JOYmail February 2017
What's Your Word?
I was privileged to lead a one day retreat on the last Saturday in January. We met at a cozy farmhouse just south of Chicago. We explored how to honor our innate creativity. At lunchtime, it was pretty nippy, but we took a quick stroll around the grounds. Diane had painted a friendship tree on the side of one of the out buildings. All of us signed our names on one of the tree leaves.
As January 28 was the start of the Chinese New Year (Year of the Rooster), we each chose our own personal Word of the Year. This word brings clarity for our intentions for the next 12 months. (For example, if one wishes to experience more peacefulness, that’s the word. The next step is to consider changes in situations and behavior that would better support peaceful feelings.) Then we made our word of the year vision boards. It was such a joy to share the day with this wonderful group of women.
So what are your intentions during this Year of the Rooster? How do you wish to live? Maybe you’d like to experience more contentment, more peace, more energy, more acceptance, more abundance, freedom, discovery, ….. I invite you to (1) pick a word, (2) list actions that you can take to better align yourself with what you desire, and (3) each day take one step in your new direction.
Intention – Clarity - Action It’s a new year, why not go for it!
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Joy Science
Folk wisdom has maintained that chocolate and cocoa flavanols have positive health benefits. As a lifetime Lover of Chocolate, I was thrilled to learn that a team of university researchers have concluded that habitual chocolate intake improves cognitive performance. “… regular intake of cocoa flavanols may have a beneficial effect on cognitive function, and possibly protect against normal age-related cognitive decline.” (Hey – look it up! “Chocolate intake is associated with better cognitive function: The Maine- Syracuse Longitudinal Study” – G Crichton, M Elias, A Alkerwi – 2016)
Cocoa flavanols are the plant-based nutrients found in cocoa and provide antioxidant benefits. Several years ago, Joy Reader Jaymie put me on to cacao powder which I add to my smoothies. It’s a healthy way to enjoy with benefits of chocolate.
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Joy Read
I am Malala - by Malala Yousafazia with Christina Lamb
I just finished listening to the audiobook, I am Malala.
What an inspiring story about an amazing young woman. Perhaps, you remember her story.
Malala grew up in the Swat Valley of northern Pakistan. Her father was the owner/principal of a large school. He encouraged her to speak up for the education of girls. The prevalent cultural practice was if a girl was sent to school at all, she rarely stayed past her tenth birthday. Malala’s own mother was illiterate.
Malala and her family lived through the time of Taliban control. These fundamentalists believe that women have no civil rights including the right to education. The Taliban then closed all the girls schools in the Swat Valley. The Pakistani army eventually chased the Taliban organization out of the Valley but not its influence.
Along with her father, Malala had become an activist in the movement to educate girls and had gained national attention. In the October of 2012, Taliban operatives stopped her school bus and fired three shots at her – one of which hit her head. She was 15 years old.
Miraculously she survived – having been evacuated to a hospital in Birmingham, England. She has gone on to start a foundation to promote the education of girls worldwide and became the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
This is a Joy Read because Malala Yousafzai lives her life with so much joy. She writes of the joy she has for the beauty of her Swat Valley, the joy of her family life, and the joy of learning.
You can check out more about Malala and her work at www.malala.org.
So get this book and be prepared to be inspired!
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Stand Up Straight!
This is a very cool statue. It’s called “Winged Victory” and is located in Memorial Park alongside the St. John’s River near downtown Jacksonville, Florida. He stands tall and raises aloft an olive branch, an emblem of peace.
Recently researchers confirmed that adopting an upright posture (aka standing up straight) can reduce depression.
Got to love it.
Read more...
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Turtle Steps to More Joy
Living with more joy is about taking small steps. Turtles steadily achieve their goals one small step at a time. Small steps can lead to big results. You are invited to make small changes one month at a time, one turtle step at a time. The journey is about living with more joy.
Here is the Turtle Step for this month:
Just as we know that good nutrition improves your body, good reading improves your mind and spirit. Make a practice to read something positive or inspiring for at least 15 minutes a day. Need some suggestions? Here’s some from my reading list:
- I am Malala - M. Yousafzai
- The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World – Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu
- Where the Wind Leads – V. Chung
- Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing – A. Moorjani
- Life is a Verb: 37 days to Wake Up, Be Mindful and Live Intentionally – P. Digh
- The King’s Speech – M. Logue
- Man’s Search for Meaning – V. Frankl
- You Can Heal Your Life – L. Hay
- Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence – S.Young
- A Thousand Names for Joy – B. Katie
- In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving – L Touhy et al.
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Joy Quotation of the Month
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at time of challenge and controversy.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Spread the Joy
If you know of others who might enjoy receiving this JoyMail along with 31 Days of Joy Quotations, please forward on this email and invite them to sign up at beginwithjoy.com. It's free and there are no strings - just some joy.
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Learn more about Linda and her coaching services at www.beginwithjoy.com
Find previous issues of JOYmail here.
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