No matter what, in the end, choose joy.  

I choose to wake up before the sun and before the noise. In order to set my trajectory and receive the bounty that God delivers to us every day with the rising of the sun. And I feel joy... love, peace, and eagerness to find out... "What will the day bring?"

I'm well aware of the nightmares, the wars, the ridiculousness of grown-ass adults... etc., etc. I choose to realize what the human mind is capable of when it does not have access to its own personal peace. So, that is why I deliberately choose to access my own... And why I do this work. Every. Single. Day. 

I used to think that it was an emotion only accessible to certain types of people. And of course the natural high when something awesome happens. But that's conditional, right?

In the book, Power vs Force, David Hawkins says, "As Love becomes more and more unconditional, it begins to be experienced as inner Joy. This isn't the sudden joy of a pleasurable turn of events; it's a constant accompaniment to all activities."

One of my favorite books is The Universal Christ by Father Richard Rohr. On page 29 he offers a simple yet poignant explanation on why one might experience struggle and in the same breath offers a remedy. He states, “To end in grace, you must somehow start with grace, and then it is grace, all the way through. Or as others have simply put it - How you get there is where you arrive.”

Her bold brown eyes stared straight through her computer camera lens. She leaned in and with so much passion and excitement - she might as well have ripped off her shirt-- said to us... “I just want to make snow cones!!”

My arms went up with fists in solidarity. I wanted to high-five her and hug her! She spoke of her ancestry with so much love and admiration - you could feel it. There was so much confidence and excitement in her creativity and vision. Honestly, I can’t wait to be the first person to taste one of those snow cones!

“So how do we sustain feeling inspired, eager, and excited in our chosen roles and paths that have sucked out all the energy and fun like a vampire, you ask? Know your core values and have a daily wellness formula that makes you feel good.”

I used to accept the false belief that life is hard. The bigger the dream the bigger the sacrifice. The reward is sweeter the harder you try, etc.

Self-mastery is a lot like learning to steer a boat.

This morning I started my meditation with a rampage of appreciation - something I picked up from working with my business coach, Damien Nordmann.

…Some of us have a deep desire to live on cloud 9. And if you do then you know... or at least sincerely hope... that life is beautiful. I assure you it is and always has been. And I assure you that when you know this truth in your bones you will grow younger as you grow older and have the energy and tenacity to be a light in the world.

Life lesson... If your minister says something is boring... well, it most definitely is.

So anyway... Joy Compass also perfectly describes the benefit one receives from the reading. As it turns out, experiencing authentic joy daily isn't that easy.

Of course it's easy to feel joy when great things happen. Also too when you've chiseled out time to do something that brings you joy. ...I'm thinking of hitting up a yoga class or sitting at a table with loved ones...