How Jonathan Got His Joy Back
I think I forgot, somewhere between the spring of 2020 and now, how to have fun
and it has left me feeling untethered. When I cast my mind back, it feels like having joy in my life was as effortless as breathing. And now I kind of can’t remember how to do it. I've been feeling a little stuck, so I've come up with a shortlist of 5 ways I'm going to try and reconnect to joyfulness and groundedness. Join me--you can borrow from my list or make your own.
Usually, physical yoga practice helps me feel grounded. I teach many group classes and private lessons, but I've slid off the mat, so to speak, with my practice. So as we move into the cooler weather months, I will reignite my yoga practice and commit to taking a class once a week, rotating among my favorite teachers. Hope to see you there, too!
Second, I have begun writing morning pages again. If you don’t know what this is, it's a daily exercise from The Artist's Way where you write three pages (longhand) a notebook every morning. Check it out here and if you’d like to join me, give a holler; it’s fun to have partners in this project.
Third, I’m going to Hawaii to go sailing with my boyfriend for a few weeks. Pandemic life took away our ability to look forward to things, so it feels nice to have this on the horizon in November. An excursion like this might feel wildly out of reach for you, but here's an opportunity to get creative about planning some kind of adventure in your future that you can look forward to.
Fourth, I’m going to the gym. I have a lot of anxiety about going to the gym, and all those reasons can live in a separate blog post. Right now, I want to kick that anxiety off its perch, so I've decided to face my fear head-on and conquer it.
And fifth, I’m doing to find joy in my life again is to unpack my art studio and begin making paintings and other art. Creative expression has always grounded me because it’s fundamental to who I am. Last year when everything slid sideways, I let my art-making slide away, too. Time to reconnect: I take great joy in setting up my studio, and as much as I do making paintings, I can't wait to get my hands dirty!
What are the things you'd put on a list to keep your joy strong and your groundedness front and center? Share your ideas, and let's march through pandemic winter #2 together!