What was your pandemic ritual?

Did you create a new ritual or activity during the pandemic that has now become part of your daily routine?  Is it something that has elevated you?  Hope so. Mine has.

In the early days of the pandemic, my son and I created a morning ritual that I’m happy to say continues to this day.  Since we knew we wouldn’t be able to see each other in person for a while, he called me each morning on his way to work.

In the first few weeks it was merely a way to stay connected to each other on a more regular basis.  But it soon morphed into something much more meaningful.  In many ways it helped to shift our energy away from thoughts of fear and anxiety and towards peace and promise instead.  This is how it began.

Once we said good morning, we each asked the other “what is your gratitude for today”.  Sometimes it was as simple as the sun shining or the smell of the morning.  Other times it was deeper and required a few seconds of contemplation. And after a few months, we added an evening call that included “tell me one good thing that happened today.”  

But the additional question we added to the ending of our morning call relates to the subject of this month’s joy habit.  The question is “What is your purpose today?”

That simple question has helped my son and I crystalize the intentions we set for how our day will unfold by keeping our attention focused rather than being distracted by external pressures.  And living on purpose we feel a greater sense of fulfillment at the end of each day.  But purpose is just part of the equation.

I believe that living on purpose is the process of fulfilling the mission that you chose for yourself before you were born.  Your mission is the overarching calling that pulls you towards certain vocations or ways of being.  It’s the “why” behind your actions as you demonstrate purpose on a daily basis.

As Wayne Dyer puts it, “Your call to purpose isn’t necessarily about performing a specific task or being in a certain occupation.  It’s about sharing yourself in a creative, loving way using the skills and interests that are inherently part of you.”

But for some people, it can take years before they are able to connect the dots and remember the mission they chose before arriving.  And when that happens it can become frustrating and even extremely stressful not living in alignment with their true calling.

In Maslow’s book, Toward a Psychology of Being, he says that beyond security, shelter, and self-esteem, we all have a need for a deeper life purpose and to activate it.  When we don’t, we become depressed, alienated, ill, violent, or succumb to many forms of addiction.

If you’re unsure of your mission, it helps to remember Mark Nepo’s words from his book, The Book of Awakening, “It takes six million grains of pollen to seed one peony, and salmon need a lifetime of swimming to find their way home, so we mustn’t be alarmed or discouraged when it takes us years to find love or years to understand our calling in life.’’

Here’s an exercise you can try if you’re struggling to remember your mission.  It’s from Chapter 30 Be on Purpose from my book Being Joy™.  

It’s called THINK BIGGER!

 

If money or your present circumstances were not an issue, what would you most want to do?

What’s been calling you?

What’s the first thing that comes to mind?

Write it down.

Now, get out of your mind and into your heart and describe the reason why you want to do this?

Describe it in as much detail as you can.

Who will you help?

How would your life be different?

Now list the actions you could take to move closer to the fulfillment of your purpose.

 The desire is there for a reason.

The Universe is simply responding to your heart’s whisper.

 Believe.

 

I hope you will adopt your own daily ritual of gratitude and purpose.  Trust me, when you shift your focus onto how to serve the world, you will be living more fully in the frequency of joy energy which in turn radiates out to everyone and everything around you.  In fact, it’s your greatest gift to the world.

Love from your Joy Mama,

P.S.    If you haven’t already read my book Being Joy™, it’s a simple 40-day practice of replacing old self-defeating beliefs with new empowering joy habits. As your vibrational frequency increases, you’ll not only experience more joy, but you’ll also be a beacon of hope for others who have forgotten their own joy.  Please join me on this important mission by ordering your copy today!

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Image courtesy of Pixabay.