Whatever Steals Your Joy Makes You Weary

 Exhaustion comes in many forms. You can experience weariness from being physically worn out and you can become fatigued from working through difficult problems. For many people right now, they are experiencing quarantine fatigue...they are ready to get on with their lives.

There are many, many ways to become tired. One of the most dangerous forms of weariness is losing your joy. My friend and prayer partner, Barb, loved the word joy. She continued to have the spirit of joy right up to her passing of cancer in 2017. In her honor, I wrote the word JOY on rocks along my last spiritual pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago as a reminder for myself and all the pilgrims passing along the ancient route to live with JOY. So even with blistered feet and the heat of the summer sun, I was energized by the spirit of joy with every step.

Losing your joy makes you weary in the spirit, which is deep and can alter your life. If you don’t interrupt the assault on your joy, it can lead to apathy, depression, and a loss of purpose.

  Whatever steals your joy makes your spirit weary

 Life has its ups and downs. Things happen - both good and bad - and they make an impact and leave a mark. Life is meant to be experienced in its entirety. No one truly expects things to be great all the time...even though I advocate for positivity in your daily thoughts, intentions, and life, there are moments of sadness, disappointments, and grief. Loss comes and change happens, but life shouldn’t steal your joy altogether.

 Some things that steal your joy are small and often go unnoticed until the impact is great. There isn’t one particular experience that happens, more like a slow draining from a hole in a bucket that can drain your joy over time. Examples might be:

• Being in relationships with negative people
• Not pursuing your dreams
• Living with a chronic illness or injury
• Failing to achieve your goals
• Not living authentically

 These situations may not make a bold impact all at once, but they whittle away at your esteem, your dreams, and your joy over time. The result can be a weariness that leaves you feeling physically tired, mentally weak, and spiritually unsatisfied.

 Sometimes your joy can be impacted in a big way through an event or calamity:

• Loss of a loved one
• Loss of a career
• Loss of an important opportunity or asset
• Loss of your self

 It may only take one event to rob you of your joy and leave you feeling blindsided and weary. You know exactly when and how you lost your joy.

 Whether you’ve lost your joy from a one-and-done experience or it eroded over time, the result surely means you’re tired. Tired of feeling hopeless, helpless, or uninterested in things of value. Tired of being stuck and tired of being tired…

 The cure for your exhaustion lies in finding some joy! Reclaiming the joy you’ve lost or manufacturing new joy altogether. Finding things to be joyful about or that bring joy into your life will shift your weariness to enthusiasm and enjoyment. If you’ve lost your joy, make the effort to find some so you can feel rejuvenated...it's all about living an Intentional Life of your dreams.

Until next time...

Lisa

P.S. Life as we know it has been interrupted...unquestionably, these are difficult times and many women are weary...they've lost their joy. It’s important now, more than ever, to practice self-care, connect with a trusted accountability partner, and develop coping tools that give you the resilience that heals, provides confidence, and direction. You can get your JOY back!

Currently, we have three Private 1:1 coaching packages (6 or 12 weeks) available from A Pilgrimage to Self...included in these private sessions are Heart-Centered Coaching Sessions, Weekly Inspirational emails, 24 Hour email reply, and exclusive access to A Pilgrimage to Self Lifestyle Coaching Membership during private coaching package sessions to move on and forward in creating an Intentional Life. I work with women that are ready to transform their lives by making a commitment to self-development. If you think this description might fit you, DM me...if we both agree, we can get you set up with one of the available coaching schedules...don't wait...spaces are limited.