Standing still
The list of things I desire to do and experience is long, very long. So, 11 years feels like a short amount of time to me. Now is the time to press on the gas. Why haven’t I done so already I hear you ask?
A good question!
It’s been a curious last six months in many ways.
It has been six months of great joy and deep sorrow, disappointment and overwhelm.
The main cause for joy was the successful completion of the first Year of Joy and seeing, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the positive impact of the initiative is having on people’s lives. The main cause of sorrow was the ending of a very special and very deep loving relationship.
It has been six months of feeling overwhelmed. Whilst back in late 2022, we were able to inspire companies and individuals to give generously to support the birth of both the Year of Joy and EQJOY, we were unable to inspire them to support the growth of these two initiatives to the same extent this year. I was feeling very disappointed in myself and overwhelmed.
There was so much I wanted to do to build on the initial success of the Year of Joy and empower even more people to harvest more joy in their lives. There was so much I wanted to do to build on the initial success of EQJOY to bring the power of emotional intelligence to even more children. But with very limited resources at our disposal, I felt overwhelmed and deflated. At times I even felt like giving up. At others, I felt a desire to lighten my load, to give up on some of my dreams and focus more. But, which to focus on in that case, was a question I had no answer to.
I felt myself in a fog. I needed clarity, so went into stillness and I doubled down on meditating and I sought counsel from my spiritual guides. I asked: Should I give up? I asked: Shall I lighten my load and give up on one or more of my dreams?
The answer I got, again and again, to the first question was a resounding NO! Both joy and emotional intelligence are much needed in today’s world and what we are providing through the Year of Joy and EQJOY is of great value to meeting these needs, so no, don’t give up!
The answer I got to the second question was also a NO, but it was not as resounding as the NO to the first question. The answer was in fact a couched YES. Yes, I will need to lighten my load, but no, now is not the time. I was told, again and again, that the clarity on what to shed, when and how will only come through movement, through taking action. I was told to move forward on all fronts and trust that the answers will come as the journey progresses. Not make assumptions in advance. As before, help and solutions may indeed come from unexpected sources. Things I currently have no knowledge of.
