Too often in life we are faced with circumstances that are immeasurably difficult.
We all experience this in our own way.
Everyone will have a great conflict,
A series of misfortunes,
Difficulties that may arise from birth and never get easier.
Our lives are irrevocably defined by how we face these difficulties.
If you listen to guided meditations or often seek wisdom on a spiritual path,
As I do,
You are confronted with a series of truths that can seem unattainable,
Unknowable.
One of my favorites is,
Laughter is the best medicine.
It's great.
We all know it is true.
How can I laugh with all of these things going on?
With these changes,
Obstacles,
Maybe even the heavy weight of duty or righteousness?
Aren't I supposed to feel my emotions?
Isn't the process supposed to be about learning and growing through pain?
My truth is simple,
It's supposed to be both.
Our growth doesn't happen in a linear line.
It happens in fits,
Starts,
Great leaps and swift falls.
We are human after all,
Not machines.
We can see the truths that we instinctively know and reach for them as many times as it takes.
Sometimes we will fall short.
Sometimes we will be successful.
When facing difficult circumstances,
It is important to remember these truths and continue to strive towards them.
Joy is the ultimate reward.
Other things are equally wonderful,
But here we will focus on joy.
So how do we laugh again?
How do we find that lightness of being,
Flow and radiant abundance?
How do we dance,
Play and bounce in our steps again?
We start,
As always,
From the beginning.
First we will quiet our bodies.
Let's take a big breath in through the mouth,
Hold and out through the nose.
Do this a few more times.
Let your breath return to normal.
Notice any places where there might be tension or pain in your body.
Simply allow this to be.
Take another big breath,
Hold and release.
Now we are going to generate a gentle awareness and acceptance of the environment around you.
What do you feel?
What are you touching?
What is on your body?
How do your hands feel?
Take a moment to encourage all your senses to feel.
Last we will quiet the mind.
Minds inevitably race,
That's just what they do.
Here is how we get them to slow down.
Think of three things that you are grateful for.
Still holding these three things in your mind,
Take a big breath,
Hold and say thank you as you exhale.
Do this one more time.
Big breath,
Hold,
Say thank you as you exhale.
Now think of anything that might be troubling you,
You might be obsessing about,
That might seem like it is dominating your attention.
Let this trouble foster in your mind.
Whatever it is,
Thank it for being there.
Doesn't matter the reason,
Simply thank it.
Let's take another big breath,
Hold and say thank you as you exhale.
Let's continue to breathe.
Sometimes we simply have to decide to be happy.
This can seem an insurmountable task.
This can seem impossible.
It is in these moments that it is most possible.
The way to do this is to quiet your body,
Clear your mind as best you can,
Breathe and then imagine your own version of joy.
Take a moment and think of something that brings you happiness or that has brought you joy in the past.
Shy away from romantic partners and other adults if you can.
Try thinking of your children or your pets or even a friend you had as a child.
Whatever this is,
Imagine it in a state of play.
I like to use my dog chasing his tail.
See the details.
I think of his white paws whirling around,
Soft grunts and the way he turns to me when he can't get it,
Almost saying,
A little help here please.
Take a moment to imagine a similar scene that makes you happy.
Now I want you to imagine that same scene except instead of whatever you chose to imagine,
I want you to imagine yourself doing the same thing.
Chasing your tail,
Dancing in a puddle,
Playing with a toy truck,
Maybe lighting a brick of fireworks and throwing them in the street.
Imagine you,
Adult you,
Grinning and laughing with nothing but the simple joy from a simple activity.
Don't forget to smile.
Wasn't that nice?
Now we all want to use these tools to make our lives better.
So as you go along,
The process is always the same.
Calm the body,
Quiet the mind,
Imagine a source of your joy,
Then imagine yourself participating in that joy.
It is in this way that we create our future.
In our darkest moments,
The light of a single candle burns the brightest.
Joy is elusive,
Yet it heals that which we consider unhealable.
It is one of the most potent tools we have to reach out into the universe and directly touch it with our soul.
It is no wonder it is so hard to grasp at times.
Keep practicing and it will come.
Thanks for listening.
Have a good day.
