Find Moments of Joy

Take Time for Quiet — It’s very tempting to take a great deal of action when you’re in a transition. On the surface, action would seem to fill the void. You may think that if you’re always “on” — sending out resumes, getting together with friends, checking your smart phone for messages, logging onto Facebook — that you’re doing something to hasten your journey out of the transition zone. On the contrary, it may delay your parting. I’m not suggesting you don’t take any action. However, this is the time to daydream, read a good book, enjoy a walk, take a few days away on a retreat, meditate and pray.

Find Moments of Joy — Think of small things here. Pay attention to your environment and begin noticing what brings a smile, a sense of peace, a spring to your step. I took a short walk around the bustling area near my office as I was thinking about this article. I noticed a small child skipping down the sidewalk in sheer delight. A woman asked me for directions. She was going to the dentist and dreading an appointment for a root canal. I was able to offer both directions and my experience of root canals not being so bad! I looked down at the sidewalk and saw little impressions of maple leaves in the cement as if designed by a Divine artist. It was a 10 minute walk full of delight.

What Does Your Heart Need? —You may be used to navigating your life by your head, your thoughts, your intellect. You may have thrived on facts, data and analysis, but now, in this transition zone, the question becomes “what does your heart need?” Author Barbara DeAngelis writes, “Messages, calls and directions are always appearing if we pay attention. If you navigate by the map of the heart, miracles can happen in your life.” Try this: close your eyes. Put your hand over your heart and ask, “What would comfort me right now?” Or, “What could I do to feel better?” Listen. What idea, feeling, instinct or clue comes to you? How can you put that into practice today?

Know That You’re Being Guided — If you’ve been a newsletter subscriber for awhile, you know that you have a wise guidance available to you at all times. The Divine is always speaking encouragement to you through your intuition, helpful friends, great books, inspiring works and many other ways. God wants you to succeed. If you have a dream in your heart — for a career you’ve always wanted, for a relationship filled with love and respect, for the overcoming of an illness or addiction, or an opportunity to help others — don’t settle for less. God puts those dreams in there for a reason and He will give you the tools to help you manifest them in the world. They’re part of your calling, your mission. I know you’ll make it through and live a life of joy.