THE NON-STRESSED JOYFUL MIND
 
 
A list of qualities of non-stressed joyful mind.
Many of these come from Fr. Richard Rohr in a book titled THE NAKED NOW
 
(Rather than trying to think about this list all at once, take one or two that you know you need to make some adjustments in your life in order to have a joyful mind. )
 
When your mind does not always need to be right.
When you no longer need to compare yourself to others.
When you no longer need to compete in ways that are unhealthy.
When you can let go of fear and worry.
When you can admit your limitations.
When you can let go of the need to continually perform to impress others
When you’ve done your best,worked your hardest and a “B” or even a “C” can be ok.
When life is not a matter of “quantity” or “how much you have.”
When you can live without things that are not really necessary for a happy life.
When you can live in contentment with whatever the moment offers.
When your mind does not brood over injuries.
When you get enough rest.
When you don’t need to justify or excuse yourself.
When your mind is not embarrassed by your mistakes, silly though they may be.
When you do your best and that’s good enough!!!!
When your mind can let go of obsessive thoughts.
When you do not judge the whole by only a part of a person.
When your mind accepts both your strengths and your weaknesses.
When your mind can forgive and forget.
When failure can be seen as an opportunity
When your mind can stop judging and critiquing itself.
When your mind can stop judging others
When your mind can see God in all things.
When your mind allows you to wake up and live each moment fully.
When your mind gets over its irritations
When your mind does not cling to the past
 
 
Consider what takes away your joy, the deep joy of life.
Is this a huge challenge? You bet it is!!!!!!! 
Can you actually get your mind to be joyful and not stressed? If you practice, yes. With discipline, yes. With a willingness to move on when you find your mind doing things that take away your joy of life. Yes we can resist those things that push away your joy. Quiet and meditation are keys to the joyful mind. Taking a walk, stopping in a Church, sitting underneath a tree, finding a quiet corner in the library, sitting quietly in the contemplation room in the blue house or on the front porch all present possibilities. Another way is to have conversation with someone in which no negative judgments will be made, no gossip will happen, just friendly conversation without excuses or irritations.  
 
Consider the following poem by Sister Jessica Powers
I rose up from the acres of self that I tended
        With passion
And defended with flurries of pride;
I walked out of myself and went into the woods
        Of God’s mercy,
And here I abide.
There is greenness and calmness and coolness, a
Soft leafy covering
From the judgment of sun overhead,
And the hush of His peace and the moss of His
        Mercy to tread….
And I fear God no more; I go forward to wander forever
In a wilderness made of His infinite mercy alone.