Finding Joy
I had the opportunity to present at a conference last month hosted by Intuitive Mind, the founding organization of Soul Seeds. It was gratifying to share with the group of about 100 our vision for Soul Seeds and feel their enthusiasm. I asked them to consider their roles. “What seed would you like to plant and how will it start to grow?” There were many wonderful answers; the most frequent were “hope” and “joy.”
One person wrote about a seed that would share anticipatory joy practices – how the brain creates pleasure from looking forward to positive experiences. A 2020 study published in Science found that anticipation activates key reward and memory systems, often generating more joy than the moment itself. Research tells us that people who regularly anticipate positive experiences — even small ones — report higher levels of well‑being. Anticipating a friend’s visit, a new recipe, or your favorite walk — these moments create tiny bursts of joy that support resilience and keep the heart open to possibility.
Another seed was “Hope that expands to understanding your unlimited access to unlimited possibilities. [Growing by] encouragement for one heart at a time through kind words and gestures” which got me thinking about FIFA World Cup fans in the U.S. and the many joy-filled moments. Scottish fans in Boston (or “New Scotland”) parading in tartans and bagpipes, joined by locals; South African women trying Waffle House for the first time; Argentine fans sampling Kansas City barbeque. International visitors marveling at giant portion sizes and free soda refills with Americans laughing along. Times like these demonstrate the power of coming together – forgetting differences by finding joy.
Coming together is at the core of our Healing with Humanity™ Global Meditation. In these times, many of us are looking for peace of mind and ways to be of service. On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to invite you to attend our next one on Wednesday, July 29th at 8 am PDT/11 am EDT/4 pm BST. Your $10 donation will support the work of Soul Seeds. And, if you cannot attend, go ahead and register; a recording of the meditation will be sent to you. We understand everyone cannot donate at this time. If that’s the case, please email info@soulseeds.org. Read more about the event, including the selection of the date on a full moon, and register here.
May you find many ways to plant many seeds of hope and joy in your life. Together, we can change the quality of consciousness with which we respond to the events unfolding in our lives and in our world. Peace and love to all.
In Case You Missed It
Listening to the Guidance Within – Guided meditation by Nancy Rebecca
The Joy, Heartbreak & Magic of the FIFA World Cup™ — for some joy, relive moments that brought fans, players, and nations together through the beautiful game.
Registration for our Healing with Humanity Global Meditation on July 29th at 8 am PDT
Resources
Article: The Overlooked Happiness of Anticipation, Shannon Sauer-Zavala Ph.D. in Psychology Today
July is BIPOC Mental Health Month to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental health in the U.S. | Free resources in English and Spanish from Mental Health America
July is National Anti-Boredom Month. An observance that encourages people to recognize boredom and combat it with creative, active, and engaging pursuits.
Quote of the Month
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” – attributed to Nelson Mandela
Leave a Reply