We all want to be happy and have as much Joy as possible but are you Chasing Joy? Have you designed a life for yourself that brings joy and happiness within reach? Do you need to make some changes in order to find the happiness you seek? Are you as happy as you should be? Find out where you are on the Joy Scale by taking the quiz below.
Search Results for: Happiness
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving Joy Chasers.
I have so much to be thankful for this year family, friends, pets, employment, safety, etc… I could go on and on (actually I am going on and on with my 1000 gratitudess list). I want you all to know I am super duper grateful that I can follow my passion of encouraging others to find happiness in life and to make joy a priority through this blog and the Chasing Joy brand. I am thankful for every single reader, every comment, every like, tweet, and follow. I appreciate your emails and words of encouragement. I appreciate when you let me know that I have made you realize you are not alone or unique in your struggles. I love you all and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyful holiday season.
P.S. the winner of the Chasing Joy Gratitude Challenge will be selected tonight so don’t forget to post your gratitudes in the group.
P.P.S Everything in the Chasing Joy shop will be on sale starting midnight Black Friday through Cyber Monday. So, come back to shop!
I Am Pre-Diabetic!
I am pre-diabetic. I guess I have know for a few weeks now. But I feel like it is just sinking in. My dad and a few other people in my family had diabetes so I am not exactly shocked at this news, especially when I also consider my on going battle of the bulge. I have my journey to becoming a Single Mother by Choice to thank for this discovery and also the discovery of my thyroid problem. Not being able to get pregnant after 4 months of trying lead me to repeated fertility tests, which lead to meeting with an endocrinologist, which lead to meeting with a nutritionist, who broke the pre-diabetic news.
So what does this mean? This means that while my fasting blood sugar is normal, when a snapshot is taken of how much sugar has been in my bloodstream over the last few months is taken, it shows too much sugar. There is not enough sugar in my blood to classify me as diabetic now. But there is more sugar in my blood than would be in a person who has no chance of developing diabetes. This means that I am not as healthy as I thought. Perhaps even unhealthy???? This means that I have to fight even harder in this battle of the bulge.
I’m not sure why this is just sinking in now. Maybe because I have been watching a YouTuber’s videos about IVF and thinking about how I pray I don’t have to give myself lots of needles to get pregnant. Then thinking I hope I don’t actually become diabetic and have to give myself needles of insulin.
Whatever the reason, the reality is sinking in. This pill that I have been taking the last few weeks to decrease the sugar in my body and help me get pregnant could just be the beginning of medicinal intervention if I am not careful. I do not want that. Health is our most important possession. I don’t want to lose it. Health is one of the most important pillars of happiness. I can still Chase Joy, but will I be strong enough to capture it if I am unwell???
Have any of you received a pre-diabetic diagnosis? Have you successfully kept diabetes at bay?
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| Click here to find out about my meeting with the nutritionist and her advice for my battle of the bulge. |
What Chasing Joy Means
Recently I signed up for some business coaching so that I can really kick things up a notch here on Chasing Joy. During one of the calls with my coach she asked me what does Chasing Joy mean. I answered her on the phone and I am answering on the blog as well. I have been writing Chasing Joy for over 5 years. Some of you have been reading from the beginning but many of you are new. So rather than have you guess and speculate at what my intentions are and what Chasing Joy means I will spell it out.
So what does Chasing Joy mean to me? Let me start by explaining what Chasing Joy isn’t. Chasing Joy is not about being cheerful all the time. Chasing Joy is not an unrealistic look at life through rose colored glasses. Chasing Joy is not the daily musings and ramblings of an eternal optimist.
Chasing Joy means hope. Chasing Joy means getting up when you get knocked down. Chasing Joy means accepting that life can be hard, unfair, and down right shitty at times but deciding to have hope that things will eventually get better. Chasing Joy means deciding that having an unhappy life is not an option and making every reasonable effort to be as positive as possible during the bad times and fully embracing and appreciating the good times. Chasing Joy means creating the life that you want when things don’t turn out how you planned. Chasing Joy means simply making the decision to have a joyful life no matter what and committing to doing the work to find your way back to being happy when you find yourself less than joyful. To do this we use the tools of gratitude, trying new things, practicing faith, making healthy lifestyle choices, building positive relationships, helping others, practicing self-care/ self-love and setting and accomplishing goals.
This blog, is about me challenging you to make your happiness a priority now. You don’t have to wait until you are unhappy to start Chasing Joy.
What does Chasing Joy mean to you?
Read my about me page to learn a little more about me and why I am Chasing Joy.
Get Featured / Advertise
I appreciate your interest in getting featured or advertising with Chasing Joy.
There are several ways to Get Featured on Chasing Joy.
Guest PostsGuest Bloggers are welcomed to submit a post for Chasing Joy. Any topic is eligible for the Weekend Guest series as long as it is related to Joy. For details on being a weekend guest visit here -> qualifications.
Are you currently pursuing your passion? Spread the word about your blog, book, business, charity, or hobby by being featured in the What Brings Me Joy is… series. More about this series can be found her – What Brings Me Joy is…
Advertising
Advertising space is available on Chasing Joy. Sponsors are listed on my sidebar and get their choice of a 125×125 button, or a linked text ad.
Prices:
1 Month – $20
3 Months – (15% Discount) $51
6 Months – (17% Discount) $99
9 Months – (20% Discount) $144
1 Year – (25% Discount) $180
Sponsored Posts
Sponsored post opportunities are available. The post topic must be related to improving personal happiness or covering a topic of interest to Chasing Joy readers. Email me for information.
Product Reviews
I am open to review products at my discretion. For product reviews, the product will not be returned and is shipped at your expense in exchange for my honest opinion in a one post review including pictures. Included in the post will be a link to my disclosure policy.
If you are interested in an being featured or advertising on Chasing Joy please email me at joychasing@yahoo.com.
VEDA: Video Everyday August. Introducing Chasing Joy
I cannot believe it is already August. This summer sure is flying by. This month I am doing something that should make me appreciate and acknowledge each day this month. I am participating in VEDA. VEDA is Vlog Everyday August. That’s right I will be posting a new video on my YouTube Channel every day this month. At least I am going to try to do it every day.
This is going to be a challenge. I am much more comfortable blogging than I am vlogging but it should be interesting to mix it up. Now I need to come up with a month of content for my vlogs. I do already have a few ideas:
- Baby Making Updates
- Weight loss/ Nutrisystem
- The #10950MinutesofExercise Challenge
- Happiness Tips
- hmm what else????
OK, I see I have my work cut out for me. I need much more content. I’m sure I will find some themes that others are using for VEDA to help me out.
My first video is just an introduction. You can click here to >>> view it on my channel <<< if you are having trouble with the embedded video below.
Are any of you doing VEDA? If you did it in the past what are some of the topics you covered? What would you like to see me talk about this month?
About Me
Welcome to Chasing Joy!!!
Chasing Joy’s Mission
Chasing Joy provides encouragement, support and community through Chasing Joy Events, the Joy Makeover program to help women build resilience, make happiness a priority, and create the Joyful lives they deserve while honestly acknowledging and working through life’s struggles.
About Arlett
My name is not Joy but I am chasing it non-stop. Chasing Joy is a blog about me, a woman in her 30s who has overcome the most difficult time in her life by focusing on and going after Joy. This difficult time in my life included a horrible job, a bad breakup and most devastating of all losing my dad to cancer two months after diagnosis. These events, that sadly are common to many, left me in a dark place. A place that was filled with sadness and shadows of what could have been. A place that was unfamiliar and void of happiness. A place I was determined to escape from.
In about a year and a half my life changed and the vision I had of my future was erased. I lost myself to the sadness. I could not find my way back to being that light-hearted and optimistic girl that I used to be, not to mention I also gained 40lbs (gasp!!!) in a year due to all the stress.
This quest for Joy is my way back to being happy and staying happy again after so much heartache; to not only finds my old self but to improve upon it. Here on Chasing Joy I share with you my goals, my successes, and even the road blocks in achieving those successes. I share with you my experiences as I try new activities to broaden my view of what can bring happiness. I share with you my search for Joy through my good days and my not so good. On this blog I ask for advice and seek support as I face and conquer fears. On this blog I invite you to start Chasing Joy with me.
Thank you for visiting my Blog.
Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JoyChasing#!/ and follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/Chasing_Joy and Instagram @ChasingJoy.
Most Popular Posts
Beware The Joy Thief
Feel Good Friday, God Is Good To Me
Joy of Forgiveness
Personal Favorites
Beware The Joy Thief
Ready For My Tutu
Recipe For A Happy Joyful Life
Links to guest posts and other writings by me.
Guest Posts
Check out my guest post on Positively Shining – “Shining the Spotlight” Focus on Positivity and Chase Joy…..
Check out my post for blog magazine Studio 30 Plus – Choices Choices Choices…
Check out my guest post on Inspire to Thrive – They Like Me
You Can Call Me Caitlyn When It Comes To Chasing Joy
Here is a silly question, did you see Caitlyn Jenner? Of course you did. The whole world saw her. I don’t know how you feel about her debut nor do I really care actually. This post isn’t about any sort of transgender pro / con , acceptance / non-acceptance conversation. This post like all others on this blog is about Chasing Joy.
Ultimately, I think Bruce’s transition to Caitlyn was about him trying to be happy. It was a huge step. A much bigger step than most of us will ever have to take in the pursuit of happiness. However, many of us have and will decide to make huge life changes to be happier. We may change jobs, move, end relationships, start relationships, or decide to become a parent. Others of us may long to make these changes but find ourselves unable to for any variety of reasons including fear, lack of support, or lack of resources.
I have many thoughts related to Caitlyn. The thought that carries the most weight for me is Now That’s Chasing Joy. This thought leads me to question if I am really doing all that I can to catch my share of Joy. Do I need more courage? Do I need to work harder to build my self confidence? Do I need to grow more in my faith? Will I then be Chasing Joy on Caitlyn’s level? Chasing Joy openly, unapologetically, courageously and with all that I have.
Are you pushing yourself in your pursuit of happiness? Are your fears keeping you from Chasing Joy as vigorously as you should? What do you need to start Chasing Joy Caitlyn style?
I Feel Pretty, Do You? How often?
Last week I felt pretty twice. Two separate times I caught a gimps of myself in my rear view mirror in the car and though beautiful!!!
The first time this was just a passing thought. I did not dwell on it. I just went about driving wherever I was going, I think to work. The 2nd time, my thought of feeling beautiful was quickly followed by, wow that’s the 2nd time this week and then followed by the questioning thoughts, why am I surprised that to feel beautiful twice in a week, why only two times, shouldn’t I feel beautiful most of the time if not all of the times?
These are the thoughts leading to this blog post. While I don’t think we should be vain or conceited about our looks, I do think that feeling good about our appearance is essential aspect of feeling more joyful. Not all or even most of our joy is related to our looks but liking or not liking what you see in the mirror definitely impacts confidence, self esteem, and happiness. So the fact that I only felt beautiful twice in a week is a bit concerning.
It’s not that I feel unattractive because that is not the case. I guess most of the time catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror either generates no reaction or a negative reaction. Most often its no reaction. Unfortunately, more than twice a week I will look in the mirror and have some kind of negative thought about a pimple, my weight, my hair not cooperating, my eyebrows looking unruly etc.
I have been trying to figure out what was different about the two time last week when I felt beautiful. I am at a lost. The 2nd time I just had my hair done but the first time I hadn’t. Neither time did I have on much makeup. The first time was in the morning, not much sunlight, the 2nd was mid afternoon, bright and sunny. I was not wearing anything special either time. The only think I can think of is maybe these were the only two times that I was not rushing and actually took the time to look at myself. That combined with the fact I was looking in a rear view mirror, too small to really zero in on imperfections, allowed me to appreciate myself and feel beautiful.
It may be unrealistic to feel beautiful every time I look in the mirror but It’s not a bad goal to aim for right? How often do you feel beautiful? When you find yourself feeling beautiful does it surprise you?
Let It Go To Find Joy
Does joy depend on our ability to let things go? The more I Chase Joy the more I find myself realizing I have to let go of old ideas and ways of thinking.
My latest realization comes after spending two evenings with two different groups of people and leaving both groups feeling likeI did not fit in. Now I won’t go so far as to sayI felt like i didn’t belong. I just didn’t click and connect with the groups in the way that I wanted or expected. Then I started to feel a little sorry for myself wondering why I didn’t connect to the rest of the group like everyone else, and where are my people, the ones that I will have a deep and stong connection with.
A side effect of blogging about happiness is becoming introspective. After the whoa is me, I don’t fit in thoughts settled, I started to question them. Why do I assume that I was the only one who felt like they did not fit in? Maybe everyone felt that way. I mean we are all so different in our experiences, thoughts, and beliefs it makes more sense that we would not fit in. Maybe I am doing myself a disservice by expecting some kind of feel good, long lost best friend, kindred spirit type of feeling that obly exists when written into TV or film scripts.
I guess this expectation and desire for deep and meaningful connections with everyone is something I need to let go of. There is something peaceful about accepting situations as they are without layering them with expectations and disappointment.
Maybe we find joy when we let go of expectations.
Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in? What about the opposite? Have you ever experienced fitting in so well with a group that you felt like these are my people?
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