inside you. You might at first be able to hold that happiness for only a few seconds a couple of times a day, but practice will result in an increasing number of happy moments for longer periods. These individual moments will accumulate like beads on a string. Before you know it, you have a beautiful necklace of shiny moments; and you are experiencing contentment, happiness, and joy more and more often. And like Kat says, you will see that it was there all the time. > > > > I "cured" myself of a lifetime of depression by starting with focusing on small moments like these. It becomes a habit that changes your entire outlook on the world. > > > > Take care of YOU, S40!