How you feeling Dear Soul?
So often like automated answering machines we say “good” without really taking account for the true state of our feeling field. So, I invite you to tune in, take a deep breath and assess how you feel in this present moment.
Of course I hope that you feel as joyful as the 6 year old me pictured above. Dad snapped this shot as Mommy proudly looked on in the background with baby Bro somewhere near her hip. Dressed in abunda bright colors and standing tall amongst my peers, I'm shining a full snagga tooth smile as my Jones Elementary kindergarten classmates prepared to hop in the limo for lunch at Mickie Ds.
Students from each grade were rewarded with the limo ride due to our perfect attendance during the school year. There were alot of firsts that year. It was Ms. Ashley's first time teaching, my first year in elementary school, and the first time I would hop in a limo to get lunch with my friends.
In that season of my life, joy was sustained by the love of my beautiful family, my school house adventures and my outdoor play and imaginings. Those who know me can attest that my smile certainly has endured and though I have had a few fill ins here and there I am proud to have graduated up and out of snagga tooth territory.
As soon as I look at this image, I can tell that I am in joy and it brings me to a reflection on all that I have learned about joy as I have hula hooped around the sun into adulthood. I reflect on how secure I felt to explore territory outside of my Momma and Daddy's cozy home base and how each time since the 90s that I have, I am always encouraged to enjoy myself. This brings me to reflect on the fact that as a big kid in this thing we called life, joy is truly and inside job and it is my full time occupation to keep and maintain joy in and for myself.
Granted I have stumbled, and cried, and dropped my joy abunda times since this photo was taken. Yet as I look at Baby Tea today I can say that our inner joy remains. The key difference is that I sustain it through my inner walk rather than solely through external connections and experiences. It's not easy and sure sometimes I scrape my knee and drop the ball but overall I'm IN JOY yall.
As I reflect over the years, I find that my joy is deeply fortified by my union with the Most High. Sure I don't always feel supported but if I take the time to breathe, and allow my emotions to be encouraged by God's word, I find that the circumstances no matter the form have nothing on my conviction to injoy the consciousness of what many call, the Christ.
I don't know where you may be in your feels today dear soul. Life be lifing and sometimes she deals us a card or two or three that are painful to process. I encourage you to keep your S.M.I.L.E. ( Savor My Intimate Life Experience) Remember that the healing for the pain is not in avoiding it but facing it and tending to the unique need for Remedy it presents. If you are anything like me sometimes the mind can get ahead of you and jump on a thought train that brings you deeper and deeper into feelings of sadness, shame, inadequacy, doubt, guilt all usually with a large side of anxiety.
Today I want to share one of my favorite scriptures from the Holy Bible as a remedy I often use to discipline my thoughts and feelings when I meet challenging life crossroads.
Instead of allowing our thoughts to run where ever pain influences them to go. I encourage you to breathe and apply the guidance that Apostle Paul is putting us on with Phillipians 4:8.
Now, I always include my name in the reading this to really allow the medicine to work its magic. I encourage you to do the same, in fact I challenge you to read this passage to yourself once a day and take inventory of your thoughts and how you feel as a result.
Finally, Temakha, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Remember Dear Soul how we think is directly connected to how we feel. It is my prayer that no matter the challenge, you come to think of the truths that reel you in to the full injoyment of you and your unique life garden. ✨️