Joy is not in things. Joy is in us.

Richard Wagner.

To Find joy in our lives requires a shift in our consciousness(click to tweet)

Shifting your consciousness to Joy.

1. Meditation.

The benefits of meditation on mind and body are well known and well documented.

However many of us would find the discipline tough going.

When we think of meditation, we have an image of a practitioner sitting silently for a long period of time cross legged and eyes closed.  This does not happen with this meditation.

The purpose of  this “awake” practice is to bring our consciousness to find its resting place in joy.

The practice is simple and achievable. You can still do the practice even if you think your mornings are too busy, too noisy, or too stressful.

Your surroundings are neutral. The importance is a change in your interior experience.

We can be washing the dishes, driving the kids to school, and practice this stillness, quietness and centeredness.

Each morning, for a very short time bring your attention to the place in your body that holds your authentic essence.

Most people find this place in their solar plexus, but it could be anywhere in your body- your chest, your back or your head. Just allow your intuition to guide you to your centre.

Clear all the debri in your mind, bring your mind to peace, a place of no thought, listen for silence and release the tension in your body. You will reach that clear still place quicker as you practice daily.

2.Setting up your daily intention.

In order to access joy there is only one daily intention. The intention to be the experience of love.

Just for today I will be the most loving being I can be.

Just for today I am willing to see this day differently.

Just for today I am willing to grow in love for myself and to show unconditional love to those around me.

With this as your intention, and you remain in a meditative state, how would you react to the first challenge of your day?

3. Non Attachment.

The practice of non attachment can be quite a challenge, but a worthwhile one.

Attachment is grasping, seeking, clinging from a place of lack, limitation and scarcity. In our society we are always striving for something, a new car, a new job, a better partner, wealth, health, happiness and success.

We blame lack of confidence for our lack. We experience self doubt, get confused and frustrated with unsuccessful outcomes. How would your life change if you knew that your happiness, well being, security, wisdom was within you and is unshakeable?

How would it feel if you were not attached to your thoughts, beliefs or expectations?

How safe or unsafe would it be if you let go off all your judgements?

To find Joy we need to let go off all preconceived ideas and practice non attachment to outcomes.

We need to become freer and freer of the attachment to our own

smallness in which we get occupied with me-me-me. (Ravi Ravindra)

4. Random acts of kindness

“Practice giving things away, not just things you don’t care about,

but things you do like. Remember, it is not the size of a gift,

it is its quality and the amount of mental attachment you overcome that count.(Huston Smith)

During your day, do something for someone without wanting anything in return.

Share a smile, a compliment, or give a donation to a good cause.

Follow your innate wisdom and it will tell you when and who needs your random act of kindness.

In giving allow non attachment. Throw the penny into the wishing well and wish for blessings for someone other than ourselves.

These random acts of kindness are expressing our own trust and abundance in our own lives.

5. Gratitude.

In all things give thanks.

Gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Melody Beattie.

In Gratitude we give thanks for our blessings, being alive and for everything we receive. In Gratitude we focus on what we have noticing  our abundance. Giving thanks makes us happier and more resilient, it helps us to find joy.

 When we make the shift in our consciousness we become aware of our innate intelligence that will keep us in joy.

please share this with anyone who you think might benefit from it.