We search outside for happiness only to discover it is within.
I only have to watch my 10 year old son to see this inner joy on display.
He can find enjoyment right in front of him.
I often will see spontaneous joy, smiles and laughter from him throughout the day.
It really is true.
Inner joy is within.
It is there for us to enjoy and live with and into everyday.
We just seem to get overwhelmed by our everyday tasks, duties and responsibilities.
We forget that we simply need to look within.
When I forget to look within, I simply watch my 10 year old son play.
Or
Better yet, join him in his play and become a child again for a few minutes or more.
Releasing the inner joy within requires that we slow down.
One way that I slow down is when I practice Centering Prayer twice per day.
I encourage you to check out Moving from Stress to Joy by Nicholas Amato.
It is a wonderful book that discusses moving from stress to joy.
Go Further:
Moving from Stress to Joy by Nicholas Amato
Living in God: Contemplative Prayer and Contemplative Action by Nicholas Amato
A Taste of Silence: Centering Prayer and the Contemplative Journey by Carl J Arico
Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life by Amos Smith
The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within by Christine Valters Paintner
Four Gifts: Seeking Self-Care for Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength by April Yamasaki
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Contemplative Light offers courses on contemplative practices (Christian Meditation, Centering Prayer, The Examen, Lectio Divina, The Jesus Prayer), the Christian mystics (ancient and current) and spiritual writing. Peruse their wonderful offerings.
Silence and the Spiritual Journey by Contemplative Outreach: The purpose of our historical lifetime is to provide us with space for the upward journey of evolution into vertical time and our assimilation of the eternal values that Christ brought into the world. This journey consists of everything from great touches of God (consolations) to the Dark Nights.
Lectio Divina Heart to Heart – Listening and Living with God by Contemplative Outreach: The ancient practice of praying the Scriptures is being rediscovered and renewed in our time. Known as Lectio Divina (Divine Reading), it is one of the great treasures of the Christian tradition of prayer.
The Gift of Life by Thomas Keating, Mary Anne Best, Susan Rush: This course will explore the gift of life in all its phases, even those of diminishment and death, as phrases of evolution and transformation in and through Christ. It is based on the recent DVD series with Fr. Thomas Keating, The Gift of Life: Death & Dying, Life & Living.
How might your life change if you were steeped more deeply in the wisdom of the Christian Mystics? Drawing on the best available writing on the topic of Christian Mysticism both ancient and modern, Contemplative Light is offering a special course on the Christian Mystics Sacred Lives: An Introduction To The Christian Mystics.
Contemplative Practices: 5 Ways of Consenting to the Divine – Learn methods practiced by Christian mystics for centuries to consent to the action and presence of God within, including Centering Prayer, The Examen, Lectio Divina, Christian Meditation, and the Jesus Prayer.
David Frenette’s book The Path of Centering Prayer re-energized the Centering Prayer tradition with its fresh insights and teachings. This companion audio program—created to be equally rewarding as a stand-alone guide—gives listeners an immersive resource to learn contemplative prayer, step by step and in the moment. With clarity and compassionate presence, Frenette explains the essential principles of this contemplative practice for both new and seasoned practitioners, and then guides us experientially through core prayers and meditations.
Writing as a Spiritual Practice: This course helps you to access the rich spiritual stories that lie deeply within you. Words are powerful. The words that you write can be used to:
- help you understand yourself better – and therefore divine God’s purpose in your life
- facilitate healing of spiritual wounds
- minister to others more effectively
- share your testimonies of how God has worked in your life
If you read devotionals, you already know how they can be a true blessing. A devotional can uplift you when you’re feeling discouraged, sad or lonely. It can allow you to feel a keen sense of fellowship with another Christian, even if the two of you never actually meet. And, if you are feeling called to write devotionals, know that you have a unique opportunity to bless others and make a genuine difference in their lives. This course takes you step by step through the process, and then guides you towards publishing, if that is your goal.
Drawing from the wisdom of monastic life, modern psychology and best practices in personal productivity, the Monk Manual provides a daily system that will help you find clarity, purpose, wisdom, and peace in the moments that make up your life.
