J is for Joy Is Here on Day 10 of the #AtoZChallenge and I am delighted to welcome my dear friend Joy Holland of Facets Of Joy. Joy has a habit of weaving magic with words. Her gentle presence inspires positivity. I confess that when I read what she writes, soothing background music combined with the sound of waves starts playing in my head as a perfect accompaniment to give the overall feeling of a mini-vacation. My heart knows that Joy is here.
I’ve known Joy for quite some time now and I’ve had the honor of collaborating with her on some of her projects:
Ecourse: Illuminate Your Heart Whispers: 30 Days of Love Prompts
Ebooks: Pearls of Peace, Cultivating your voice, A Power Prism
Joy has a knack for asking the most amazing questions, and finding the answers opens your heart and mind. I am thrilled that Joy is here today, because J would not be perfect without Joy.
Welcome, dearest Joy ♥!
Joy is a Soul Smile
by
Joy Holland
There is something within you, just begging to be felt and shared:
Your heart smile.
Your heart smiles, effortlessly, when you open your eyes, your heart, your being, to the beauty, the light, the brilliance filling the moment that you are currently in. From this space, heart overflows with love and gratitude, naturally, as you feel utmost appreciation for the gift of this moment, as it is, as you are.
This joy dissolves barriers, amplifying the feel of abundance. Without changing external, you feel inner peace and contentment.
When heart smiles, world responds joyfully.
When you choose to share this heart smile, you are choosing to affirm all that is enriching and enlivening with World.
There are myriad ways of sharing a heart smile—from a simple sparkle in your eyes as you make eye contact with others while moving through world to a complex creative expression showcasing your unique talents and skills.
You certainly don’t have to share your heart smile, your joy, but you might find it great fun to do so because World responds so generously to a smile. When you share joy, the moment expands to include delightful surprise, in ways beyond what you could have imagined or asked for. The idea of infinite possibility feels very real as you experience it in ‘every day life’.
If mind says, but I cannot see beauty, light, brilliance, in this moment, I fully understand. When mind says “but”, that is a clear sign of resistance to something unfamiliar and simply reflects to us a space that has become so familiar we are accustomed to being in, and feeling, it a certain way.
You can certainly continue moving in this manner and that is perfectly okay.
My intention is to invite you to feel the joy of your heart smile —a choice that is available each moment.
What if you truly wish to feel your heart smile, this abundant joy, but the moment is full of “stuff” and it has been a long time since you’ve had the urge to smile, let alone share it. Maybe you think this is not possible for you.
May I share this truth with you from my own life: joy is innate, free-flowing, available each moment we choose to tap into it. It is not removed as discipline, nor with-held until we earn it, it is an energy that is available this moment, when we open to feel it. (Just like love.)
Perhaps you might try the following exercise:
- Simply stop, right where you are, and close your eyes. Then, take one full breath.
- As you breathe in, think of the gift of life. You are alive, this moment. Right now. Right here.
- As you breathe out, think: thank you for the gift of breath, for my ability to breathe, for the feel of breath enlivening my being. As I am. Right now. Thank you.
- Slowly open your eyes.
This is the feel of pure joy.
Thank you for sharing a moment of joy with me—I very much appreciate your presence. May you continue to feel this joy as you move through World, creating and connecting!
Much peace and abundant love,
Joy
(*grin* my real name, a gift I have learned to celebrate and appreciate!)
Thank you, Joy ♥
Joy Holland is an Intuitive Empath, Energy and Clarity Facilitator who shares the gift of presence to magnify your inner brilliance. Joy is the founder of Facets of Joy.com – a community where exploration is encouraged and heart whispers are affirmed and supported. Connect with Joy on Facebook and Twitter
Pre-register for a discount of 20% before April 13, 2013 for Joy’s 30-day self study ecourse “I Believe in Magic” through which we cultivate, create, and share our perspective on various themes.
This session will run from April 29 – May 28, 2013.
My haiku for Joy:
Dream walks by the shore
Ocean waves drenching my feet
An eternal joy.
*****
♥ Today, I recommend ♥
To all my South Indian Friends, Happy Ugadi (New Year)!
you have packed so much joy in that post !!!
Yup! 😀 I’ve also got the Jungle Babbler in it! Happy day to you, Dhiren!
Happy Ugadi and Happy Gudi Padwa to you 😀 😀
Wish you a happy Ugadi too dear Vidya! And a pleasure to read Joy and also to reinforce joy in our lives.
Thank you, dearest Rachna! Joy is indeed a “joy” to know!
Wonderful sentiment; Joy is indeed in every moment! Thanks, Joy and Vidya!
Thank you, Roshni! Joy is in all the little things!
Festive greetings vidya- you express so well I say ; love
Thank you, Priya! Hugs!
I love the introduce people in your blogs and recommend others posts !! It simply is a joy moment
Keep smiling 🙂
Thanks, Afshan! I enjoy doing it!
Joy is in the simple pleasures of life ! Happy Ugadi Vidya !
Yes, Ruchira! It is the little things that make up the big ones! Thanks!
Joy is a soul smile – perfectly summed up. Loved your haiku too.
Thank you, Suzy!
The exercise truly represents that joy is not in things; it is in us. 🙂
Yes, Shilpa! That’s the truth! I loved your list of joys today!
I meant I love the way u introduce 🙂
happy ugadi
🙂 I got that, Afshan! Hugs!
joy is innate, free-flowing, available each moment we choose to tap into it. It is not removed as discipline, nor with-held until we earn it, it is an energy that is available this moment, when we open to feel it.
I should print thiis out! Thank you for sharing it…
I am usually blown away with Joy’s writing, Meena! 🙂 So happy you enjoyed this post!
The way to feel joy lies inside us…And Happy Ugadi to you as well 🙂
Thank you, Nibedita! Happy Ugadi!
You have surrounded yourself with such Joy Vidya that you so very easily surround our lives too with pure joy.
Thank you, Preetilata! I am salivating at the mention of Jim Morrison in your J post! Heading over now! 🙂
Hi Joy (it’s nice to see you), Hi Vidya,
I think you’ve had a great head-start in life with such a wonderful name. Hearing someone call you must be like a charge – “Joy!” A reminder of who you are! Imagine; everytime you arrive in a place someone can say, “Joy is here!”
Thanks Vidya for introducing me to another happy blogger.
Lori
Dearest Lori! Joy .. is an absolutely joy to have as a friend. I will always remember the first time we skyped – what we planned as a few minutes just to listen to each other’s voice turned into hours of laughter.
Yes, I always imagine that about Joy – she arrives…and everyone says Joy is here! That thought gave me the idea for the title of this post!
Hugs! I am blessed to know you both!
A very happy Ugadi to you and your family. Loved the Joy in your post today.
Thank you, and the same to you and your family, Sulekha! Glad you’re here today!
A lovely post Vidya . Thanks for sharing Joy with us readers on Ugadi Day. Happy Ugadi to you too.
So lovely to see you, Pattu! Happy Ugadi to you. Ah, Hyderabad during Ugadi brings wonderful memories!
Beautiful, joyous post! The “heart smiles”. I LOVE that. Hadn’t ever thought of it in those terms. Now I shall think of it daily. Thank you both! May your days be blessed and joyful!
Terri dearest, my heart smiles when I think of you! Hugs!
Thanks to J, there’s so much joy around. Touched by your post. Happy Ugadi to you too 🙂
Thanks Nandana! Your J post title reminds me of a lovely old song!
Oh, which one is it?
Bill Withers’ “Just the two of us” – listen here: http://youtu.be/jEy6MGu3bIA
That song has great memories for me! 😀
Good one, nice music
All good I hope 😛
Oh absolutely.
Nice 🙂
‘heart smile –a choice that is available each moment.’
This is so true and as I read this Joy my heart smiles. Joy is there for the taking and the exercise you give does work. As you breathe, just think of the power of that breathe and what it does for your body.
Thank you for the smile.
Hugs, Debbie. I knew you’d love this post!
Love it…thanks so much for sharing Joy and Joy with us! Blessings Vidya!
Shannon at I Survived and Now I Run
Thank you, Shannon. Love!
A most Joy-Full post! Cheers! Kaarina
Ah yes, Kaarina! I am getting closer to Joy…and counting the days! 😀 Hugs!
So many JOY posts today…there is something in joy. Isn’t it?
Janu, (J!) Joy is everywhere! 🙂
That was a complete Joy to read. Happy Ugadi and Happy Gudi Padwa. i liked the style of your blog.
Hi Yamini! So happy you are here! I was blown away by your blog today!
Thank you Vidya. You are so kind. As I am a new blogger I get so much encouragement when I receive comments like yours. I still have a lot to learn and I guess I found a friend in you that can guide me. Loved your blog style; it’s like opening an album and clicking on pics that catches interest.
Thank you, Yamini! Blogging is a rewarding activity, building relationships and connections are priceless bonuses. Happy to support you in any way!
Filled with joy even as I read this …joy is a word that occupies so little space …yet it has the power to transform a frown into a smile…big hugs to you dear Vidya
What a beautiful perspective on Joy from your blogger friend. And what an apt name she has.
I find your words alive with honesty 🙂 Your endorsements compete with the works you endorse. I am sure you are a cherished friend to many. Glad to have crossed paths with you Vidya. Kudos – Laxmi
Soul smiles – what a lovely phrase. Will be thinking of it through the day, Joy.
Thanks for having Joy over, Vidya.
Thank you Vidya – and thank you Joy!!! What a wonderful way to celebrate joy together!!! Joy is that place in my heart that beats to its own drum! xo
Hi Vidya, I love Joy! Thank you for sharing her with everyone!
Huge hugs to you, Jean! Thank you for your presence here today!
…ah the pure *Joy* of being encircled by a Hoola Hoop and dear friends along the seaside.
…my heart is deeply touched
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Rand, I am overjoyed to see you here! Hugs! yes, Joy is Pure Joy indeed!
Joy lies in mindfulness. very well said, Vidya.
Damyanti @Daily(w)rite
Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
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