Joy

I have a journal that has the sayings of Buddha on each page. Nine times out of ten... well eight at least... the quote is appropriate in some way. Two that came up today:

"Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it."

"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."

So there are entire worlds to explore in each of those and yet I will bridge to another game, the game of joy and some fascinating personal breakthroughs I became aware of yesterday.

I've written it out in the journal, now to write it again is splendid. It gives me the opportunity to become even more clear and concise in my thinking. The source of the inspiration is The Book of Joy Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. Chapter 6, in the Audible version, is a discussion of food and eating and sloth and hedonism, and different levels and experiences of joy. I have intellectually understood the difference between long and short term gratification. Obviously habitually siding with the instantaneous short term side of gratification... keyword... habitually... The Dalai Lama has a different way of describing essentially the same thing... the way he communicates it... conceptualizes it is so much more resonant with me. The distinction is around the type of experience and the depth and length of the experience of joy. There is no denying that the instant gratification is joyful... it just doesn't sustain. It's quick and over and done for the moment. It also tends to be very physical... grounded in the body's experience of pleasure. An option is a deeper joy which is more mental and sustainable, consider the deeper value of nourishing the body... for me the lasting satisfaction of feeling proud of myself for wise choices.

The shift provided is the acknowledgement that both are joyous and fine... that it is a choice to abstain or treat food as medicine rather than a tool for reward or hedonistic style immediate gratification. It's provided a way of being that is non judgmental and choice driven. It's not bad or wrong to go for the immediate pleasure... it is just a deeper, different option to choose the serene confident path. To notice that my attachment is only habitual and not a moral flaw! To pay attention and make different choices... that is the only plan. Not only protein, no carbs, 500 calories every other day or some other complicated list of rules I've been trying out and trying on without lasting success.

The shift is the awareness of choice without judgement. I have to write that again because that seems to be at the heart of it. That there is no loss or drama or good or bad... only joy on many levels and it is MY CHOICE!

Tibetan Buddhist prayer before meals: "Viewing this meal as medicine, I shall enjoy without greed or ANGER. Not out of gluttony or PRIDE not to fatten myself but only to nourish the body."

I found this book "randomly" through Amazon... Apparently I was finally ready to hear with my soul. Go Girl!! =)

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