Sweet Treats: The Joy Diet – Week Seven
Posted by Kaileen Elise on October 30th, 2009
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word,
a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring,
all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
(Leo Buscaglia)
This week’s chapter in Martha Beck’s The Joy Diet is all about positive reinforcement. I am so happy that after all our hard work on nothing, truth, desire, creativity and risk, it is finally time for a treat!
As I mentioned in my post last week, this journey has taught me to breathe through my perfectionism. I have stopped taking Beck’s instructions literally and begun to implement her practices in a way that works for my life. This revelation has turned the book into a kind voice of guidance instead of a scary drill sergeant standing over me.
In this chapter, I enjoyed cataloging my instant smile triggers…
- Snuggling up in a warm blanket
- Discovering a new quote
- Sending and receiving snail mail
- Being silly with my mister
- Eating anything chocolate
- Watching Grey’s Anatomy
- Catching up with an old friend
- Using the perfect font
- Connecting with bloggy & twitter friends
…and creating a list of my sensory delights!
- I love the taste of cupcakes, chai tea, Rachel’s yogurt, mashed potatoes, and salsa
- I love the sight of my family, sandy beaches, sunrises, water and emails from friends
- I love the feel of bubble baths, sunshine, grassy lawns, crisp sheets and my yoga mat
- I love the smell of chlorine, candles, Christmas, men’s cologne and flowers
- I love the sound of a new playlist, ocean waves, popcorn, jingle bells and laughter
Practicing treats has been a total delight. I am excited to read about your experiences and get silly next week as we explore play!
Tags: Creative, Joy, Personal Growth, Treats
I love your collage and your lists! Thanks for the link to that playlist. It’s great! X
What a fun list! I love the smell of Christmas too. Last night, we noticed that Whole Foods had put out little mini-evergreens as well as some cinnamon-scented pine cones and the combination of scents was pure bliss. I just stood there sniffing the air!
I too have learned to “make it my own” when it comes to the lessons from each chapter. While I don’t share my catalog of smile busters on my blog I do share some of the material treats that I’ve enjoyed in the last year. The best treat of all is the sweet connections we make with others both online and offline. Have a great week and keep treating yourself well!
The first on your smile-list is one of my favorites too!
I smiled my way through your post and I really like your vision card
I love the quote at the beginning of your post. I think I am going to start this chapter over again and make it more fun. I was taking some of it way too seriously and by doing this loosing the really important message. Thank you for a great post.
Ginny, I’ve taken most of the chapters too seriously
Have you read the next chapter yet? I skipped ahead last week and read Play after finishing Treats. I think this helped me relax and enjoy the act of treating myself. I’m glad you liked the quote – I hope you have a fun weekend filled with good times and goodies 
Great post – I too really enjoyed the treats chapter
Your collage is wonderful and I love the quote. You have such wonderful things on your list to smile about. Here’s to playing next week. Take care.
What fun treats! I enjoyed reading this. I think I love the sound of my yoga mat unrolling
Oh, yes! Snail mial! What a treat that is! You have a few things listed that I love but hadn’t included.
And hurray for you for breaking loose from “should” land.
There’s lots of mentioning of crisp clean sheets this week! Lovely!
What a wonderfully rich list of treats! And a beautiful collage too! I need to add some things to my list… ; )
I am drooling over your list. It is the little things in life that make us so happy! I am checking out your playlist as preparation for play week.
I agree Fatma, there are so many little things in life that bring me joy! Even thought is sometimes hard to remember to savor tiny moments of bliss.
I love this post. I love the way you described your sensory desires. I also love how you are using this book to break through perfectionism. It is also something that I am trying to tackle. Thank you so much for sharing.
There are so many little delights in life. I’m so glad that we’re sharing them, because it reminds me to pay attention to some I forgot to list. For example, my guilty pleasure tv show: Dancing With the Stars.
Love to think of you getting silly with Adam. Keep finding the joy in your togetherness.
Hugs,
Brenda
Love your post – me too I was glad to get a treat after all our hard work – love your quote – too true huh. Our lists have some similarities ;p Thanks for your comment on my post.
Thanks for sharing your journey with treats this week. Chocolate is one of my smile triggers also. What a wonderful collage.
love your list of treats. it’s been a real treat getting to know you. hugs!!
Hi there! I am so delighted to have found your blog after receiving a comment you left on mine–thank you and hello!
I adore your lists and most of all really relate to being a wee bit more gentle with myself in the process of the book. I too was feeling like I had a drill sergeant behind me (not sure if that was Martha or myself!) and am easing into a process that is more for me. Here’s to more of that…and more Top Chef this week!