Do you want to know the secret to being in alignment? To be in tune with your natural intuition and thus your muse of creativity?
Following your joy.
That’s right. It may be more simply said than done, but that’s why I’ve decided to start this Joy Challenge as a weekly prompt and reminder to you to find moments of joy in your day.
To quote one of my favorite teachers from my youth, D. Kim Clayton, “The simplest of things bring the greatest of joys.” And I’m here to remind you of ways to breathe in more joy into your life.
For these challenges, I encourage you to partake in the exercise at least once or as often as you like. Daily if it feels supportive for your personal joy!
Read on for your first challenge…
The Journey of a Sip
Before you get too far into your day, I challenge you to take your time with your morning beverage of choice—tea, coffee, cacao, whatever it is you sup first thing. This can be a practice you do every day, or something you do when you remember.
Turn off any other sensory distractions. The entire experience should be focused upon only the body parts that come into contact with your drink. No music or podcasts, no TV, no reading material. Sit down and relax if you can. If standing, rest your hips against something to stabilize yourself if needed.
Give yourself a moment with your cup before your first sip. Hold the mug or cup gently yet securely in your hands. Give it a swirl if you want. Enjoy the aromas that emerge from the lip of the cup. Breathe it in. Exhale it out through your mouth. If it’s a hot drink, watch how the steam dances with and away from your breath.
Now close your eyes.
Slowly tip the cup onto your lips, letting the liquid tread its way to your mouth. Pour in just enough that your whole tongue is embraced by your morning drink for few moments.
Note how the flavor hits your tongue. Does it taste different on the tip of your tongue versus the left side, then the right side, then the middle, and the back? Refrain from swallowing just yet and let the flavors settle in your mouth.
Let your morning beverage tell you a story of what’s within it. Focus on the sensations, the flavor and aromatic notes. And once you swallow, what flavors remain? How does your tongue feel now? Observe.
Now open your eyes.
Then, thank your morning brew for the journey.
How this challenge went for me…
This morning, the coffee I drank struck me with an initial cinnamon sweetness on the tip of my tongue, making it tingle in glee. As the coffee made its way back on my tongue, a new richness took over, almost like the coffee bean centered itself on my tastebuds, freshly roasted. Then a slight tinge of cocoa emerged. Along the sides, my tongue tingled like the tip of my tongue had, thanks to the dance of liquid on the edge. I’m left with a slightly smoky flavor with the spice of the cinnamon lingering all over my tastebuds.
Now… that was an incredible journey for me this morning. Savoring my first sip of coffee, particularly if it inspires me to keep savoring each sip after like that one did.
For a bonus challenge:
If brewing your morning potion is a part of your morning routine, look for ways you can draw it out and find joy in the process. If you infuse your brewing experience with your own joy, imagine how that journey will go!
You don’t have to write down your experience like I have here, but this is my example hopefully to inspire you. Whatever your art is, perhaps this exercise will spark something for you to create or muse on!
Feel free to comment below and let me know how being present with your morning brew goes for you. I look forward to hearing about it.
Have a blessed week!
The true joy is starting to be present to your life.
Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more.
Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses,
you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul.
Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
