A Practice That Helps

Here’s a practice that you can do anytime. 

No altar required.

Turn toward joy. Just for a beat.

This works even when you're buried so deep in emotion that you can't see anything else. 

Even during the darkest night of the soul.

Even on a normal ass Tuesday when nothing is wrong but everything sucks. 

It’s easiest to focus on the negative.

Your achy knee.

That email you don’t want to send.

The debate.

What you focus on you get more of.

Want more achy angst?

Me neither.

Even while your knee, unsent email and election looms, do this:

Get your brain out of the gutter and point it toward joy.

Joy.

It feels so good, doesn’t it?

Like the warm sun.

Like watching a beloveds chest rise and fall while their mouth twitches in their sleep.

Like throwing your head back, laughing.

Remember?

Notice a little lightening right now as you remember? 

Let that feeling you have right now settle into your bones.

Stay there for a beat. Just a moment is enough.

Whenever you remember, stop what you’re focusing on and remind yourself of this warmth.

Cozy.

Alert

Peaceful hum of being exactly in the right place at exactly the right time.

It will lower your pain.

Increase motivation.

Help you tap into the solutions we need for what’s next.

You don’t have to do this very well.

Just keep picking up your negative pointing brain and point it towards joy.

You get what you focus on.

Focus toward joy and that’s what you’ll get.