Buttercup Flower Legend

My cat, JOY snuggled up next to me in my bed as I settled down to take a mid-afternoon nap. I felt joy in my heart. Joy is a deep feeling of contentment within and it is at the core of everyone. It is the peaceful and serene center of Being from which we create every moment as a celebration of love, harmony and fulfillment.

When I am in the present moment, I feel joy - a carefree feeling and knowingness that all is well on the spiritual level. It is difficult to be in the present moment when my mind jumps to the future or the past, therefore missing the joy that it holds. When I am centered in the moment, I am grateful, calm, peaceful and protected.

There are so many things that bring me joy- holding a newborn baby, watching children play, planting flowers in my garden, dancing, sitting at the ocean watching the waves go in and out, spending time with family and friends, helping someone in need, being loved unconditionally, taking time for prayer and meditation.

How do we lose our joy or give it away? It is a choice. We are responsible for our own happiness and joy. We lose our joy when we:

&bull- Compare ourselves to others &bull- Complain and blame others for our problems &bull- Beat up on ourselves and don't feel good enough &bull- Do not trust a power greater than ourselves to help us &bull- See ourselves as victims and have a "poor me" mentality &bull- Hold onto resentment and are unable to forgive ourselves or others &bull- Believe there is lack and scarcity &bull- Obsess and worry about the future or the past &bull- Try to please everyone at the expense of ourselves &bull- Фокус on what's missing rather than be grateful now

Where does joy come from? I believe it comes from within. When we are connected to our Source, the God within, we experience joy. When we are connected to others, serving others, we experience joy. When we give, without any expectations in return we experience joy.

Most recently, I experienced joy when I "got out of my own way" and reached out to another who was in need. My two sons and grandchildren live out of state. My parents are both deceased and I don't have any siblings or family in the area. I felt lonely and felt sorry for myself on Easter Sunday. As I was driving home from my friend Carol's house, I decided to buy a plant for a woman in a nursing home that I had just met at Christmas. Mary told me that she was all alone and didn't have any friends or relatives in the area. She had a stroke a year ago that paralyzed her and she couldn't walk anymore.

When I walked into the nursing home on Easter Sunday, I found Mary sitting in her wheelchair with the other residents at the nurse's station who didn't have any visitors. They weren't talking to one another, just kind of staring into space.

I didn't know if Mary would remember me from Christmas, but she did. She smiled and reached out for my хэнд. I remarked what a beautiful day it was outside. She told me that she didn't have anyone to take her outside to get fresh air because the nurses were too busy to take her out.

Her face lit up like a Christmas tree when I asked her if she would like me to take her outside and wheel her around the nursing home. After checking with the head nurse, off we went. As we sat outside with the sun beating down on our faces, she apologized for being so emotional. "I have been here over a year and this is the first time I have been outside." We sat and talked for awhile. She told me her life story and the tragedies she experienced. When it was time to leave, I bent down and kissed and told her I would be back.

A simple act of giving and thinking of another cured my loneliness and I experienced a deep sense of joy. There is more joy in giving than in receiving. We all have the capacity to give and love more- a smile at a stranger, calling a friend, offering to help someone we don't know. Look for opportunities to increase your joy by being present to yourself and giving to others. Rather than remaining hostage to life's changes and challenges, expect joy to flow to you and it will.

Pat Hastings, MS, LCDP, is the author of the award winning book Simply a Woman of Faith (2007), an internationally recognized Inspirational Speaker, Spiritual Coach, Workshop Leader and Radio Talk Show Host. As a Coach, Pat is passionate about helping women conquer their fear, believe in themselves and deepen their spirituality by connecting with the Spirit within. Pat's professional and spiritual background has equipped her to facilitate spiritual transformation in all women, no matter what their spiritual beliefs. Her message of love, hope, and transformation is universal. For all women who seek to be free of the holds of the past, and want to step into their power and potential, Pat provides powerful guidance and wisdom. Pat received her Master's degree at Springfield College in Massachusetts, and is a licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor for over twenty years. She completed two years at the Spiritual Life Center in RI.

In her book, Pat chronicles her journey to find self love, forgiveness and transformation by deepening her faith in God. She shares how she navigated through the loss of both of her parents, abuse, losing her home and business, surviving a divorce and rebuilding her life, by learning how to trust in the love of the Divine and God's ability to provide for her every need. She overcomes her fears and doubts by putting her trust in God and His ability to provide her with signs to guide her.

For more information on spiritual coaching in person or by phone, call for an appointment at 401-521-6783. She offers a FREE 30 minutes consultation to discuss how Spiritual Coaching can benefit you.

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