How to Make More Joy this Season

Welcome to the third week of Advent. This week the focus is on the gift of Joy. It seems to be a buzzword these days. Everybody is looking for more joy but most don't know where to find it. News flash - Joy comes from God! Joy is an inner delight that springs up like a fountain of fresh water despite our circumstances. Let's take a minute and go back to that heavenly night long ago.....

Let's Go Back a Moment 

The shepherds are going about their business of tending their sheep in the dark of the night. When lo and behold, a star appears in the sky and soon angels appear and begin heralding the news of the birth of the Messiah. Imagine the great JOY they must have felt! Intrigued, they follow the star to the place where Mary had just given birth. How do you feel when you see a newborn baby? Imagine if you knew it was the Son of God. 

Back to the Present

The holidays are upon us. Are you feeling it yet? I know the year has been a rough one for several reasons, so this week I am hoping to help you cook up some joy this season. 

We're supposed to be filled with joy but -- sometimes -- joy is hard to come by. Lots of things can try and steal our joy, if we let them: a strained relationship, an illness, a job loss. The list is endless. So today, in this third week of Advent, I am here to cheer you up and help you cook up some joy in your life.

Food and festivities are plentiful this time of year and everyone has a favorite dish or recipe they look forward to. I love hearing what different cultures do for the holidays.  An Italian neighbor of mine makes 500 homemade ravioli every year for her extended family. My oldest loves stromboli and Caesar salad. Greeks make powdered sugar cookies with a clove in the middle. Americans love their eggnog and pecan pie.

Today I'd like to share with you a favorite recipe of mine. I found it in a very old "cook" book known as the Bible. All the ingredients for a happy, healthy, and successful life can be found within its pages.

So if you'd like to cook up some joy this season, follow this simple recipe:

1. Remember you are a unique and one of a kind individual. There is no one else on earth like you and God adores you! (Ps. 139:14)
2. Add a touch of kindness towards others.  This helps us get out of our self-absorbed world and into someone else's shoes. (See Eph. 4:32)
3. Add a hefty dose of prayer to cover everything that is on your mind.(Phil. 4:6)
4. Remove any seeds of worry, fear, negativity, anger, or unforgiveness.(Eph. 4:31) 
5. Stir in positive thoughts about what is true, lovely, noble, pure and helpful.

(See Phil. 4:8)
6. Mix well until you feel peace simmering within.(See John 14:27)
7. Wait for joy to bubble up. True joy is a gift from God and when we are at living at peace with ourselves and God, joy bubbles up like a fountain. (See Romans 15:13)
8. Sprinkle generously with thanksgiving. Be thankful for your many blessings and then turn around and serve a blessing to others. (Phillipians 4:)

No one has a perfect life. It may look like they do from their Facebook or TikTok posts but everyone is fighting some kind of battle. However, we can choose joy despite our circumstances. If you are reading this, chances are you have a roof over your head, a decent income, and plenty of food on your table. That is a lot to be joyful about.

For Reflection 

Joy is the third gift of Christmas. Are you feeling joyful these days? If not, what is stealing your joy? Can you look at things from a different perspective? There is always another way to see things. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my FREE eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path ." 

Give this recipe a try and watch joy bubble up in you! 

Stay tuned for more on healing, wholeness, and harmony to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny.

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Keep Hope Alive During the Holidays

Do you look forward to the holidays? Or do you wish you could pull the covers over your head and wake up when they are all over? Not to fret! I have learned the trick to enjoying the holidays, no matter what is going on in my life, who is with me or not with me, whether I have money or am on a tight leash, and I am sharing it with you this month in our new holiday series. 

 

The First Week of Advent

This is the first week of Advent and I want to help us focus on something that will keep us going all through the year whatever it may bring and that is the first gift of Christmas, which is the gift of HOPE.

In case you might not know, Advent means "coming" or "arrival". It is a time of expectation, anticipation, and preparation leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ. The Advent wreath is made up of evergreens to remind us that even though we may be in a season of winter where things seem dead and we don't see any growth happening, new life will come again.  It is a time to focus on the true gifts of Christmas which do not come in a nicely decorated box. Instead they came in a manger with straw, hay, and farm animals. Can you picture the scene?

How do we keep hope alive during the tough times? 

When people mistreat us or leave us? When the world feels unjust, unfair and scary? When life hasn't panned out the way we would have liked? When events of the world have taken a turn? When inflation threatens our very existence and our families?

Biblical Story 
Let's look at the example of the young girl named Mary, who was probably no more than 13 or 14 years old. The angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and told her she was going to be with child without having known a man. Now, these days unwed mothers are a regular occurrence, but not in those days. In those days, being pregnant outside of marriage was a huge sin and a crime punishable by being stoned to death. But what was Mary's response? 

"Let it be done unto me according to your word."

Mary's response was not one of fear or anxiety. It was one of willingness, trust, and surrender. She submitted her life and her will for God's purposes no matter what the cost. She was willing to endure the shame of being an unwed mother and possible death by stoning to be obedient to God. Mary had no idea of the pain and suffering she would endure to bring the Christ child into this world. Mary had received the first gift of Christmas - HOPE. 

The Source of Hope 
Mary's hope was in God and in His great love for her. For this same reason, we, too, can have hope this holiday season. When we are secure in the knowledge of God's immeasurable and unfailing love or us, no matter what comes our way, good or bad, we can rest in God's promise to always be with us and to never forsake us, no matter who else does.  And what better partner to have in life than the Lord God Almighty?

God is Always With You and Me
Jesus is also called Emmanuel, which means "God with us". God promises to be with us, particularly during the tough times. One of my favorite verses is Ps. 34:18 which says: "God is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." We all get down at times, but it is in these tough times, that the Lord is closest to us. He is always drawing us to him, if only we listen to that still small voice. 

The Future is Brighter after the Darkness 

Like Mary, sometimes we don't know what the future holds, but we can hold fast to the One who does because God is faithful. One of my favorite verses from the Bible is John 1:5 "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never put it out." Keep your eyes on the light. 

When we look at our lives through our spiritual glasses and through the lens of faith, it is possible to maintain hope even when things look dark and desperate. When plan A has failed, God always has Plan B. Sometimes God doesn't give us what we think we want. He gives us something BETTER! 

As we enter this Advent season, let's choose to focus on the gifts of the season, rather than what may be missing or not so perfect in our lives. Above all, let's trust God. His timing is perfect and he is working ALL things out for our good, even if we don't see it at the moment. God's ways are higher than our ways, and God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. 

For Reflection 

What are your hopes this holiday season? What is the longing of your heart? Whatever it is, give it to the Lord, and trust that He will surround you with His amazing love this season. His gifts are for every child of His and that means each and every one of us. When all else fades, Jesus is still there to light our way. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12). Choose to walk in the light this holiday season. 

If this post has encouraged you, join our community to receive my weekly posts. You'll also receive my free ebook entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". All you have to do is enter your email address in the box provided. While you're at it, pass it on. Someone you know may need a little hope this season. 

Need a gift? Consider giving a copy of my inspirational true story, "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony" available on Amazon and your favorite online booksellers. Audio version is now available on Google play. Or my latest book on spiritual growth entitled "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth" also available at your favorite online bookseller. 

For all kinds of interesting tips and info from exercise and diet, to mindfulness and meditation to the benefits of tea, pop on over to my Pinterest page at https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/boards/ 

Stay tuned for more encouraging and uplifting posts this month to help you enjoy this season.

Until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How Faith is Good for your Joy and Your Brain

It's Thanksgiving week and we have much to be thankful for. I am thankful for you who are reading this now. I am thankful for technology, for faith, and for a good mind to be able to write this blog. I hope you find it beneficial. 

Difficulties are part and parcel of life and I want to remind us that it is in these difficult times that what we believe - our worldview - is crucial to how we get through the tough times and how we will emerge. 

Stressed out? Cynical? Dwelling on the negative? Or do you instead look for the silver lining in every difficult situation? Every challenge provides a lesson to learn. I have learned that "It's all gift", good or bad. 

Brain Science and Psychology 

I find an interesting correlation between psychology, brain science, and what the Bible teaches. Brain science is evolving and we are learning that we do, in fact, have some control over how we perceive the world. It has to do with what types of thoughts we think on a daily basis. And this is exactly what the Bible teaches, "think on things that are lovely,  pure, noble, excellent of good report". (Phil 4:8 - 9). 

"Hardwiring Happiness" is a book by neuropsychologist and best selling author, Rick Hanson, PhD, and the gist of it is to focus on the good, to take it in, and absorb it more. This is because the human brain is hard-wired since caveman times to focus on the negatives since it was a matter of survival way back then. With each thought we train our brains to be more either more positive or more negative. With every negative thought, we are programming our brains to continue to see and focus on the negative. But there is another way that has been written about for over 2,000 years. 

The Faith Component 

The key to positive outcomes in our lives is not simply based on our thoughts or our intentions, but also by utilizing the power of FAITH - believing in and trusting in a supernatural, all-powerful being who is able to move the mountains we cannot move. We've all encountered situations that are beyond our abilities to conquer and this is where the power of FAITH comes in. 

Faith and the belief in a loving and caring God gives us strength to persevere and carry on no matter how bad things seem at the time. Faith is both a gift and a choice and it is in the tough times that our faith is tested. It is in times of trials that we need something greater than ourselves to put our hopes in. I am a living testimony of how Faith can bring us out of even the worst of storms. 

Personal Story 

Read my inspiring true story of being raised in a dysfunctional family, leaving an emotionally damaging marriage, an ugly divorce, financial ruin and then raising two wounded kids and watching them struggle with addictions and overcoming all of it by the power of Faith.  "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness and harmony"  will encourage and inspire you. Learn how I was transformed from a shy, timid, anxious girl to a woman of faith, confidence, and strength all by the power and grace of God. 

What do you put your hope in, friend? Your job? Your family? Your health? Your 401k? Your smarts? All of these can disappear in an instant  - just look at the story of Job - but faith in God is constant and eternal because God is constant and eternal. 

In fact, Scripture says God rewards those who seek him. Did you get that? REWARDS! I'm up for that. How about you? 

See the Good. 

Instead of dwelling on what is wrong with our life or our world, try focusing on what's right with it. I don't mean being a polyanna because we do need to know what is going on in the world, but we don't have to absorb it or talk about it 24 - 7. Often we take for granted the many gifts we have been blessed with: gifts of freedom, of sight, our abilities to walk, run, cook, dance, be with loved ones and friends, travel and enjoy our children and grand-children. These are all gifts from God. One thing I hope the pandemic taught us was to appreciate all of these more and not take life for granted. 

Let's also remember the Pilgrims who left bondage in England and courageously ventured across the ocean to come to a strange new land and start life afresh and anew. 

Let us do that this season. Let us leave behind us any bondage that keeps us from moving forward and enjoying a life of abundance, peace, and joy. Let us dream a new dream and leave behind any negativity and instead embrace faith, hope, and love. 

Thankful for YOU!

I am thankful for each of you reading and commenting on my blog posts. I am thankful for the gift of faith and the opportunity to write this blog as a way of encouraging and inspiring others. We are all on a journey and I am grateful that you have chosen to travel this journey with me.

Look around you this morning. What do you see? I see the glorious colors of the fall leaves, the sunshine streaming thru my windows, I feel the quiet presence of the Lord after another busy week. The whistle of my new dryer telling me my clothes are dry. The sound of the heat coming from my furnace to keep me warm. Many people struggle simply trying to obtain the basics. I bet if you look around you will notice the same types of things. Truly God is gracious to us!

Let's also make time to reach out, encourage, and bless some who is less fortunate. Donate to a food bank. Take food to an ailing neighbor. Invite a single person over for dinner. We are blessed to be a blessing.

For Reflection
What can you be thankful for this season? What can you do to be a blessing to someone else? Won't you take time today to offer up praise to God, the giver of all good gifts? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 exhorts us to give thanks. "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

I wish you and yours a healthy, happy, and harmonious Thanksgiving so until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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3 Ways to Empower Your Life

Transformation. We've been talking about walking in faith for a few weeks now. What do you want to transform your life? Your relationships? Your future? Your body? This week I'm sharing a powerful technique you can implement today to help you walk in faith and see your life transformed. I'm talking about the power of your WORDS. 

Words are powerful. We know that. They can lift us up or tear us down. They can motivate and push us forward in life. We must be selective - say "Selective" - in the words and thoughts we use to ourselves and to others. I trust that my words encourage and inspire you. So today we'll be taking a look at 3 ways our words can empower us and give us focus so that we can walk in instead of fear . 

                          

1. Combat negativity and doubt
There is so much negativity that comes at us in this world. Negative relatives. Negative news. Negative thoughts. It's a battle - for sure - to stay positive. It is especially important to think on positive thoughts when we are going thru a tough time. When we lose a job. When we get sick. When a loved one leaves. This is when our spiritual practice - our Faith - pays off because life isn't always a bed of roses. 

Thoughts will always come. Who knows where they come from but it is our WORDS that are make the difference. This is why it is so important to speak out words of faith and hope and encouragement. This is what faith is all about - speaking out what we do not see. "I will be healed", "I will be successful". "I will get through this." "I will rejoice and be glad." "Today is a gift." These thoughts will guide our thoughts and our steps forward. 

2. Have a Vision
We must have a vision for our lives. Someone once said "If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there." We must be intentional in our choices. We don't have to have it all planned out but we do need a vision. 

I want a family. I want to be healed. I want to earn a good income. I want to serve others. The Words says that "He will give you the desires of your heart." What is the desire of your heart, dear one? Are you focused on your past or on your future? I believe each day is a gift from God to fulfill the plan he has for us for good and not for evil. Ask yourself "Who can I be a blessing to today?" God will bless us when we take the focus off of ourselves and bless others. 

3. Be Intentional

We must be intentional with our words. Yes, it takes effort, but if we want to move forward and see our family move forward we have to be intentional in building each other up. I used to tell my son "You can be anything you want to be. You can be the President of the United States if you want to." I was trying to give him a vision for his life, to inspire and encourage him since his dad was never around to do so. 

As we age, it is even more important to have goals and a vision. Some call it purpose. I call it destiny. I don't want to look back on my life and ask did my life really matter? Sure, I was successful. I raised two sons as a single parent. I got a masters degree while going thru a separation and divorce. I endured a stressful career for 33 yrs. I overcame numerous health issues by the grace of God, but writing these blogs posts to encourage others and share what I have learned about the power of Faith is what is really important to me today. My spiritual gift is the gift of Faith which is the foundation of my life. This blog is part of my legacy.

Someone once told me "If you encourage one person, you will have done your job." My goal is to inspire you to develop the power of Faith in YOUR OWN life because life is tough and we need supernatural power to overcome life's challenges.  

For Reflection

What words are you speaking to and about yourself? Others? Are they positive and faith-filled? This week try and catch what you are saying about yourself and maybe, put a positive spin on it. You are rewiring your brain at the same time which is good news. 

If you enjoyed this post, consider joining our community by entering your email in the box above. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". Check out my offerings on Pinterest and my newest book on spiritual growth, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth",  available at your favorite online bookstore and thru my website. Simply email me at arielpaz08@gmail.com and I'll get it right out to you!

Stay tuned for part two on this topic next week to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep smiling and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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6 Easy Ways to Get Your Joy Back - Part 2

"How am I feeling this morning?" This is a good question to ask ourselves before we start our day. "Am I feeling joyful?" If we don't mindfully check in with ourselves we'll go around feeling blah and we'll turn to distractions, alcohol, shopping or some other addictive behavior to make us feel better. If we aren't feeling the joy of the Lord, something is wrong so what to do about it? This week I'm sharing 3 more steps to getting our joy back. 

How high is your joy meter today? High, low, or medium? Things can happen in a minute that can steal our joy, which is where mindfulness and faith come in. It's a question of being aware of when something irritates us and then making a mindful decision whether we are going to let it get to us. 

Joy flows in and through us on a daily basis but we must make a conscious decision to keep our joy and not get aggravated at every little thing: the elderly mom, the rebellious kids, the traffic, the boss, the list is endless. 

Today I am sharing the next 3 tips as promised. If you missed the first 3 tips for getting your joy back, here is the post again. 

                                               

Tip #4: Pay attention to your thoughts. 

Here's a quick mindfulness practice I do every morning to get in the right frame of mind. As soon as my eyes open, I declare this verse - out loud:  "This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps. 118:24). Notice the emphasis on the words "I will". This indicates I am making a conscious DECISION to be joyful. We must be deliberate about our frame of mind, if we want to stay joyful on a daily basis and into our later years. 

Do you find yourself dwelling on the same issue or person for days or nights on end? Picture a car stuck in a ditch with the wheels whirling and whirling. This is what our minds are doing when we ruminate or over-think and it is a joy-stealer. When we spin our mental wheels trying to figure something out or solve a problem that has no solution, this burns us out mentally and energetically. It can also cause headaches and migraines. I know this from first-hand experience. 

How to Avoid Overthinking
There are two ways to get out of the overthinking cycle. 

1) decide on an action to take in the moment. Taking some type of action takes the pressure off and makes us feel less out of control of the situation. 

2) realize we are overthinking something and decide to put the issue on the back burner till we get clarity. This takes the pressure off and I'm all about taking the pressure off. 

I know this is tough, but we are not in control of the when the answers will come.  We need to learn to trust in God to reveal them in HIS timing, not ours. It's another opportunity to practice letting go.

Exercise Your Faith

Another example I had to deal with last year was what to do about my 94 yr old mother who fractured her back. Without going into all the details, there were a lot of factors to consider, as anyone who has elderly parents knows. I assured my sister and my mother, who were both freaking out, that we would figure it out slowly. I kept saying "Let's stay in today" to calm them down.

Actually, I am pretty proud of myself that I did stay so composed and in the moment and did not freak out. I trusted that God would show us the way and he did. She went to rehab which she hated and then I found her an assisted living facility that served her chocolate cake the first day she got there. Her comment was "I should have done this years ago." It is in these types of critical, stressful situations that Faith and a spiritual practice pays off, friends. A spiritual practice helps us to not freak out when uncertainty hits and answers are complicated because we have a God who cares. 

Practice Mindfulness Daily
The natural state of our mind is to be peaceful but there are so many things to worry/stress/think about in every day life. Scripture exhorts us to "take every thought captive" (2 Cor 10:5). This means to pay attention to what we're thinking about. Our thoughts can take us down the proverbial rabbit hole if we don't learn how to be mindful and take control of them.   

The good news is practicing mindfulness helps us to be more aware of our thoughts and our emotions. We need to catch ourselves ruminating or dwelling on negative topics and bring ourselves back to the present moment, the here and now, because that is where JOY is found. Joy is not found in yesterday or tomorrow, folks. By practicing spiritual techniques (Check out my new ebook, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth), slowly, the grooves in our brains will be rewired and we will have better thinking patterns over time.

No matter what thoughts pop into my head, I remind myself of the truths I believe in. "Lord, I know you see this situation. It might not look good to me right now, but your word says you work all things out for my good. I will take responsibility for my thoughts, decisions, and actions. I will stay in peace and trust you to guide me. I will rejoice and be glad today. I will take care of myself and set firm boundaries. Thank you, Lord." This helps strengthen my spiritual muscle and keeps my peace and joy. 

Tip #5: Have some fun. 
As a single parent of two growing boys for many years combined with a full-time career plus grad school, it was hard to find time to have fun. Even now as an older single lady with few friends, it is hard to find time to have fun. Now I will admit having fun has changed over the years. I used to love to go ballroom dancing, or any kind of dancing for that matter. Now fun is enjoying the pool, working on my blog or my lettering, making a good dinner. Fun is something you choose to do that is pleasurable that keeps you in the present moment. What do you like to do for fun these days?

Keep Play in the Picture 
No matter how busy we might be, however, play is vital to our well-being. (See #5 in my recent book "Take Back Your Life". )  Some of us, including me, are so responsible, we have to schedule downtime and play into our to-do lists. As I write this I am thinking when was the last time I played...does watching a soccer game fall into the play category? I think so. 

Others play too much and neglect their responsibilities as well as their health. We need to find balance in our daily lives if we want to keep our joy. Having fun makes room for joy to pop back up because it lets the pressure out of the pot. 

What do you like to do? What takes your mind off your problems and brings you into the present moment? Choose a healthy activity that will restore and energize you, instead of depleting you or taking you out of the present moment like watching the boob tube or playing video games. Something out of doors is always good this time of year.  Walking is a great way to let go of stress and get a bit of exercise and fresh air. Team up with a friend or loved one if you can. Or maybe go for a bike ride, or do some gardening. Even a half hour will do you a world of good and help you clear your mind and reconnect with your joy.  

Tip #6: Let go of control. 
We all like to be in control. My issue stems from being raised in a chaotic home, where everything was out of control, but most of us want to be "in control" to some degree. The truth is there are only a handful of things that are truly under our control. Much of life - aka other people - are not and the sooner we come to understand this, the more peace and less stress we will have.  

Do what you can to attend to any given situation (if you need to) and then give it to God. Notice we have a part in fixing our problems. We can't just throw up our hands and say "Well, God will take care of it." When we do what we can, God will do what we can't. This is where faith, patience and obedience come in. 

If you want more peace in your daily life, learn how and when to let go. I talk about all the ins and outs of letting go of control in my new book, "Ignite the Power Within." Letting go is a spiritual practice and if you don't know what it is, how it applies to your life, or how to do it, I encourage you to order my new book and learn more today.

So there you have my 6 tips to getting your joy back.  
We all go through difficult situations and I'm certainly not minimizing what you or I are going through right now, but I have learned that stuff will ALWAYS keep coming at us. As author, Sonia Choquette says in her book "Soul Lessons and Soul Purpose", "We are souls on a journey to heal, grow and evolve and these trials are our tests to pass".  It is up to us to decide how each situation will affect us and how we will respond to it. The quicker we can let go of unhappy, negative thoughts, the more we can enjoy each day.

Reflection:
How about you? Is there something or someone stealing your joy right now? Are you feeling overwhelmed with all your responsibilities? What changes do you need to make to have more peace and joy? Don't let the challenges of life steal either one. Make a decision to let go of control and enjoy each day for the gift it is. That's why they call it "the present".

If this article was helpful and you'd like to join our community and receive my weekly posts, enter your email address in the box provided. As a thank you, I'll send you my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

For more tips and info on a wide-variety of topics, pop on over to Pinterest to check out my collection on health and wellness, fashion, recipes, exercise and diet, and so much more. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/pins/

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny! 

Until next time, keep smiling and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

 

6 Easy Ways to Get Your Joy Back - Part 1

We all have tough days, weeks, sometimes months. Job stress, no time to exercise, family responsibilities or perhaps a run in with a loved one can all cause us to lose our peace and our joy. I can relate. So many things can happen in the course of any given day that can steal our joy, if we allow them to. It is important to be mindful of how and what we are feeling in the present moment and then take constructive steps to deal with the issue so we can get our joy back. 

We are meant to live vibrant, joyful, energetic lives, no matter what age we are. Now that is not fantasy nor is it unrealistic. Sure, we all have down days, but the key is to have less of them. So this week, I'm sharing the first 3 out of 6 strategies I use to maintain my joy but first, a recent personal anecdote you may relate to and how I handled it. 

Personal Story:  

So I did not hear from my son over the Easter holiday. Not a card, not a phone call. Not even a text message. I was disappointed and hurt and I felt it. It was a choice to say nothing or to say something. So rather than stew for days, I decided to email him (a non-invasive method) and express my feelings. He has a lot going on right now and apologized. He also thanked me for sharing my feelings. Wow.

This courageous act of sending an honest email opened up the lines of communication. And my joy returned! I don't like feeling upset or angry at someone so I try my best to clear the air as soon as possible. The Bible says "Do not let the sun go down on your anger." (Eph 4:26 - 32)

Awareness is Key 

Most people are not aware of how their actions - or non-action - may hurt you. They are too wrapped up in their own lives and problems to think about you. It is up to us to let people know how we are feeling. People are not mind-readers so don't expect them to be. It is up to us to teach people how we want to be treated. If the other person cares about you, honest communication will get the issue out in the open and help clear the air. 

The key is to be more aware of what things are stressing us out and do something about them before we go Kaboom or take it out on other people! Anger management - or the lack thereof - is a huge problem in our world today. Just watch the evening news.  

So here are the first 3 tips on how to try to keep our joy on an everyday basis:

1. Realize you have lost your joy. 
If we're not careful we can become glum and not even realize it. Look in the mirror. Are you smiling? Humming? Or am I ruminating on some situation or person? Am I staying in too much? Sleeping too much? Lack energy? We can get so bogged down by the trials of life, we lose our joy, often without realizing it. The question is - are any of these things worth losing my joy over and the answer is NO! 

"But, you don't know what I'm dealing with," some retort. No, I don't but we are all fighting our own battles, no matter what they may be and we are each responsible for managing our own stress levels. 

If you find yourself constantly dumping your woes on others, blaming loved ones, or always finding fault and complaining, you might want to consider getting counseling.  Better Help is an online counseling service you might want to look into to help you through a rough patch. 

2. Step away from the stress.
When we realize we are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it's time to break the stress cycle and get away mentally. If possible, put some distance between you and the situation or the other person. Agree to take a time-out temporarily. Focus on yourself rather than the frustrating situation. Get a workout in, listen to music, make a nice dinner, get together with friends. Do something that puts you in the "zone". These all help to let the steam out of the pot and give you a break from dealing with the situation or person until emotions have cooled and you are in a better place.

I've learned that when other people are stressed they often take it out on an innocent bystander (usually the person closest to them) and it is best to set a boundary - sooner rather than later - with them to protect our peace and our mental and physical health. I'm still getting practice at this one with my youngest son who pushes my boundaries constantly. 

3. Make time for self-care. 
Self-care is not selfish, I don't care what anyone says. If we don't take good care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually, we are less able mentally and emotionally to deal with others. We have to start with a full bucket. Take a hot Epsom salts bath or go to a steam room or sauna.  Give yourself some quiet time. Polish your nails, gals. Get some exercise and get moving - go for a run, a walk, a bike ride or a swim. Guys, get thee to the gym, go for a bike ride, or hit the golf course.

Exercise moves negative energy out of your body. 

When the pressures and problems of the world crowd in on us, it's time to get alone and get the energy moving out of our bodies,  clear our minds, and then we will be able to listen to that still small voice that gives us guidance when we need it.  

Reflection:

Is there some situation or someone stealing your joy? Can you implement one or more of these tips to feel more joyful today? What can you do to process your emotions and let off steam? 

If this post was helpful and you'd like to join our community and receive my weekly encouraging posts, enter your email address in the box provided. As a thank you, I'll send you my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

For more tips and info on a wide-variety of topics, pop on over to Pinterest to check out my collection of pins on blog posts, health and wellness, recipes, exercise and diet, and so much more. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/pins/

Stay tuned for the next post in this series when I share the next 3 tips to getting your joy back. Let's help each other ignite the power within!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

This material is copyrighted.

4 Practical Ways to Have More Joy

There's a lot going on in our lives and in the world that can steal our peace and our joy, like family, work, health issues, the economy, you name it. There is, however, one thing we can do to stay positive and that is what we will talk about in this week's post. But first let's take a look at the brain. 

The Brain's Negativity Bias 

Did you know our brains have a bias for negativity? This means we naturally pay more attention to negative thoughts, emotions, and events. We bring up the negative past. We worry about "what could happen" in the future. We dredge up unhappy past events and relive them in the present moment stealing our joy and our peace yet again. This bias explains why news coverage is predominantly negative. The media uses this psychological tendency to grasp and focus our attention. It's like a sabotage of our minds and we need to be on guard against it. 

What to Do

Now I am not saying ignore the events of the world or don't watch the news, although some people choose to do just that. What I am saying is that we must realize the impact of the world and the media on our thoughts, emotions and actions. This all means we have to make a conscious effort to keep a positive mental attitude. It is another area where mindfulness can serve us. For a better understanding of how the brain works, some examples of negative bias, and some interesting TEDTalks, check out this link. 

The good news is there are some things we can do to fight against this overwhelming negativity to keep our peace and our joy.

                                    

                                    

                                

Here are 4 tips to help you develop an attitude of gratitude:

1. Appreciate the Every Day Stuff 

Often we take for granted so many things like being able to go out to dinner with friends or family, our water supply, full grocery aisles, our sight, our health, our bodies, even our jobs. My hope is that the pandemic helped us all become more grateful for the every day stuff we usually take for granted. 

I did a guided gratitude meditation this morning and it was so uplifting. The leader reminded us to be grateful for our food and the people who grow it, for our grocery stores, for all the people who work to support us in life. 

Personally

I am thankful that the sun was shining through my windows when I woke up this morning. I am thankful my body is feeling good enough to get back to Pilates classes. I am thankful I am able to write these blog posts so I can be of service to others.

I am thankful for the ability to cook and make nice meals. (Shameless plug for my Mediterranean cookbook :) I am thankful I could afford to replace my 20+ year old HVAC system this week. I am thankful my son moved back to Maryland after 12 years in Texas. Are there tough things in life? For sure. But the trick is what we focus on. 

2. Start a Gratitude Tradition 

There are many ways to become more conscious of our blessings. One is gratitude traditions. 

A tradition I started at my house many years ago was to put out a small basket with a pad of paper and a pen next to it on the first of November. The basket is known as the "Blessing Basket". Each day in the month of November, each member of the household and whoever comes into my home that day is asked to write down one thing for which they are grateful for and put it in the basket. I like to see how people have to stop and think before they find something to write down. 

It can be anything, but the idea is to become more aware of the many blessings we each have on a daily basis. Then on Thanksgiving Day, we read all the slips of paper. They are anonymous of course, but it makes us realize how truly we are blessed despite the challenges we are all going through. 

In our house, there are always one or two blessings that make everyone laugh. One year, my youngest son wrote "I am thankful for pressure or I wouldn't get anything done." Now there's a different perspective. 

                        
                   

3. Appreciate Others
Everyone wants to be appreciated and valued. Too often we take people for granted - our parents, our spouse, our friends, the people who serve us. Take time to tell someone how much you appreciate them today. Make someone feel valued. Thank people for the little things. When we are thankful, we show God we appreciate the blessings and people we have been given and we open the door for more abundance to flow to us. 

A simple complement may turn someone's day around. We never know what people are going through. I make a habit of complementing men on their ties or shirt. I notice when someone has been working out or got a new haircut. I complement women on their hair, their outfit, their nails. I thank the customer service rep no matter if they have been helpful or not. I try to give a bigger tip than is required. When I see a smile on someone's face, I know I have been successful in lifting them up and that increases not only their joy level, but mine as well.  

My latest thing is to not leave someone upset or down. This is not an easy thing to do especially when they or a situation has caused me a lot of aggravation but what good is it to leave someone on a bad note? If the conversation goes south or if I have to bring up a sensitive subject, I try to add an upnote by thanking them, making a joke, or somehow turning to a more positive topic. I get off the phone feeling good about myself as a human being who has not caused another human being to suffer. 

4. Recognize Your Blessings 
It's easy to take people and things for granted. We get used to having them around, having food in the grocery store aisles, being free to travel, but when a crisis such as the pandemic or some other crisis hits, it gets our attention. As in the case of the pandemic, we no longer had the ability or the freedom to get together with family, travel, or find full grocery aisles.  Let's not forget the lesson that crisis taught us. 

These days we are fighting inflation and speaking of groceries, everything has gone up, including gas, eggs, rent, and the price of a haircut. Life has its challenges, that is for sure and it is up to us to decide what we will focus on - the positives or the negatives. If we want to remain joyful, we will choose the former. 

It is a choice we have every moment of every day. Abraham Lincoln once said "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." 

Most of all, I am thankful for the love, grace, and constant mercy of God. He has brought me through so much and so I am devoting the rest of my life to sharing that love, grace, and mercy with you through this blog and writing books. 

For Reflection

What everyday things are you thankful for? By taking note of them on a daily basis, we train our brains and our neural pathways slowly but surely to dwell more on our blessings instead of our woes. A positive focus also helps alleviate anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Remember - what you focus on gets magnified. 

If you want to feel more joy on a daily basis, here are some tips to help you get started. Every night before going to bed, name 3 things you are grateful for. I say them out loud or write them in my journal. Gratitude increases your energy and your joy so start and end each day by giving thanks for something or someone in your life. 

When we learn to develop an "attitude of gratitude", our outlook on life changes and we are better able to handle the difficult circumstances of life when they arise. This is why the Apostle Paul encourages us "In all things, give thanks" (1 Thess 5:18). There is always a silver lining to life's challenges. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided to the right. You will also receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".  Also, check out my newest ebook, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth". In it I share ten steps that will help you grow spiritually, become more mindful, and have more peace and joy. Do leave a review when you're done and pass it on to a friend. 

Until next time, remember: you are blessed to be a blessing.

As always,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

This material is copyrighted. 

6 Ways to Stay Positive in a Negative World - Part 2

Joy. It's a commodity we all want more of, yes? Joy gives us energy. It lifts our spirits and it helps us enjoy life more. Last week I shared three tips on how to have more joy and stay positive on a regular basis. This week I'm sharing the next three tips, since I am trying to make these posts shorter because I know you are a busy person, but want to make your spiritual growth a priority. 

                                       

4. Refuse to Dwell on Negative Situations
As I mentioned last week, when we rehash negative situations especially from the past, we steal the joy from the present moment. Often, we rehash these events in our minds as well as to others. Don't let this be you. The Bible exhorts us to "set our minds on things above" (Col 3:1). For more on how to do this, click here.  This is why mindfulness is so important. We have to "take every thought captive" (2 Cor 10:5). Mindfulness helps us to be more conscious of our thoughts and by making a conscious choice to think on things above, we can stay positive and joyful rather than allowing daily events and other people's problems and circumstances to drag us down and steal our energy. 

5. Put Things in Perspective
A phrase from Al-Anon that I find helpful is to ask myself the question, "How important is it?" Most of the stuff that annoys us on a daily basis is pretty trivial in the big scheme of things, isn't it? It helps to put difficult situations into perspective. As I say in my book, "The Power of Faith", there is always another way to view the negative circumstances of life. I choose to look at them as stepping stones to my growth and to my destiny. When things go awry, I ask myself this question "What can I learn from this?" Things like family conflict and big things like the pandemic and the stock market, which are out of our control, all have lessons to teach us. The question is will we make time to figure out what that lesson is?

Life will always have positives and negatives. It's up to us which we will focus on. We can choose to focus on the good things that happen to us during the course of the day or the bad things. It is a choice we all have to make, whether we realize it or not. What we focus on determines the level of joy in our lives because negative thoughts suck our energy.

6. Do Something Fun
Now remember fun is different from joy. Fun refers to something external. Joy is internal. As a single parent and the oldest child of an alcoholic, I have always been very responsible. Okay, I admit it - too responsible. I have felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders most of my life. I'm realizing that the weight of the world can only rest on God's shoulders; mine are far too weak to bear so much. It is important to have a healthy balance between responsibility and fun. When we feel like we have lost our joy, it's time to go out and do something fun to clear the path for joy to flow. 

Personal Story 
I like to dance. Years ago, someone once told me it is a joy to watch me dance. I thought that was such a nice complement. Dancing not only brings me joy but it brings other people joy as well. It's a win-win scenario.  When the beat of the music is so exhilarating I can't help but move and I guess my joy emanates out to others. 

For Reflection 

What do you like to do for fun? What steals your joy? What situation do you need to let go of to have more peace? Do leave a comment and let us know. 

If you enjoyed this post, consider joining our community by entering your email in the box above. You'll receive my weekly newsletter plus a copy of my NEW and FREE e-guide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice".  To further your spiritual growth, check out my collection of books here. 

Stay tuned for for more tips on staying positive and faith-filled so you can discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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