Are we stealing our own joy?

I first heard of the term ‘foreboding joy’ in Brene Brown’s book, Daring Greatly. I’ve had that feeling before – when things are going well but I feel it won’t last long, or I will run out of my good fortune soon – but didn’t know there’s an actual term for it…!

It makes me wonder: why do we steal our own joy and deprive ourselves of those joyful moment or season of life? Least we get disappointed? Or we feel unworthy of such joy and/or good fortune?

Scarcity and fear drive foreboding joy. We’re afraid our feelings of joy won’t last, or that it won’t be enough… If the opposite of scarcity is enough, then practicing gratitude is how we acknowledge that there’s enough and that we are enough.

Daring Greatly, by Brene Brown

Next time you have that feeling of foreboding joy, don’t let it steal your joy – instead, be present and be grateful for your moments of joy, knowing that we are enough!

Do It Afraid

I started this year with Sheila Walsh’s book, “It’s Okay Not to be Okay: Moving Forward One Day at a Time”. To know that God’s grace is sufficient for me, and that He will redeem every drop of my suffering.

What struck me most was her advice: Do It Afraid. To be Present. To Show Up. To bring all my anxieties and what-ifs to God. To let God take control.

Do you have a wish or dream you’ve always wanted to start, yet for various reasons (excuses), have yet to do so? Now will be the perfect time to do it! Just do it Afraid!

Your Unique Combination of Talents

Many years ago, I read an article that had a profound impact on me. For years, I searched for my so-called talent, but could not quite figure it out. This article pointed out that we might not have just one single talent, but multiple talents, in which our combination of talents make each of us unique.

So, we may have many talented photographers, or singers, or authors, speakers – but the combination of my interest in photography and designing albums, my skill in organizing things and getting things done, my unquenchable thirst for knowledge through reading and listening to talks, my deep self-awareness and faith – this combination, is totally unique! Each of us have our unique combination of talents, and that’s so amazing to know!

Let us be truly grateful for our unique combination of talents, strengths, skills and interests! Then find a way to use them to make a positive impact and be a contribution to the world.

Scary Tale of Vulnerability

From BreneBrown.com – download desktop background

One of reasons (or excuses) I was afraid of starting this blog is the fear of feeling vulnerable. All the ‘What ifs’ and fear of rejection. The feeling if I’m ‘good enough‘ to write and wondering ‘so, who do you think you are?‘

Then I stumbled upon two TED Talks by Brene Brown: The Power of Vulnerability and Listening to Shame. The most powerful lesson I learnt from her talks is this:

Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage – to be vulnerable, to let ourselves be seen, to be honest.

Her talks inspired me to take the plunge to start this blog. To quote from Brene Brown’s site – to own my story and loving myself through the process. I guess it’s good for the soul to sometimes do something I’m scared of, and trusting myself, trusting the process – to learn and grow from the experience.

How would you like to write your life’s story? Would you settle for a safe and mediocre life, or take a risk to write an adventurous life filled with some failures, learnt lessons and great height of achievement through grit and hard work, being vulnerable and trusting in yourself?

Remember: You are the Author of Your Life!

Are you Living Your Legend?

What prompted me to really do something this year was taking the Passion Work Program from Live Your Legend in April. I had subscribed to their emails for a few years but didn’t take any action. Their tagline of ‘Live with Purpose, Meaning and Mindfulness‘ resonates with me, and their articles are inspirational and motivational. Finally, I decided to take their first course: ‘Discover Your Passion in 21 Days‘ – which gave birth to this site!!

Listen to Live Your Legend founder, Scott Dinsmore, TED Talk on ‘How to Find Work You Love‘, where he talked about his Passion Work Framework and told his story of perseverance and achieving his impossible. He ended his TED Talk with this question: What is the work you can’t not do?

However, If you are like me, where I have trouble finding my definition of ‘Passion’, read Chelsea Dinsmore’s article on ‘How to Let Your Passion Find You‘!

When you show up and put time, energy and effort into the things you are interested, or excited about, clarity presents itself TO you instead of you looking FOR it.

Chelsea Dinsmore

Go on a journey to learn more about yourself – your strengths, your passions, your interests – and do something that matters, do your “impossible” – and find the people who would go on this exciting journey with you!

Welcome!

A warm welcome to my site, Blessed Abundance!

I had declared during a Women Empowerment Workshop by Milestone Trainings that I would start an online blog. That was end of October of 2016. I guess it’s not too late yet, eh?

I would like to encourage any of you who has a passion project you’ve always wanted to start – do it Now! I guess I ran out of excuses, plus a good buddy sat me down one breakfast last week, made me decide on this domain name – BlessedAbundance – and set a deadline to start it! Thanks, buddy!

The trick is to start small, but start!!! Dare to fail, learn from your experiences, improve, and just keep on going on! It’s way better to have tried and fail, rather than stay safe and regret not trying! So, don’t wait too long, as it will end up not happening at all!