Unlocking the secrets to everyday JOY
Something’s been bubbling under here for a long time… and it’s about to explode.
On 20th December I fell down the stairs and broke my hand. Two days later a surgeon pinned the bones back together with a two inch plate. The following day I had laser eye surgery which meant I couldn’t see more than a blur out of my right eye.
The very next day was Christmas Eve.
Oh woe is me, right?
WRONG.
I’ve always been a positive person on the outside – full of energy and busyness. Heck, apart from my dance with post-natal depression I usually FEEL positive. But on the inside my glass is permanently half full. Negativity is my dialect, perfectionism my disease. I’m a strong, confident, capable woman, I know this. But these two traits cloud my everyday, skew my priorities, affect my most important relationships, stop me reaching my potential and distract me from the moments of joy in my blessed life.
And yes, I do know how blessed I am. I’m SO grateful for the amazing life I live, my gorgeous family, my supportive husband – the love of my life and my best friend – the chance to work doing what I love and to balance that with raising my incredible, beautiful children.
I know this in my heart.
But still the negativity persists.
It’s INGRAINED. It’s a habit.
It’s blocking me from experiencing the simple joy of everyday moments.
Over the past few weeks four books have come into my life. One was gifted to me by the amazing Renee at Mummy Tries, another by Alisa Frank, both to review on this blog. One was a gift from my sister, the last a gift to myself. I can’t wait to tell you about them over the coming weeks.
All these books have something in common – they have touched my heart and soul, they have galvanised me into action and set me on a journey.
A journey away from ingrained negativity.
A journey towards positivity.
A journey to everyday JOY.
It sounds hippy right? She’s lost her marbles, you whisper. Where’s the reviews, the giveaways, the FUN? Hey I used to read this kind of post and scoff a bit on the inside. But now I know that was my internal negativity poking me in the eye. The negativity that is trying to PROTECT me from joy.
Look, this is important. This is HUGE (for me at least). This is what really matters. Because JOY is scary.
Why? Because it can be taken away. And not having something at all sometimes seems better than having had it and then losing it.
As part of my plans for this year I joined Ruth at Dorky Mum, and others, and used Susannah Conway’s Unravelling the Year workbook to help me set a series of intentions for 2015. I’m still working through it but one part is complete – choosing a word for the year. A word that encapsulates all that I want to be and do and achieve.
I considered happy and positive but they didn’t make my heart leap. I needed a word that sang about deep happiness and contentment, the wonder in the everyday, bliss, pleasure and seeing the beauty and magic in the small things. I needed a word that spoke about feeling AMAZING, feeling blessed and most importantly both internalising and radiating those feelings.
The word I needed was JOY.
Even just typing it makes me grin.
And so I invite you to join me on my journey to joy this year. Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of fun and the odd poo story like this one, giveaways and reviews with the fantastic brands that I LOVE working with, my new fitness challenge – preparing for my first half marathon, eeek! – and a brand *NEW* linky to join in with that I’m super excited about.
So if you’d like to, come along with me. You don’t need to pack a bag, just an open mind.
And biscuits, always biscuits.
It’s going to be amazing.
Linking up with Share With Me at Let’s Talk Mommy, All About You at Mums Days and Mama and More, Brilliant Blog Posts at Honest Mum, Post Comment Love at Verily Victoria Vocalises
Love this commitment to joy-this year is about that for me too, finding joy and happiness in the every day which is what’s importance, being as kind as possible and as open as possible too. To not judge easily as we all do, to be more mindful and free up much more time for my family and I! #sharethejoylinky
HonestMum recently posted…Smoked Salmon Niçoise Salad Recipe
What a great promise and challenge. I am the same here. I should follow suit. It’s good to find joy. Joy is a great word! Thank you for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
jenny recently posted…A wigwam picnic ~ Sunday Photo
What a beautiful, upbeat post Michelle. You and I sound so similar. I really do look forward to sharing your journey with you over the coming year. I hope your hand is on the mend now. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo
x
Verily Victoria Vocalises recently posted…Silent Sunday and My Sunday Photo 11th January 2015
Wonderful post darling! Any project that is committed to joy and happiness can only be a fabulous thing in my book. Count me info the rider
I know you’ve seen it already but I can most definitely recommend the book, The Happiness Project. I think you will LOVE it. It really has changed my way of thinking and made me look at life and people differently.
So glad you’re feeling joyous about your new project and the forthcoming year! I can’t wait to hear more about it. Much love xxx
Katie / Pouting In Heels recently posted…Books that could change your life this year (quite possibly)
Oh I love that so many people are doing the Susannah Conway Unravelling journey. I’ve done it for the past 2 years and about to embark on it for a third. I’ve chosen BRAVE as my word for 2015. I love the excitement of a new year and look forward to what that means for me. I also look forward to finding out more about your coming year!
suzanne3childrenandit recently posted…Catching the Skiing Bug #Loudnproud
It is so important to be in the here and now, to find the joy in the most simple of things. Here’s to a joyful 2015! #Brillblogposts
Katy {What Katy Said} recently posted…My Captured Moment #01
I’ll come along with you on your joy journey! Renee’s book is fab- I bought a copy and have nearly finished it, really inspiring
I love the word ‘Joy’ and loved it so much that it’s one of Sasha’s middle names! Happy New Year to you, hope 2015 is fabulous and your hand is on the mend x
Becky | Spirited Puddle Jumper recently posted…On LOVING getting back to normal
Great post, look forward to sharing all your joy!
Emma recently posted…Free From Fridays 8th Jan
I love the idea of choosing joy. I’ve aiming for my 2015 to be a more mindful year and after reading this post, a more joyous one too. Thanks!
clementinebuttercup.blogspot.co.uk
Clementine Buttercup recently posted…
I was so happy to read this post – this week I’ve posted on the myth of perfection and motherhood and how 2015 is going to be all about finding joy!! There must be something in the water, as they say!
I really look forward to seeing how your year maps out and I look forward to reading some ‘joyful’ posts!
Happy New Year!
Xx
JoyandPops recently posted…Finding Joy In 2015
I think I have a fairly similar outlook to life as you… I can always appear quite jolly and positive but on the inside I can be quite a pessimistic soul. I, too, am changing my mindset, slowly and gradually. The first was starting the blog and 2015 is one where I push it, and go out and embrace all that is blogging and everything that’s good in life! Joy is such a great word. It’s making me smile now. Thanks for an inspirational post x
Ting at My Travel Monkey recently posted…A visit to Box Hill, Surrey
This is fab. I’m all about reaching out and grabbing the joy wherever you can because let’s face it – daily grind, daily news, all of it can wear you down to below ground if you let it. Have you read The Happiness Project? Was just reading about it on another blog and it’s one of my fave blogs to follow. Surround yourself with positive thoughts and positive people and this joy lark will be a walk in the park (and yes I’m a poet ha). Happy 2015!
Uju recently posted…15 Things to Look Forward to in London 2015!
I want to come with you Michelle – and my mind is officially open (or is it empty?!)! I love this post (I’m a huge self-improvement junky so never scoff at stuff like this!) and I can relate to soooo much that you talk about – perfectionism and negativity… I could get 100 things done in a day but still it wouldn’t be perfect. I really look forward to hearing more and to reading your reviews of Renee and Alica’s books. They’re added to my reading list.
Thanks for linking to #AllAboutYou and I’m also coming via #BrilliantBlogs! xxx
Hannah Mums’ Days recently posted…All About You – welcome to 2015!
Joy is a great word. I try to focus on positives more than look at the negatives, slowly I am getting better but it is definitely a learning curve!
rachelreallife recently posted…A New Normal
This post made me smile! Joy is a perfect word to focus on. I can focus far too much on negativity myself so am trying to be more positive and aware of what I have this year. Fab post to start my day smiling even though it’s raining xx
Potty Mouthed Mummy recently posted…Being the Me I Want To Be
I am so sorry to hear that you are having a bad time. But you know it’s always a silver lining isn’t it?Joy is a lovely word and I am sorry I didn’t think of it x
Hold in there you are wonderful!
I really enjoyed reading that thank you! It’s so true – you are the master of yourself and have choices. If something doesn’t suit so well and is making you unhappy then you can change it. If something appears bleak then you can choose to find the good in it or add more joy in your day in other ways to help improve the balance. I tell this to myself often!
International Elf Service recently posted…Disciplining Kids
This is lovely. I try to find at least one thing every day that I’ve taken pleasure in, even something simple like a hot chocolate, or seeing a pretty flower. I don’t think I’d get out of bed otherwise, honestly. ‘Joy’ is a beautiful word, full of promise xxx
Leigh – Headspace Perspective recently posted…It’s not OK to say it’s OK for me to not be OK, OK?
Utterly gorgeous hun, totally agree with you, it is so important to find the joy in things and it’s re-educating the mind isn’t it, to be kind to ourselves-I’m a big believer in using creativity and the mind as a muscle, to practice and exercise happiness and mindfulness and this is something I’ll be doing a lot more of too.
Christmas was a perfect time to reflect and contemplate when life wasn’t going at 100 miles per hour. I’ve changed my working structure, the projects I’m involved in-saying no to more and yes to ones I want to pursue and I’ve streamlined too-finding so much more quality time for my family and myself. So glad you are feeling good and here’s to a cracking 2015. Can’t wait to hear more about your linky too, mwah x
HonestMum recently posted…Gluten-Free Caramelised Onion and Goat’s Cheese Pizza
I hear you Michelle. We are so alike!! Loving your JOY and looking forward to reading about these books!! Well done you!
Karin xx
Karin Joyce recently posted…Make It Happen in 2015