Welcome Openings

I have just encountered a new Opening. It is a welcome one, bringing me where I’d like to be.

Welcome

Sometimes, Openings give us a rest from challenge and struggle. They show up and offer us something we have wanted or that we recognize will be a positive for us. They do not require us to stretch in a major way. Their path is clear and we have a sense that the outcome of entering the Opening will be a good one. They come softly with what we need to guide our way.

These Openings are welcome. They take us somewhere new. Perhaps, without pursuing it, a wonderful new relationship or job offer comes our way. There are things to do and decisions to make that we are happy to pursue. We are filled with optimism and can find our way. They contrast with the kinds of Openings that stretch us to grow in difficult ways.

Welcome Openings take us to good places and growth. They have a different energy. Openings come in many varieties. Best that we develop an ability to assess an Opening when it first appears. How do we feel about the possibilities it offers? How do we feel about what it is asking of us? Are we ready to enter it? What will be required of us to move through it?

Relish Them

When we value welcome Openings, they can do even more for us. We are thankful for them. Our energy is higher. We are anticipating good things coming from them. This affects how we move through them. Our decision to enter them is easily made. Our step is lighter. Our sight clearer. We get into a flow with what we must do once we enter them.

In the face of welcome Openings, best for us to be careful not to create struggle or challenge that does not have to be there. Sometimes, we can be in a place, affected by our past experiences, where we see life as a struggle. We may be in a negative space and bring a welcome Opening into it. As much as we may want happiness in our lives, we can sabotage it all by ourselves.

Relishing welcome Openings involves honoring and even cherishing them. We accept them and what they offer us. We jump into them with all we have and get the most from them. The good they offer will boost us. We will radiate positive energy out to those around us. We will model how to flow with life. Good will come from them and we will be in a positive place throughout our experience of them.

Joy

What is it about joy? We want it; however, when it comes, we can sabotage or be uncomfortable with it. Brene Brown has written, “You’re afraid to lean into good news, wonderful moments, and joy—if you find yourself waiting for the other shoe to drop”. There can be many reasons that we do this. We may have experienced trauma and are vigilant to protect ourselves from it by looking for threats and seeing them when they are not there. We may fear, at some point, losing the positive emotions the Opening offers us. We may have low self-worth and not believe that good can come to us. We may see joy as a frivolous sentiment.

Joy is part of the balance of our lives. When we deny it, our lives are incomplete. Joy has so many benefits. Joy can build our resilience. Joy gives us strength to keep showing up, even when times are hard. Joy makes us healthy both emotionally and physically.  Joy lowers the risk of mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Joy has physical benefits boosting our immune system, reducing stress and increasing longevity.

As we encounter welcome Openings, our joy can increase significantly.