LEADING WITH JOY: START THE WEEK RIGHT

START MONDAY WITH A REFRESHED SPIRIT!

Welcome this day with joy!

“Spa for the Spirit Monday” is a new feature of www.joyafterfifty.com! How we start anything, including a new week, determines the effectiveness and satisfaction we will experience. I will be offering you a variety of joy-boosting articles, practices, tips and quotations to inspire a positive start to your week. Be sure to visit www.joyafterfifty.com each Monday.

My upcoming book, Joy after Fifty, is a 52 week program based on 25 years experience empowering women — in my psychotherapy practice, seminars and retreats. In the book, I have woven together proven strategies from the science of happiness, positive psychology, myriad spiritual practices, and women’s wisdom traditions. It is designed to increase your happiness, week by week. Each week starts with a principle of joyful living, followed by 4 related questions for meaningful reflection and 4 action steps to enhance joy and wellbeing.

For the launch of “Spa for the Spirit” Mondays, I am offering you a sample week from the book. I encourage you to read the Joy Principle now. Next, set aside quiet time to sit and consider the questions in “Reflecting on Joy”. To get the most out of the “Activating Joy” section, get out your calendar and schedule some or all of the suggested activities.

JOY PRINCIPLE

As a woman in the second half of life, it’s essential that you identify a life dream that makes your heart sing.  Your burning desire, and a plan to achieve it, will illuminate a pathway of deep joy.  Your world will light up as you move in the direction of your dream…one goal, one action, one baby step at a time.

REFLECTING ON JOY

  • When I imagine living my dream, as though it has already happening, how do I feel?
  • What beliefs, behaviors and fears have prevented me from realizing my heart’s desire?
  • What inner qualities could I intentionally access to overcome the above obstacles to realizing my dream?
  • Knowing that it takes a “village” to help make one’s dreams come true, who would make up my most powerful “dream team”. Examples include: a coach, a friend, a psychotherapist, an accountability partner.

ACTIVATING JOY

  1. Set a timer for 12 minutes.  Beginning with the phrase, “My greatest desire at this time is…” Write nonstop until the time is up.  Take more time if you wish.  Reflect upon what you wrote. Does it surprise you?
  2. Write down all the perceived inner and outer obstacles to fulfilling your desire.  Close your eyes and activate your fierce intention to release the obstacles.  Ask for support from a higher power of your choosing. With determination, burn the list.  Give thanks.  Tell a trusted person what you have released.
  3. Commit fully to manifesting your desire.  Write down your commitment to manifest your desire and the date by which you will have achieved it. Identify the actions you need to take to successfully fulfill the commitment.
  4. Make a “vision board” of images that represent aspects of your dream. As you look daily at the images, pause and feel the joy of having your desire as though it’s happening right now. Expect success!

Gift yourself a “Spa for the Spirit” women’s retreat in 2011. Read about Connie’s retreats and get notifications of 2011 dates.

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