In a comment to yesterday’s post, Jenny writes: It seems almost effortless to cultivate joy and acceptance when I am away from my normal life and routine. As soon as I return, I fall into the old patterns so easily. Do you have any ideas for allowing the joy and acceptance to flow into your daily routine as easily as they do when you are away?
Here’s what I’m wondering: what if the statement, “It is easier to be joyful when I am away from my daily routine” is itself a painful story? What if “when I am in my normal routine, joy eludes me” is simply another version of it? What would happen if you exposed those statements to our Truth questions:
What am I feeling?
What hurts?
What is the painful story I am telling myself?
Can I be sure this painful story is true?
Is my painful story working?
Can I think of another story that might work better?
What might you discover?
3 responses so far ↓
1 Jenny // Dec 8, 2008 at 10:49 am
Painful thought: It is easier to be relaxed and joyful when I am away from my daily routine.
What am I feeling? tired, overwhelmed with life and responsibilities, burdened with a long to-do list
What hurts? my body, my heart, an ache deep inside. Also like I have a heavy cloak over my whole body.
What is the painful story? There is too much to do and when I am at home I do not know how to not do. I don’t know how to relax when I am at home. I need to get away from home to relax, so I can escape the to-do list.
Can I be sure the story is true? No. I could relax at home if I let myself. I was “trained” to be always doing at home. I need to learn how to just be at home.
Is the story working? Of course not.
Is there another story that might work better? I want to relax and be joyful at home.
Help! Ideas? I would love some tips and tricks to do this! I do want to feel relaxed and joyful at home.
2 Terry DeMeo // Dec 8, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Jenny, does this feel true? “I can be relaxed and joyful at home, even when I am doing.”
When you can be joyful and relaxed whether you are doing or not, will it be easier to stop doing and just relax, staying joyful throughout?
oxox
3 Jenny // Dec 8, 2008 at 4:39 pm
You are right, it would be easier to stay joyful and relaxed while doing. I have not thought about this before.
This week will be a good time to try it out.
Thank you!!
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