It’s all about joy!

I’ve been more in touch with my feelings lately and enjoying greater awareness of my body’s built-in warning system that serves to keep me on course. I’ve noticed that when I’m doing things that are in alignment with who I am and what’s important to me, I feel mentally, physically and emotionally fantastic. When I’m out of synch with what’s important to me, on the other hand, I feel that, also, but it’s usually in a much different way.

Last week, I did something that my conscious mind told me could be fine, but that my gut suspected might go against who I am at this point in my life. It wasn’t anything huge, and I was able to rationalize that I could make this event anything I wanted it to be. Deep within me, though, I was apprehensive. My subconscious sent up little smoke signals to get my attention, begging me to call off what I was about to do. I ignored them and went through with it anyway. Two hours after doing said thing, I developed a horrendous migraine and my body began shutting down in a bizarre way. Why? I believe it’s because I was acting in conflict with my true nature. Therefore, as a way of expressing the inner conflict, my gut turned its apprehensions into a physical manifestation to let me know in no uncertain terms that I’d crossed a line.

Yet again, a few days later, I was heading into a situation that my instincts told me was not in alignment with who I am, but that I was obligated to carry out for professional reasons. True to form, because I could not avoid the situation and would have to go through with it, my body did the only thing it knew how. It tried to get my attention and potentially protect me by rebelling via migraine.

In the first example, my body’s insurgence came after the fact, as if to remind me that when I go against what my gut’s saying, I can’t avoid the repercussions. In the second example, my gut instincts turned into fierce physical resistance beforehand, urging me to be on high alert for what was to come and possibly trying to save me from it altogether (after all, if I’m too sick to attend something that’s not in my highest good, maybe I won’t have to deal with it ever!).

Those two examples have driven home something that I only just started embracing in the past few years: ultimately, I can’t deny my true nature. Who I am - my goals and what I believe in - will always be what feels “right” to me, and everything else will somehow erode my person, be it mentally, emotionally or physically. On top of that, my gut instinct serves as a situational guru, of sorts, warning me when I’m about to veer off-course or head into murky waters.

I wrote about this from a difference perspective last Fall. My discovery in Joy in (and Gratitude for) Migraines included realizing that my migraines serve me, so rather than reject them I need to rejoice in what they offer. In Joy in Seeing a Purpose in Pain, I discussed the need to investigate, rather than mask, pain because, again, it always has a message for us.

While very few people enjoy pain in and of itself, the role it plays in our lives as messenger and protector is something to be honored. I’m certainly learning to honor - and find joy - in mine.

Listening to Wayne Dyer the other day, I was reminded that whatever we’re for strengthens us, and whatever we’re against weakens us. I needed to hear that again, because there are times when I fall into the all-consuming trap of what I’m against. It could be things like:

• a negative coworker
• the gossipy woman in yoga
• a loud critic
• the god-forsaken heat
• eating too much or eating for the wrong reasons
• not exercising (especially when I think I “should”)
• feeling tired
• political nonsense

You get the idea. Anyway, sometimes it happens so subtly that I don’t even realize I’m slipping into the “what I’m against” mode. Other times, it’s obvious to me and everyone I’m with.

Regardless, from a power perspective, it’s important to remember to stay in the “what I’m for” mode because that’s when I’m the strongest and can affect the most positive change in my life - to bring about more of what I want and less of what I don’t.

It’s an easy switch, too. I simply turn around the things that torque me and think of their opposites, or better yet, I affirm my ideal scenario. Using my list from above, it could be that I’m for things like:

• positive people and peace
• truthfulness and the Buddhist concept of “right speech”
• supporters and encouraging people
• mild summer weather
• keeping my body healthy and eating only what I need to stay nourished and strong
• being active and having a strong, vital body that can do anything I want it to
• feeling well rested and vibrant
• global harmony

Whatever I’m for strengthens me, and whatever I’m against weakens me.

So, what are you for?

“A major rule you forgot, Roles. Every game we play, we slip into a role, a game identity with which to play. We decide we’re rescuer, victim, leader-with-all-the-answers, follower-without-a-clue, bright, brave, honorable, crafty, dull, helpless, just-trying-to-get-along, diabolical, easygoing, pitiable, earnest, careless, salt-of-the-earth, puppet master, comic, hero… we choose our role by whim and destiny, and we can change it anytime we want.”

– Richard Bach, Running from Safety: An Adventure of the Spirit