Creating Our Lives

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Joy Matters

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““We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” ”
— Joseph Campbell

At times like these, it might be easy to tune into the external happenings and lose sight of the power we have to turn up the light we carry within. It is our choice to experience and create joy, even in the face of world events.

We don’t have to wait for joy to find us. Joy is something we can create for ourselves.

Why Joy Matters
Choosing joy has nothing to do with denying the chaos, struggles, and difficulties that fill the news. It is a process for shoring up our mental health, and strengthening our ability to establish greater creativity, resilience, and connection in our lives. Studies have shown that joy can:

Reduce stress and increase overall well-being. A joyful mindset helps to balance our emotions and lighten the pressure we carry.

Spark creativity. The more we engage in joyful activities, the more open we become to new ideas and inspiration.


Deepen our relationships. Joy is contagious. Our joyful demeanor effects those around us, supporting our connections with others.


Improve physical health. It’s likely to be no surprise, that joy has been linked to lowering blood pressure, strengthening the immune system, and even increasing life expectancy.

In essence, joy is a powerful force… a supportive choice.

7 Methods of Creating More Joy in Your Life

Here are just some of the simple ways for infusing your life with more joy:

1. Be Present in the Moment.
Joy isn’t experienced in the past or the future. It is felt in the here and now. Take a deep breath, observe your surroundings, and take in this present moment.

2. Play with Your Creativity.
When was the last time you created something just for the fun of it? Any form of creative expression opens the door to joy… whether it’s painting, writing, dancing, or doodling.

3. Cultivate Gratitude.
Grateful people have an overall higher level of happiness and satisfaction with their lives. They are more easily able to keep the “ups and downs” of life in perspective and look at the good, even during difficult times. (shared from 2014 Post)

4. Move Your Body.
Go for a walk. Stretch. Connect with your body through dance or yoga. Movement helps to release any tension you might be holding and brings in a greater lightness of being.

5. Connect with Others.
A shared laugh, a heartfelt conversation, or even a simple smile can not only brighten up your day, but that of others as well.

6. Surround Yourself with Beauty.
What do you find uplifting in your environment? Choose the art, music, colors, and textures that light you up. Tune into the way you feel in your space, and in the beauty of places you choose to spend time.

7. Give Joy to Others.
One of the most joy filled ways of creating joy, for yourself and for others, is to give it. A kind word, a statement of appreciation, a thoughtful gesture, or an unexpected act of kindness creates ripples of happiness.

So, what brings you joy? How might you create more moments of joy in your life?

You may also be interested in:

Creating JOY: a 30 Day Challenge
JOY is Contagious: Some Simple Moments

Joy is Contagious - Some Simple Moments

Our expressions of joy are more powerful than we realize. Joy is expansive and cannot be contained to a single individual. Expressions of joy are shared whether there is direct or indirect connection with others. Joy is carried out into the world as vibrations of positive energy.

Simple moments have the power to touch our lives, for a day or even a lifetime. One of the most common of these is the joy experienced when coming face to face with someone whose warm and genuine smile lights you up. It can happen at any time, anywhere. When your smile meets theirs, there is a genuine connection that may only last for a fleeting moment but you get to carry it with you into your day.

And how often do you find yourself engaged in brief interludes with people you happen to encounter when out and about? Those passing conversations, while waiting on the grocery checkout line, on the treadmill at the gym, or while walking downtown, are simple moments that may impact our lives and lighten our days.

Catching a Tune: One morning, as I walked from the subway to work, on the streets of NYC, I passed a man who was humming a melody. We were both walking quickly, as people do in New York, in the opposite direction from one another. I knew that tune. It was from Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. So I picked up the tune and carried it with me as I continued to the office humming the rest of the way. As I walked, I wondered how many people may have been effected by hearing my humming that morning and how many had picked it up as well, touching others with music before beginning their work day. I may have had many mornings of walking from the E Train to 57th and Madison Avenue but that is the only one that has stayed with me through the years. And I still feel a zing of joy when I am reminded of it. 

Impact of Laughter: Just recently. I was driving home and stopped at a red light. Suddenly I heard a man laughing. I smiled at the sound. Moments later I heard it again. It was coming from a nearby pickup truck with an open window. I smiled again and this time I smiled the rest of the way home… and i am smiling now at the memory of that experience.

So, how might you be impacting others with your expressions of joy? And how are you impacted by the joy of others? I believe that creating more joy in our lives, even when unseen, has a positive impact on a world that could really use it.

You have the power to spread JOY wherever you go.

You may also be interested in:

Creating JOY: a 30 Day Challenge
JOY Matters: 7 Ways to Create More Joy in Your Life

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Creating Joy - a 30 Day Challenge

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Joy is a powerful byproduct of the process of expressing our creativity and also, in creating what we want in our lives. I experience the joy of creating with words, paint, photos, food, and my imagination. I am also aware of the continuous process of creating my life... with life being the greatest canvas I have been given to work with. Each of us have that same invitation... to be an active participant in the creation of our lives.

Lately, it’s become way too easy to get caught up in the heaviness of the outside world. But in times like these, creating joy is something of a necessity for our health and wellbeing. What if, rather than feeling moved by external forces, we made a conscious effort to spend more time doing the things we love and creating opportunities to experience greater joy?

““Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.””
— Henri J.M. Nouwen

30 Days of Joy Challenge

The world can certainly use more joy. And it starts with each of us, creating it in our own lives.

I invite you to infuse your days with joy… for 30 days, one joyful act each day. It can be anything—big or small—something you enjoy, that lights you up, makes you smile, fills you with delight. Maybe even the same thing over multiple days. 

Just a few ideas: You might choose to draw, paint, play an instrument, take a walk, or hike, watch a sunset (or sunrise), dance around the house, run, sing, play a game, play with a dog, create something or anything, spend time with a friend, watch children play, read, or sit down quietly with a cup of tea.

And to get you started I have created two printable sheets… one to jot down some ideas of activities you enjoy, and the other to log your daily joyful experiences.

So… what brings you joy?

 Download the Joy Challenge Sheets
Or... just grab a notebook and start from there.
I’d love to hear if you decide to join in!
And feel free to share your experiences
of daily joy, by commenting on this post. 

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Beyond Labels: Embracing Your Identity as a Creator

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Have you ever stopped to consider how you define yourself, or how you would describe your identity? I have identified as an artist for more than five decades. However, I’ve been questioning the restrictions we place on ourselves with these self-definitions. Do our adopted labels hinder our progress while keeping us feeling comfortable, safe, and secure? Do they confine us to a past version of who we’ve been, while preventing exploration, growth, and the expansion we might experience?  

In the past year, I have stretched beyond my comfort zone to pursue what is now lighting me up. As a result, I have redefined myself as a creator—a broader term that encompasses a greater aspect of who I am. I have transitioned from solely identifying as an artist to embracing the essence of being a creator (or maybe more specifically, to just BEING). Creating is what I do. I express myself through paint, words, and the formation of images and ideas. And meanwhile, I am creating the life that I want. I see myself as a creative force, and you are too.

We are creative beings. It is our super power and we carry it with us through life. We can journey wherever we allow our imaginations to take us.

By adopting the mindset of a creator, we break free from the confines of labels and embrace our limitless potential. We step out of our comfort zones and explore new territories. We open ourselves up to growth and transformation. The title of creator empowers us to see beyond our perceived limitations and envision a future filled with endless possibilities.

I invite you to let go of the labels that confine you and allow yourself to be the creator that you are. Let your life be fueled by passion, inspiration, and the joy of bringing ideas to life.

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Gratitude in Advance

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When I work in the studio, gratitude is an integral part of the process. I am grateful for the time and opportunity to create, for the joy and energy that come with the creative process, and for the constant flow of inspiration. You can say that gratitude is deeply rooted in the creative process, beyond the studio to the process of creating my life. 

As my life unfolds, I find myself filled with gratitude. I witness the presence of moments that spark ideas and clarify next steps. I am grateful for the beauty of synchronicities that ignite my sense of wonder and provide me with greater trust and assurance that I’m moving in the right direction on my path.

And there is the power of expressing gratitude in advance for something that does not yet exist. I have discovered that giving thanks beforehand, with energy, enthusiasm, and excitement, becomes an incredible mindset tool. Creating a daily routine of gratitude, infused with the energy of positive emotions, is a highly supportive step towards bringing you closer to what you wish to create in your life. Here are some benefits of taking this step:

  • Increases confidence in the ability to create what you want.

  • Enables a greater sense of positivity throughout the creative process

  • Fosters greater optimism 

  • Helps to override negative self talk

  • Increases a sense of trust that everything will unfold for the best

  • Makes it easier to face and overcome roadblocks

  • Strengthens belief in yourself and in the process

  • Reinforces commitment to your chosen focus

  • Heightens awareness of the many supportive gifts that seem to magically appear along the way.

By expressing gratitude in advance, we tap into the power to shape our mindset. It plays a supportive role in the creation of what our soul desires and can be quite transformational in paving the way for greater fulfillment in life.

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Following Life’s Bread Crumbs

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Our lives are filled with a series of choices. Sometimes the next step appears so very fuzzy and unsure… whether to go this way or that. Then there are those fabulous moments of clarity, when we feel a clear and definitive YES. I like to think of those moments as bread crumbs, specifically placed along our life’s journey. When we follow the nudges of our heart we are opening ourselves up to the gifts that have been placed here for us. They move us forward with experiences, lessons, and often opportunities for personal growth, joy, and delight. When we act upon a “hell yes” feeling, it is like activating a stepping stone that helps carry us more directly down our individualized path.

We take those steps with trust, not knowing where they will lead, as we follow what feels right. A path lined with clear YES’ becomes an adventure having the power to light us up and fill us with exquisite energy. Oh, what a journey it can be when we connect to the longings of our soul and travel the path set before us. It’s like an amazing and scrumptious banquet laid out before us, even if we can only see one delight at a time. And once we have partaken of the dish before us, another one appears, as if we have been gifted with the next course to delight our tastebuds with joy.

There is something magical in living life by following the guidance of our soul. That guidance shows up as longings of the heart and can feel like taps on the shoulder, spirit nudges, and tugs. And little miracles begin to show up in our lives, but the breadcrumbs themselves can be seen as miracles in themselves.

Enjoy the journey of discovery in following the bread crumbs of your own life, one step at a time, one YES at a time.

You may also be interested in:

Pondering Change: in Life and Art