How much pleasure can you handle?

At what point while having fun or indulging yourself does your body rebel and “punish” you? Today, I was having a joyful day of meditating in the morning, walking my dogs, researching my latest writing project, reading ‘A Course in Miracles’ in the bathtub, getting an hour foot massage (for $25) and delighting in a chocolate croissant and refresh tea when – I stubbed my toe. That was my maximum. It was about 10 hours of pleasure. That’s pretty good. But then my ego said…I can’t take it. We’re not used to this much goodness and ease and peace. I must intervene. I must reel it back. So…ouch!

Of course, I worked my magic on my foot and it was fine in no time, but it reminded me of the ego’s thermostat for joy and pleasure and my determination to break it. As children our bodies build an internal monitor of pleasure and pain. The ego is trying to keep us safe at all times so it adjusts to the level of crazy we were raised with. Then, everything you try to do above (or below) that level gets the rubberband effect. We naturally readjust to what we are used to. This is one of the reasons it is challenging to break an unhealthy pattern. It is almost as if our body tells us to take our negative medicine to keep everything as is.

But it is breakable! I went from being miserable 85-100% of the time in my teens to being joyful 85-100% decades later. Yes, it took work. I employed a plethora of healing techniques, but just as importantly, I set my intention to be more joyful everyday and I push the boundaries of pleasure and fun relaxing into greater and greater joy. I pay attention to when negative thoughts, feelings and actions come up. When I am able, I give them love and understanding as I know they are just wounded pieces of my ego that need attention.

So, here’s the challenge… get out your thermometer and take your temperature. Where you at? Can you raise your bar? Can you have a scooch more joy? An inch more pleasure? Can you add sensuality to washing the dishes to make them more enjoyable? Can you give yourself a hug or kiss just for fun? Can you relax your body and feel into the spots where there is space for more joy? And then can you close your eyes and let pleasure well up inside?

Fredrick Dodson tells us we can increase our joy just by getting silent and willing it to increase. 10 fold, 100 fold, 10,000 fold. Try it. It just might lift your spirits and raise your thermometer a whole new level…

In case you think affirmations don't work...

Once an affirmation is stated, the universe quickly conspires to fulfill it. Whether you ask to be “beautiful, bountiful and blissful” or “to have more money or peace in your life”, as soon as you make the request, changes start to occur.

The reason that many people believe affirmations don’t work is that in order to get to the frequency of "bliss" or "peace" or "more money", oftentimes we must clear a bunch of crap in our bodies and heads and spirits in order to feel it. 

So, we ask for a soulmate relationship and then we find ourselves sick. What? That’s not what I asked for? But actually, it is. Because your body has gone into a state of clearing the muck and toxins that we consume, breath, eat, let in everyday. This is the path to your soulmate relationship. First, you have to clear every little negative thought, toxin, counter-intention standing in the way of your aligning with that soulmate vibration. 

You ask to be “joyfully content” and suddenly you feel depressed. That’s not what I asked for! Affirmations don’t work! But actually that is the affirmation working! That affirmation is connecting you to feelings you have to feel and clear in order to be blissfully content. We have to clear our old traumas and toxins in order to feel our natural joy and loving being.  Otherwise, we just continue in our negative, repetitive, anxious thought patterns.

Your spirit in co-creation with the universe instantly starts to move things to align with your intention. The trouble is we give up right when we are at the goal line. We poo-poo our affirmations and consume more toxins to cope with not getting what we longed for, dreamed, wished and intended. 

But I know firsthand that once you clear your issues, fun and joy and laughter are waiting to be enjoyed. 

So, take a chance, give it a go…state what you intend loud and clear: 

"I am joyfully connected to my loving family." 

"I am surrounded by people who love and support my vision." 

"I am a gift to the world and the world is grateful to have me in it." 

Whatever your highest vision for yourself is: dream it, envision it, visualize it, intend it and then allow the universe to work its magic. 

Whatever happens say “thank you” for the clearing and healing. 

I know it is hard to disconnect from the pain, but if you can say "thank you for those tears, I know they will wash away what's blocking me from my vision." 

I know it's a challenge, but try "thank you for this temporary setback, as it is forcing me to look at what I need to change to obtain my goal." 

And not identifying with the self-doubt or illusion, say "thank you for these negative thoughts that I didn’t realize they were still lurking in my subconscious. I remember them from my childhood and I know they are no longer true." 

And then let it them go. Feel them and release them and then allow the beauty, the bliss, the light, the joy, the ease, the fun to fill up in the space you cleared. 

And realize the truth of who you are: A co-creator. A powerful light. A gift from God. Part of the glorious evolution toward all that is good.

PS. This is not to say that every raising of your vibration necessitates a negative kickback, it doesn't. Much clearing can done effortlessly through Grace. To co-create this, set your intention for a transformation filled with ease and grace and then trust the universe to set the best course for you.

Can you feel your magnificence today?

Can you feel your magnificence today? 

Can you feel yourself light up the room? 

Can you feel the joy you radiate to others with your smile? 

Can you feel the infinite nature of your goodness? 

Can you acknowledge your greatness? 

Can you allow your divinity? 

Can you open your heart to deeper knowledge of your goodness? Your loving? 

Can you let go of being small? Can you let go of being smart? Can you let go of being right? Can you let go of needing someone else to acknowledge you for you? 

Can you feel your infinite value? 

Can you feel your delicious vibration?

 Can you allow your highest self and glow with the love of another? 

Can you let compassion fill your heart where you are angry or confused? 

Can you let your imagination take you to paradise on earth? A playground surrounded by rainbows protected by angels. With pungent blossoming flowers. 

Can you receive energy into your body from the sun? Can you bring the sun into your heart to light you up and radiate your goodness? 

Can you bask in the ease of doing nothing but being whole? Can you allow everything that you are? Can you relax and trust that you are taken care of? 

Can you feel your essence strong like a diamond reflecting, reflecting, and reflecting light to all that you meet? 

Can you feel your heart like the thousand petalled lotus opening in joy. In beauty. 

Can you let go of judging others? Of judging yourself? Let go of limits. Experience your full radiance? Can you forgive yourself when you do judge? 

Can you feel courage and strength within yourself? 

Can you allow life to be more fun, blissful, more joyful and pleasurable? Can you allow that you’re on your perfect path. Correcting when you need to. 

Can you allow yourself to enjoy your life’s journey? 

Can you allow yourself to enjoy your transformation? 

Can you be kinder to yourself today? 

Can you melt with compassion for all that you’ve been through and know that every other being has been through something too? 

Can you allow everything to be okay? Or something greater than yourself to work it out? Letting go of what no longer serves you. Opening up to feeling the love that is your nature. Wrapping yourself in arms that love you. Nourishing yourself from the sun, the air, the earth, the ether, all the days of your life.

May you feel surrounded by angels, delight in your own divinity, and reveal your true nature to all that you meet. Sat nam.