Last Spring my friend Amy and I went to visit a mutual friend Swamiji (Swami Sadashiva Tirtha) as he performed music and spoke at a local Health food store in our area. We were sitting around talking and my friend Amy asked Swamiji WHY he wore orange every day. His smiling answer was, “Because it is such a simple thing to do that brings me joy. It is so important to find your joy and live it”. Then he turned to us and asked, “what brings YOU joy?” I immediately knew my answer was “dance” but the truth was I had not been dancing regularly in a few years – THIS was what made me change that and realize YES, we NEED to live our joy. Living our joy connects us with that deepest part within us, our soul and ease. Living our joy builds our self confidence and happiness. Living our joy confirms to our soul – YES I hear you, You ARE important and I am HAPPY to be celebrating you. So, what brings YOU joy? Are you doing it? It can be something you will bring to your life daily, weekly or WHENEVER that will fill your heart. I would like to tell you ways to tap into your joy and share how I make sure I am LIVING my joy every day.
Ways to Tap Into Your Joy
I would like to ask you to close your eyes for a minute — (not now – you gotta finish reading the instructions!) 
I would like you to think back on 3 times that you were smiling so wide and felt so happy that it almost seemed surreal – times when there was a real sense of peace. Times when there is no other way to describe it – you felt deep JOY. Maybe, like me; you were dancing, maybe you were laughing with friends, maybe you put your hair a new way or wore a specific color, maybe you were creating – whether it be doodling, writing, scrap-booking, taking photographs or WHATEVER that might be, maybe you were singing a favorite song top of your lungs in the car….. THAT EASE that you experienced was a connection to your soul and of REAL JOY.
List those things after taking a minute to think about them and ask yourself if you are doing them as much as you would like. Ask yourself HOW you could implement these more into your life. It need not TAKE over your life and be the focus — even introducing joyous moments into your life a little more can drastically change your state of mind and being. I use Swamiji’s question a LOT in looking at my own life. It has in fact CHANGED the way I look at life, at planning my week and has GREATLY increased the joy in my life.
In living your joy you are celebrating your experience here and now and are consciously telling yourself you are important enough to be happy and to FEEL JOY! Wow what a POWERFUL message that sends to our inner self! WHAT a sense of connectivity and love that brings. It is a way of affirming the GOOD in our lives and not even contemplating the “bad” while we are in that space. Life is about JOY, the more I consciously do things that bring joy – the better everything is around me and the more I am “in the flow” of life in ALL areas of my life. My friend Swamiji has a radio show on Blog Talk Radio where he frequently talks about living our joy.
My Joys
I KNEW a lot of my joys when Swamiji asked that question. Spending time with family. Writing. Pursuing learning about healing modalities. The stuff I was already making time for. But something instinctively told me the answer was deeper than the conscious things I was doing to live my joy. What brought me joy throughout my life that I could do more of but was neglecting? The first answer to come through was “dance”. Since I was 6 years old I had taken dance lessons and had a love of it. I quit in high school since I was in NYC and “clubbing” and dance parties seemed MUCH more fun to me than organized dance at the time. It has been in and out of my life ever since and I had let it go when I was told yoga dance was actually making my health conditions WORSE (one of the only JOYS I DID have when I was ill) and had not started back up again. After that meeting with Swamiji I re-started yoga dance and signed up for belly dance lessons. I cannot even explain the JOY bringing these two forms of dance into my life has brought me. I am a member of a belly dance troupe and have my second performance this weekend – something I NEVER even dreamed of doing at 40! I have lost 10lb and feel more comfortable in my own body than I have felt in a VERY long time.
Continuing to Find and Live Joy
It was easy for me to see how re-introducing dance into my life brought me joy – BIG TIME!!!! Now the question was what else brought me joy and how could I do more of it. Well… I knew this was a question I would have to re-visit and keep asking myself to make sure I was in that flow and celebrating the inner me in MANY different areas of my life. I asked myself what socially brings me joy. My answer – spending time with my girlfriends, meeting new people and a sense of community. Since then I have made several new close friends and jump started a Wellness/Healer Practitioner meeting every month. I have also begun working on opening a Wellness Center in my community with other healers and integrating my husband’s TaeKwon-Do Studio that also has many other classes including you guessed it – belly dancing AND yoga dance. This center embodies MANY of my joys together – working close to Ray; my husband and best friend, working with other good friends, continuing to learn about modalities and wellness and incorporating the sense of community. When I think about ANY of these aspects – never mind all of them — I am filled with such gratitude and joy – words cannot even do it justice!
I asked myself in my own business WHAT brings me joy and what should I be doing more of. The answer came clear as day “Reconnective Healing”. The feeling of connectivity I feel while doing reconnective healing plus the experiences of my clients brings me to tears of joy almost EACH and EVERY session. I recently KNEW I had to do more sessions to bring even more joy and am looking to expand my practice. Since I stated this an intention – it seems the opportunities are endless. I recently was able to facilitate a session for a good blogging friend, Evita Ochel of Evolving Beings who wrote about her experience here, “My Experience of a Reconnective Healing Session with Jennifer Mannion“. I also recently worked with another blogger Patricia of Patricia’s Wisdom who wrote about her experience here. Sharing this work with others proving no distance is too vast brings me more joy than words can do justice to. We are all truly connected.
I ask myself in EVERY part of my life how can I let more joy in? With my kids? With my husband? With my friends? I ask how I can learn in a joyful manner? I feel every part of life is MEANT to have joy in it but only WE can ensure that it is there. Only our true inner selves KNOWS DEEPLY what brings us joy and we first have to ask ourselves that question to tap into it. Make time to celebrate these things – it does not matter how little they seem. Integrating these things into your life will CHANGE your life and the way you look at everything. What could be better than experiencing more joy? I would love if you would share WHAT brings you Joy and how you make sure to incorporate that into your life.
As you can tell my dear friend Swamiji has deeply inspired me and I would love it if you would visit him on one of his many spaces on the web and say hello. Swami Sadashiva Tirtha is also known as Cowboy Swami Shaman and is SUCH a joy to know. Swamiji has taught meditation and yoga for over 30 years and taught Ayurveda for 20. I have written recommending his Ayurvedic Encyclopedia which is a voluminous work of everything you would ever want to know about Ayurveda. I also recommended Swamiji’s updated translation as well as an enlightening commentary of the Bhagavad Gita. Swamiji brings me joy every time I see him and really any time I even think of him. He writes enlightening stories and songs for children too and whenever we have visited him as a family it truly feels like a magical place. Music is played, long nature walks taken, imagination explored, campfires, games, coloring and more. I feel blessed he is a member of my community and I can call him a friend. If you want to learn more about Swamiji please visit his website Peace and Paradise Farm or visit him on Blog Talk Radio or on You Tube. I promise you’ll leave feeling filled with joy and looking inward to figure out how YOU can Live more in your own joy. Thank you Swamiji you are always joyful, so very wise and always vibrate love and peace — it is an honor to know you.
Oh this was sooooo beautiful to read Jenny!
Yes, joy! It is that simple and yet not enough of us seem to do it, but it feels so good!
I love living with joy everyday, but I loved how you invited us to reflect on all those areas that bring us joy, because it made me realize that I have more that I am not doing….like dancing!!! I never took lessons like you, but just loved dancing and found many opportunities for dancing often up to a few years ago. Then when we moved to our current house, there was no good place to dance in it, I stopped dancing for the most part….but I want it back
And this post really motivates me to do so.
So thank you for adding all this beauty to our world – a life of joy is perhaps the best gift we can give ourselves.
And thank you for the mention – the experience with you was truly so amazing!!!!
.-= Evita´s last blog ..My Experience of Reconnective Healing with Jennifer Mannion =-.
Hi Evita,
That’s the beauty of dance – whether it is taking lessons, in a dance club or jumping around your living room it is F-U-N and does bring JOY.
My friend Swamiji helped me a lot with the JOY lesson and it is one I look at often now. If I do feel “scattered” or “off track” it is almost a given that I am NOT doing things joyfully or enough things that bring me joy.
I so loved our session Evita – reconnective healing is so beautiful and is as I mentioned yet another thing that brings me joy. Thank you for being open to it and for your detailed account.
Much Love, xo
Jenny
Great post! I couldn’t help tweeting ^_^
Joy is the purpose of our soul incarnating in this physical world. There is nothing more important than embracing joy. Yet how so many people neglect joy. And then there are people who are so addicted in their thinking that their only idea of joy is like partying…
Thank you for a very inspiring article.
For even more joy and prosperity to you,
Akemi
.-= Akemi – Yes to Me´s last blog ..The Ultimate Productivity Tip =-.
Hi Akemi,
Oh I always deeply appreciate tweeting – thank you!
I do believe joy is our purpose. It took Swamiji to show me that and I am NOT looking back!
What’s better than joy?!
Thank you for your wishes of prosperity and joy — ahh got a lovely image on THAT one!
I wish the same for you Akemi!
Lots of Love Akemi – thank you for your friendship and for all you do.
xoxo
Jenny
I wish I lived near you – your developing wellness/tae kwan do/dance/yoga center sounds absolutely amazing, and like something that will bring many people joy (including me.) It is interesting, as you know I also studied dance growing up and just recently realized that I must bring this kind of joy back into my life. I’ve gone back into a yoga studio for regular classes after a few years of doing it alone at home, and that has brought me great joy, but dancing is something else altogether…that and teaching and hiking in nature with my family are probably my three big joys. Thanks for a light-filled post as always…XOXO
.-= Lisa (mommymystic)´s last blog ..Spiritual Processing,Transits and Empowerments =-.
Honey, I’m glad you’ve followed your joy. It brings me joy to see you joyful. Your wellness path has been an upward spiral of “betterness” and I’m so proud of you.
.-= Ray Mannion´s last blog ..Oneonta Taekwon-Do December 2009 Newsletter =-.
Hi Lisa,
Oh how I wish you lived near me too! I have thought that a number of times since meeting you.
Our “Mind Body Spirit Center” has us QUITE excited but as you can imagine there are a WHOLE lotta questions that come with it.
The vision and people involved are AMAZING and honestly the thought of going in there a few days a week and feeling that energy is awe inspiring. 
I know Swamiji will be teaching Aryuvedic cooking there for some classes and we will have a whole host of other talented people. I feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful community and last count there were over 60 people in our wellness/healer group. 
I am soooo happy you are getting back into yoga! I know what a love it has been for you. I think you would love yoga dance – Shiva Rea has some amazing DVD’s and CD’s to do it along with.
Hiking is also another favorite and certainly nature time with my kids or with friends OR alone.
We DO have a lot in common.
I am so happy you are living your joys Lisa! You have so much to offer the world and I love the thought of you out socializing doing yoga. I know alone time is sometimes hard to come by with young children.
Much Love, thank you so much for commenting.
xo
Jenny
Hey honey,
Thanks so much – you have helped me so much to live my JOYS and have been a constant support. I love you madly and cannot even tell you how excited I am watching our life unfold together. Thanks for being proud of me – you have always been an inspiration to me in so many ways.
Love, your adoring wife, xoxoxo
Jen
Hi Jenny, this is not really my area but this post made a lot of sense to me. -Tom
.-= Tom- marketing tips´s last blog ..Keyword Tracking =-.
Hi Tom,
I am happy this post made a lot of sense to you. Joy is simple but not something we are told to go out and make sure we are experiencing. Everyone seems to get hung up on “happiness”. I feel living your joys are ways to ensure happiness IS in your life. I do appreciate you reading and commenting, thank you!
Love, Jenny
Great post and so wonderful to come across someone speaking about joy. I don’t think I could list all the things that bring me joy. So I’ll just say waking up in the morning and knowing I have another day of life. Nothing can beat that!
Hi Jenny,
I love the connection back to joy! When we can connect to something deeper within us, to what brings us real and lasting joy – we are in a space of real connection…a connection to our soul. Jenny, I know you are there in so many ways, connecting with what truly and deeply matters to you. What a beautiful sight!
For me, I’ve found a real connection to writing in the last couple of years. Something I had done when I was a kid, and then not so much after that. And getting back to that spot has been so good. And it’s also brought up how deeply important it is for me to connect with other people on a deeper level. Something, too, that had been not fully there prior to a couple of years ago. And when I can bring nature into it all, too, that’s another deep joy for me.
This is so good to let “settle in” to my heart. And what a wonderful friend you have introduced me to. So good to be here today and really feel the joy…
.-= Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day =-.
Hi Lance,
Writing definitely is a common joy we both have – like you, I did it a lot as a kid and then it was in and out of my life. The blogging has connected us both with such a wonderful community and many people that definitely bring me joy – including you.
I think you would love Swamiji’s messages Lance. I call him our area’s own Dalai Lama
– I really have not met anyone else who constantly exudes such joy, peace and love and it is something I aspire to.
Joy is what it is all about – I feel that deeper and deeper each day and am constantly looking at ways to increase that in my life. Thank you for the joy you bring through your writing — it always comes clearly through.
Lotsa Love,
Jenny
Jenny
What a treasure you are, I think I will have to find a yoga dance class- I love to dance and that does bring me joy.
.-= Suzie Cheel´s last blog ..Super Abundant Bloggers #14 =-.
And today I need to love my keyboard I was writing this comment and I hit return and somehow the comment got posted????
To continue…..
Feeling and being in Joy is so wonderful and recently I have had to take a closer look at what does bring me joy and as a result looks like I am about to do what I love and live large- time to stop playing small- yes Jenny a new BHAG coming for 2010- Joy for me and I plan to spread lots of joy around the world. Back to doing what I do best, that gives me joy and makes my heart sing. I love making a difference which is what you do so well
Thanks for getting me to think out loud
love and hugs
Suzie
.-= Suzie Cheel´s last blog ..Summer Sunday =-.
Hi Jenny, this is a beautiful post and it has such an important message. A lot of people forget their joy and lose touch with what’s important in their lives because of this. I am so happy you managed to reconnect to your heart with your joys.
.-= Steven Aitchison´s last blog ..Statistics For 2009 And Looking Forward To 2010 =-.
Hi Suzie,
I LOVE the thought of you taking yoga dance – it does bring me SUCH joy! I take it with a friend and boy do we smile and feel refreshed afterward!
I am soooo excited to hear your new BHAG for 2010 Suzie! They have always inspired me so much and yeah the selfish part in me hopes it includes a trip to the US so we can meet in person and I can finally give you a nice big hug!
I know WHATEVER it is you will be helping and inspiring many Suzie and I wish you all the best and of course will do whatever I can to help it become a reality.
Lots of love Suzie! xo
Jenny
Hi Steven,
Thanks so much for your kind words – I am very happy you enjoyed the post. It has made a HUGE difference in my life to reconnect to my joys and there’s no looking back now!
Now it is finding how I can bring joy to all parts of my life.
It’s all so much simpler than we make it, isn’t it Steven? I wish you tons of joy for the holidays season and for 2010! I was so happy to see your statistics for the past year and wish you much success for the new year.
Love,
Jenny
Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season and amazing 2010!
peace,
Mike
Happy Holidays from livelife365
.-= Mike Foster´s last blog ..Happy Holidays =-.
Jenny! I love this post…I am so with you. Joy is vital and I love how clearly our heart wants us to connect with our joy. It is a powerful life force.
And I love what you discussed with dance. I find it so interesting. I often have my clients do “dancing meditations” because it does reconnect so many disparate parts of our selves.I know it does for me…it is almost as if my body wants to dance in order to think or more accurately feel.
Peace and many hugs to you….and I am thinking that I want to call you for a session it sounds so amazing!
Katie
This is why I take 2-3 days each week during the winter to go skiing instead of working. It’s a relatively short ski season here in eastern Canada but the time on the slopes brings me joy. Also spending time with my dogs. Work is important but so is play.
.-= Clint Cora´s last blog ..Motivation To Save Money On Pet Medications Was Stronger =-.
Hi Clint,
That’s EXACTLY what it is all about. By prioritizing taking time for your joy you have more energy for everything else in your life. Good for you! Play is very good! Many times it is in those moments you can get clarity or an intuitive hit on something that you could have sat at a desk over thinking for hours.
Have fun playing!
Love,
Jenny