Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Following your Urge to Joy



I've been noodling around a bit. The first one is sort of a SoulCollage card. The others are done in a watercolor notebook that I'm using for a bit of an art/spirit journal.

When happiness first came to me, it was because I stopped searching for it in others or in things. I stopped searching and became quiet. It was then that joy came to me and filled me up.

My life then became wonderful.

We sometimes are raised thinking that we don't deserve happiness. Christians particularly have a tendency to teach this undeserving nature in humans.

The truth is that humans are an expression of the divine. The Creator chooses to express itself through us. How is it, then, that we can be undeserving of good things? How is it, then, that we can be undeserving of happiness and joy? We are part of the Divine! The Infinite is part of us! We are One.

When we realize that we deserve joy, then we can be receptive to it. When we become receptive, it becomes ours.

Once it becomes ours, we realize that there is no limit. There is no joy cut-off. There is no happiness quotient. It is infinite.

We must choose to accept this unlimited joy every day.

We can have the life we want.

We can't wait until we have the life we want to be happy.

We must first realize that joy resides within us. We must accept it. Then the life we want will come to us.

It sounds so simple.

Only because it is.

I love you, my friends.

9 comments:

violette said...

Wow Lisa......i needed to read this today! Such a lovely post my friend!

Glad you are happy. You deserve many many blessings!

Love Violette

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

"The great teachings unanimously emphasize that all the peace, wisdom, and joy in the universe are already within us; we don't have to gain, develop, or attain them. We're like a child standing in a beautiful park with his eyes shut tight. We don't need to imagine trees, flowers, deer, birds, and sky; we merely need to open our eyes and realize what is already here, who we really are -- as soon as we quit pretending we're small or unholy" - author unknown

You opened your eyes....and oh what joy you was there!

Much love,
Lisa
XOXOXOXOXO

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

was = saw (I must have typed dyslexic) ;)

Cheryl Finley said...

Lisa,
This is simply beautiful! Our Spirit and Soul are ecstatic when we say yes to Joy...and let it have it's way with us. I'm thrilled and joyful at your joy and happiness!

And, what a nice surprise to see that you stopped by my Acres of Diamonds post this morning. Hearing from you always brings a smile my face, and heart.

Love and joy to you, my friend.

Anonymous said...

Ohhhh Lisa! These are sooo beautiful! Outstanding work! Right from the soul as well! I love them!
*HUGS*

J C said...

You are loved too, Lisa. Thanks for this wonderful post.

Pear tree cottage! said...

Lisa, your post has so much hope and feeling in it and soooooooo! much love!

Wonderful
Lee-ann

Miss Robyn said...

lovely, lovely, lovely xoxo

Artsy Craftery Design Studio said...

Preach, girlfriend!!! I really enjoyed this and I agree with you. I remember those sour-faced Christians from my youth, who wanted everyone else to be sour-faced. Thank God for joy and happiness! And thank God for your uplifting post.