Beautiful Summer Morning

A Singing Heart

By Janet Trickett Merryman

Are you doing the work that makes you joyful? When you arise in the morning, do you eagerly anticipate what you will be doing in the day? Do you even know what makes your heart sing?

If you dread Sunday evenings, knowing that early on Monday morning, you will hear the invasive sound of an alarm clock, you are most likely NOT doing that which makes your heart sing. If you cringe at the thought of facing your day each day, you are most likely NOT doing that which makes your heart sing.

If you do not know what makes your heart sing, do you know how to figure that out? When we spend most of our day several days a week doing something that does not feel good, we are not doing what we are meant to be doing. Life is not meant to be about struggle and fear. Life is about love and joy!

Here are a few tips to help you figure out what brings you joy:

1. Experience silence for a few minutes. You may not think you have time to do that, but you really do. Even if you are just taking a shower, or on a lunch hour, you can be silent. You can just listen to your breathing, in and out, in and out. You can turn off the radio or tune out what is around you. You do not have to be sitting on a mat, legs crossed, listening to beautiful music, although that is certainly a wonderful and helpful experience. In that silence, you can listen to what is within. That is when you will connect with yourself, your inner being, your true and pure self.

2. Take just a few minutes to make a short list of all the things that you truly enjoy. Not what you think others would like you to enjoy. What YOU enjoy! It doesn’t have to be a long list, just an honest one.

3. At another time, make a list of all the things at which you excel. (e.g., writing, sewing, accounting, exercising, cooking, making jewelry, playing softball) You know deep down the things that you do best. And most likely, you truly enjoy those things that you do well.

The reason it is good to do the lists at different times is so that these tasks won’t seem overwhelming and give you an excuse to put off doing them.

The very best way you can figure out what brings you joy is to just listen to yourself. Not others, just yourself. No one knows what is best for you, except you. No one else knows what brings you joy but you. Just you.

Listen to the silence. Explore and express yourself. That is what will bring you joy. That is what will make you joyful.

Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Janet Trickett Merryman

Editor’s Note; I am thrilled to have Janet participate here at Beautiful Summer Morning. Many of you might recognize the name because Janet has contributed many beautiful photo’s to this site. This is her first article for us. Please comment and let her know what you think. Feedback is the life blood of site’s like this.

Nick

Joyful, Love, Joy, art, photography, silence, self-development, self+help,

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Un-sticking My Mind

© Nick Grimshawe

I believe you need to learn to be open to the messages the universe is throwing at you.
This morning I wrote these words in my journal.

We, in our physical bodies, act as a bridge between two worlds for within us we hold both in a unique foothold that some would rend asunder.

When we find those moments of solitude and peace where we come face to face with the profound love at the core of our being, yet can still hear the sound of nature all around; the trickling brook, the bird song, the distant train whistle: We have opened the bridge to the traffic of understanding, joy and of radiance.

Communication flows from our ability to translate the language of both worlds.

Once you open the bridge the messages of the spiritual world find revelation in the physical world.

People farther removed from our modern, overwhelmingly physical world were able to read those messages in the flight of a bird, in the appearance of a snake, in the juxtaposition of apparently dissimilar events.

To change the metaphor slightly: My bridge is more like a draw bridge from a medieval castle. Quite often you find me with my draw bridge up in a defensive position to comfort some perceived threat. Only when I let the bridge down does the traffic of inspiration flow and I receive the communication of the world outside my walls.

You might argue that having the draw bridge up can be a good thing when the enemy is at the gate.

I ask “What makes them an enemy the first place?” The answer can be found within the castle walls (you). Don’t forget sieges, a favourite pastime of medieval knights, can leave a walled castle the victim of its own enclosure.

As human/beings we each have a job to do—open our unique bridge between the worlds so that the song of a meadow lark becomes the chorus of the heavenly hosts.

I finished the entry as I finished breakfast and went about my day attempting to keep my draw bridge down. For that reason I think I was open for the message that came screaming through to me.

Let me back up.

A few days ago I received, in the mail, my “retirement check-up” from my financial company. I took the news hard. “We would have to sell the house, because at retirement we were not going to be able to make the payments.” Down this negative path I went in a blue funk that has troubled my days and nights since.

The funk expanded, as funks have a habit of doing because it dampened what has been an awesome time for me spiritually.

I finally went back to an affirmation I have used with powerful results in the past.

“What is desired is on its way.” Just repeat ten or twenty times at a go.

Today because my draw bridge was down what was desired crashed through my ridiculous state of mind.

The message came as the dogs and I returned from a walk.

I passed a house with a “For Sale” sign.

We went sailing passed. But something about the house grabbed my attention.
To the dogs, I said, “Guys I think that was a sign. Do you think that was a sign? I think it was a sign, we’re going to turn around and go back. I’m sure it’s a sign.”

A U-Turn and several minutes later we pulled into the drive way of the house.

The house met my desire for a quiet location, perfectly. A fenced dog play area also added to the perfection, and a river (well a creek really) ran through it, plus 3.5 acres to play in.

I started to think about price as I copied the realtor’s number down. As I drove away I am thinking if the price is reasonable then we could reduce our mortgage payments …aha!

Suddenly I realized how fixated I’d become on some banks calculated retirement income that I’d shut the door on all other possible solutions. I’d given a piece of paper power over me. Instead of solutions I saw only the barrier.
Once the barrier blew away, all kinds of options opened up, and my dream of simplifying my life appeared much closer than it did a few days ago.

A call to the realtor dashed my hope that it could be that house but I didn’t care by then. The house showed me the way pass my barrier.

The lesson: Do everything you can to keep your unique bridge open so you can translate the messages coming through.

Nick

Spirituality, self+development, affirmations, inspirational+articles, stories, spiritual+messages, bridges

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