Balancing Stress with Joy

This has been a particularly stressful end of the old, and beginning of the new year.  Major changes in my life are taking place and it hasn't been the beautiful graceful transition that one would hope for.  It has been more of a total upheaval of everything I hoped for and a disorientation of the turning my plans on their head.

This type of experience can cause the spiralling into despair.  The lessons from these moments are deep and meaningful and with time these dark days will become the most significant moments, but the days before that clarity arises, must be handled with grace.  It is so necessary to get through this time with kindness and gentleness towards oneself.  If you have the chance to retreat from some of life's responsibilities, then do so.  But if you don't, be absolutely sure you are taking time to engage in activities that bring you joy.

There is an exercise developed by Jennifer McClean that is simple and effective.

Make two columns on a paper.  On one side write the things that are causing you stress.  Then give each item a number from 1 to 10 to quantify the degree of stress it is causing.  
In the second column, write down things that bring you joy.  What do you enjoy doing?  Take your time with this side of the list.  This is important.  Then quantify the joy each activity brings from 1-10.

Finally, make sure you are balancing the equation each day.  If you have a number 10 stressor, make sure you include some level 10 joyful activities in your day.  Don't let yourself be consumed by stress.  These dark days will turn to bright faster when you stay in the sunlight of the spirit.  

I love to play music, and so that is what I have been doing these past few weeks.  Some new and amazing songs even came through the darkness.  Some of our most creative impulses can be found there.  

Be patient with the process, know that things are working out for your betterments.  Love yourself.