Path to Joy: 5th of 12 – Generosity
The heart that gives, gathers. – Tao Te Ching Science has found that generosity of mind and spirit as well as time and money does gift givers a lot of good. Scientific American reported an experiment that studied stinginess. Result: Those who held back experienced heightened shame and cortisol levels. We can also live longer. Read more in The 7 Science-Backed Reasons Why Generosity is Good for Your Health. Research also shows that those who give time and resources with kind intentions are rewarded with dopamine and endorphin surges, the body’s feel-good and happiness chemicals. Read more in The Benefits of Giving Things Away. In 1982, as an antidote for the phrase “random acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty,” Anne Herbert suggested, “practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” Here are 103 possibilities, which include: Share an overheard compliment. Send people you know notes about why they’re awesome. Leave a big tip. Give someone the benefit of the doubt. Keep in mind, The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self. — Fred Rogers * Face Masks Keep glasses from fogging when wearing face masks.Make a no-sew face mask in five minutes. [NOTE: Instead of a scarf, I cut a fabric square from my quilt stash and sewed down the flaps. Total time: 10 minutes.] Fun! This Post’s Featured Art, “Generosity,” A Visual Meditation What I like best about the picture: The dots. Why: The gold and yellow dots are like gentle sunbeams and rain that shower us freely. The red and white, orange and blue dots are flowers that the rain and sunlight nourish, making life both possible and beautiful. What the picture teaches: Nature is a cycle, a circle of giving and receiving. Both are needed for life to flourish. The insights gained: Rain and sunlight are price-less. From that generosity, freely given, earth can sprout meadows full of flowers so that life is refreshed, beautiful, bountiful and joy is possible. * Take this six-minute trip to Ireland and see how one act of kindness a day can change your life. View video. Generosity, kindness, honesty, humor – makes us truly rich. Waylon Lewis NOTE: These ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. Visit my On-Line Galleries to see more of my art.
Path to Joy: 4th of 12 – Friendship
Getting to know and like people and getting people to know and like you are the two top cards in the game of success. – Source Unknown A true friend doesn’t care if you’re broke, when your house is a mess, what you look like, about your past, or if your family is filled with crazies. A friend can go long periods without speaking and conversations pick up where they left off. They have your back when things go very wrong. They keep their promises and make you want to keep yours. A friend neither leads nor follows but walks with you. What does ‘friend’ mean to you? Is having a friend better than being a friend? In October, 1936, Dale Carnegie published How to Win Friends & Influence People, one of the best-selling books of all time. Here are 30 principles which include: Give sincere appreciation. Try honestly to see things from the other persons point of view. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to. For a free copy of How to Win Friends & Influence People, download the whole book. Also check out: How to Get to Know Someone, 13 Powerful Steps How to Be A Good Friend True friendship is rare [and work]. Don’t you agree: Finding one or two in a lifetime is a Path to Joy. ***** This Post’s Featured Art, “Friendship,” a Visual Meditation What do I like best about the picture? The golden path from bottom to top across the picture and the circles. Why do I like these things? The golden path makes me think of the Milky Way, the river across the sky made of millions of stars. The circles represent people, the 360-degree universes of possibilities each person contains. What does this picture teach? Life can be a journey, a yellow brick road, a golden river that touches [and also bypasses] many opportunities. How can these insights lead to joy? I am glad to be reminded that each person contains vast possibilities. Knowing that I could move beyond ‘acquaintance,’ be a friend and receive another’s friendship once in a while brings joy. NOTE: These ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. THE ART: For more information and to purchase, visit Sandra’s Galleries.
Path to Joy: 3rd of 12 – Words
Make yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts. None of us knows what fairy palaces we may build of beautiful thought — proof against all adversity. Bright fancies, satisfied memories, noble histories, faithful sayings, treasure houses of precious and restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb nor pain make gloomy, nor poverty take away from us. John Ruskin 1819-1900 According to neurosurgeon and spiritual teacher Don Miguel Ruiz, each of us live in worlds built by our words. In 1903, James Allen published a pamphlet using Proverbs 23:7 as the title, “As a man thinketh.” The little book opens with, “A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts. As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought … Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits.” Over a century later, Allen’s little book remains among the top five reads for those who motivate and inspire. Download a free copy of As A Man Thinketh. This Post’s Featured Art, “Words,” A Visual Meditation. What I like best about the art: The blue rings that build what I see as a cone-shaped beehive. Why I like the image: I like the serene blue structure because it represents the mind, which can be a beehive of activity. According to Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at the University of Southern California, the mind generates about fifty thoughts each minute or 70,000 per day. I like this beehive because it shows loving, uplifting [butterflies] thought-words rising to the surface. What the picture teaches: Though the golden planet Saturn travels through cold, dark space far from the sun, its fascinating rings teach me to: Set limits on words, spoken and thought, especially about myself and Establish boundaries for the influences of others The insights gained: Yes, life has its shadows. African proverbs and Winston Churchill are credited with saying, “If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm.” Author and teacher Sally Kempton adds, “It is hard to fight an enemy who has outposts inside your head.” Joy is a word composed of concepts like happiness, peace, satisfaction, contentment, lightness of being, brightness, smiles, embraces and engagement in nurturing, nourishing, uplifting activities. When these kinds of words and actions are part of life, they pave a path to joy. These ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. Shop Sandra’s Online Art Gallery
Path to Joy: 2nd of 12 – Money
What are the two quickest ways to double your money? Answer: Fold it in half. You can also watch your money in a mirror. Question 2: Where can you always find money? Answer: In the dictionary. Here’s more money humor: Joe says, “I hate paying income tax.” Mary says, “You should be a good citizen and pay with a smile. Joe answers, “I’d like to, but they insist on money.” Read more Funny Money Jokes. Welcome to Succeed and Soar’s Path to Joy: Money, adapted from The Treasure Chest’s “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of the 2nd Path, much has been said, including: The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Bible, I Timothy 6:10 The lack of money is the root of all evil. – Mark Twain [This quote is also attributed to George Bernard Shaw] A man in debt is so far a slave. – Ralph Waldo Emerson A penny saved is a penny earned. – Benjamin Franklin Check out these 18 Money Management Tips to Improve Finances This Post’s Featured Art, “Money,” A Visual Meditation. A man who both spends and saves money is the happiest. Samuel Johnson What I like best about the picture. The moon. Why? While I like the sun, the flowers and their roots, the moon is special because it’s new and growing toward full. I like the silver rays radiating from the moon as it lights the dark times. What does this picture teach? THE SEEDS: Some are flying away from the flowers. Some land nearby and are developing their own roots. This teaches me that letting go can be as beneficial – even necessary – as holding things close. THE FLOWER AND SEEDLING ROOTS: They teach that anchors are important and that sources of nourishment and enrichment are sometimes hidden. NIGHT AND DAY: Both times can be meaningful and productive, literally and symbolically. They are parts of the whole. How can these insights lead to joy? With money, how it’s obtained and dispersed can be paths to joy. Money can be spent-sent out into the world to buy things that improve life. In saving and keeping money close, it can grow within easy reach. The picture reminds that those who both spend and save can be happiest. NOTE These ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. Shop Sandra’s OnLine Art Gallery
Path to Joy: 1st of 12 – Keep Life Simple, Honest and Real
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo da Vinci Years ago, I found an old book of inspirations called The Treasure Chest. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” This letter launches “Twelve Paths to Joy,” my adaptation using visual meditations I called Illustrated Wisdom. This Post’s Featured Art, “Simplicity,” A Visual Meditation What I like best about the picture The gleam of the gold paint. The lines circling upward. Why The shining gold brightens and adds vitality. The lines look like paths that trip the light fantastic with leaves and flowers growing along the way. What does this picture teach? Because the intent was to envision life lived simplistically, to me: The dark borders suggest night, a time of rest within which large, gold stars shine. The gold sprays look like galaxies where countless stars cluster. The dark shows possibilities that cannot be seen by daylight. The curlicue lines teach that many dances are possible. The spirals say life can have carefree moments. The flowers remind to appreciate life’s beautiful, natural and simple gifts. The green dots represent seeds. They teach that opportunities can be abundant and grow from tiny packages. How can these insights lead to joy? The picture reminds me to: Relax, Enjoy the times when life dances, Find delight in peace and contentment, in keeping life simple, honest and real. The ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. In this “Twelve Paths to Joy” series, permanent markers, ink, colored pencils, crayons, metallic, water color, acrylic and tempera paints are applied to 98-pound, 11 x 14-inch, mixed media paper. The doodling and dabbling, scribbling and splashing provides a process for stepping away from life’s hustle and bustle while creating pictures guided by the heart [rather than structured by the mind]. Along the way, Peaceful and inspiring spaces are opened Choices are clarified Important insights are gained The body, mind and spirit are relaxed and refreshed To see more of my art and purchase prints, Visit: SandraGouldFord.ImageKind.com