Amy Kennedy The Creative Crone

I used to send out these little observations as day brighteners, I called them Joy Bubbles.

And I loved it when someone would reply and tell me the joy bubble had, indeed, brightened their day, because when their day was brightened mine was too. It made me happy. Is that weird? No. And here’s some evidence: Happiness Comes From Making Others Feel Good

I didn’t create joy bubbles to make myself happy–that was just a happy coincidence–It was also a coincidence that once I started sending them out, It got me to search for more happy, positive, joyful (or even other ways of looking at things) observations.

So instead of negative expectations, I was 100% invested in great expectations.

I am by nature a positive person, which is what I told the health and wellness coach, as I cried while describing the stress and the responsibility I felt to meet (and exceed) all the vested interest parties’ expectations. So, yeah, there’s that.

I had an earlier conversation with my friend (and podcast co-host) Tracy, she shared what she had learned about adaptive leadership. One of the key things was feeling responsible for things when you were not the actual authority. I logically understood this, but I could not embody it. Obviously I couldn’t embody it, because I was crying about it. Gosh.

After the conversation with the coach, I had another one with myself:

Q: What’s one thing I could do to feel better now?

A: Finish a spreadsheet I’d been working on FOREVER, because I was freaking out that it wasn’t right. AND get help or verification from someone else (my boss helped me with this).

Doing this took such a weight off my shoulders. Isn’t it always those small tasks that we get stuck on and once we complete them it turns out it wasn’t that hard and we feel so much better!

Next I realized there were so many things that I enjoyed about the work I do, but the stress and responsibility I was feeling was throwing a big old wet blanket on all of the good things.

So I put on my joyful observation glasses again–had to really look for those suckers–and let’s face it, you do not go from stress crying to joyfully observing, you just don’t. So, maybe these were my cheater “that looks kind of good” glasses. And I started noticing:

when I felt good

when other people said I was doing a good job

when I was laughing with colleagues.

And then I started doing things again that brought me joy or made me feel better. As a side note, you know how when you don’t feel good/happy/right? And you know that a simple thing like taking a walk would help you feel better, so, on the bones of your dear departed dog you vow to NOT take a walk ever!

I started to take walks again

I started meditating again–mini meditations

I planted my veggie garden

I made plans to stay at our neighbors’ cabin (by myself) to brainstorm/write

I spent time with people who made me feel better

Which is all to say, I found bubbles, joy bubbles, and I know I don’t have to turn my world upside down to find happiness, I just need to observe the happiness I already have.

If you’re struggling, I hope this helped in some small way.

Also, I might bring back Joy Bubbles.

Be brave and love each other, Amy