Thoughts on Desire: The Joy Diet – Week Four
Posted by Kaileen Elise on October 9th, 2009
To accomplish great things,
we must not only act, but also dream;
not only plan, but also believe.
(Anatole France)
It’s Week Four of The Next Chapter: The Joy Diet book club and this week we are discovering Desire.
If you have read my previous Joy Diet posts, you know where I am—Nothing was a flop and I failed at Truth. I was unsure about this week’s topic because the word desire makes me think of passionate love and illicit affairs—not personal growth.
Thankfully, last night I gave myself the opportunity to relax. I took a book bath, practiced yoga and found Nothing. Here is an excerpt from my journal entry about Truth:
1. What hurts?
My ego
2. What is the painful story I’m telling?
I want to do so much, but I don’t have the dedication to complete anything.
3. Can I be sure my painful story is true?
Not really
4. Is my painful story working?
Definitely not
5. Can I think of another story that might work better?
I don’t have to do so much, but I want the dedication to complete anything.
These thoughts are heavy, but I am sharing them because they play into this week’s chapter. Maybe I bite off more than I can chew and jump into many different things to avoid exploring what I really want.
Martha Beck’s recommendation to sit with our desires struck a chord. I often get caught up in my next great idea—the next achievement that will make me whole. The practice of letting my desires simmer while asking the question, “and then what?” appeals to me.
I truly appreciate those of you who have taken the time to comment on my thoughts. Your kind words and support have helped me realize this journey is not one I will complete in a series of neatly composed blog posts—instead, it will develop and grow as I take tiny steps forward.
Creativity is our next adventure and I could not be more excited! I have yet to read the chapter, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite creative inspirations anyway:
- InterfaceLIFT great resource of pictures for desktop and iPhone wallpapers
- deviantART a free site to share and sell artwork
- Apartment Therapy inspiring homes that make you want to redecorate
- Kate’s Paperie an amazing collection of paper goodies
- Papaya! Blog my newest blog crush, if I could be a blog – I would be this one
photo credit: jurek d
Tags: Inspiration, Joy, Personal Growth
love your post. it’s steps forward no matter how big or tiny.
My favorite part of this chapter was the question “and then what?” I am at that place right now.
I love the honesty of your writing.It’s tough to say: “I am failing” and in fact, I don’t think you ARE! Nobody who’s on a path to her/his inner self could fail! And even if some people are now walking away and you are left behind, sure you will meet them just around the corner, catching their breath.
Desire was easy for me, but I’ve read the next chapter and I know, this will give me a hard time- because it’s about enemies.
Perhaps this group will be the one thing you complete. A Beginning. Thanks for sharing the sites. I am on my way to check them out
I can so relate to wanting to do so many things, and hopping onto the next brilliant idea before the last one has any closure…. that so used to be me, and I confess, still is to some degree. When I want something, I want it NOW.
Your desires are woven within your brilliance…. keep shining!
You will finish when you feel it is the right time for each one. As we are not all in this time frame.
I do love links! Hang in there! We are all in the boat together.
Thanks for sharing your journey with nothing, truth and desire this week. I understand the starting and not completing, I have been there. I think it is good I am doing this book as a book blog or I probably wouldn’t be finishing the book!
Love your honesty. Keep on – you will suceed.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with truth and desire this week. I always find it refreshing to read your perspective. I also wanted to thank you for sharing those creative resources. They are quite amazing and I hadn’t heard of any of them before.
What a great post and I can so relate! It’s so easy, when you have great enthusiasm for life, to always have way more you are excited about than you can complete. I get into that situation all the time. This is quite a journey, isn’t it?! Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Silke
Thanks for your honesty – it is refreshing
Thanks also for popping into my Desire post too!
Sparkly Blessings,
Kathy C.
http://SoulReaderBlog.blogspot.com
It’s so great to see that sticking with truth and desire is starting to bear fruit. I agree. The “then what?” question is a very useful one. I do worry about my own scattered-ness at times. It’s very hard for me to finish books. In fact, I can’t remember the last one I did. Keep up the good work and continue sharing your experiences — they resonate with many here.
I enjoyed “and then what” too!
Thanks for your honesty.
I SO relate to your journal entry. I often get excited and inspired and then can’t figure out when/how I’m going to do it. And then I get down on myself for not being able to do it all! Why do we do this to ourselves?
This happened to me this week and the result was that I didn’t do a blog entry for desire. I read the chapter and absorbed it, but something had to give, so I allowed myself to take that one thing off the to-do list.
Bravo for digging deep and thank you for sharing your path with us.
You’re working through this at your own pace, which is wonderful. Often our biggest obstacle is trying to cram ourselves into other people’s pace.
I too have found that it is the tiny steps. The discovering and rediscovering. Moving forward and sometimes backwards, as it would appear. But just having the faith that this is what you are suppose to do. As they say, it’s about the journey, not the destination.
Working at your own pace is very important.
My first thoughts about desire were similar to yours – and I thought – holy smokes, I’m 64. It’s not on my front burner. (Yeah, I know, older adults don’t have to give up some of the sexual stuff at all but I was really delighted to find this topic juicier and more expansive than my limited first impression.)
And I also appreciate your thoughts on working at your own pace.