Bliss

"If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in the field of your bliss, and they open the doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be. If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else." ~ Joseph Campbell



This was the quote of the day from Gratefulness.org. It seemed to strike a chord with me. Yet, to be honest, I'm not sure what "bliss" is exactly. The dictionary says it is "supreme happiness, utter joy or contentment, the joy of heaven." I think, however, it's become kind of a new age catch-all term like "paradigm shift." What, may I ask is a paradigm?

So I ask what is my bliss? How do I find out? And then how do I follow it? From what Campbell says, I think it must be something that starts in my gut and radiates out. I can usually tell if something is right or wrong for me by trusting my gut. When it feels like it's grabbing me from the inside out, I've learned I should pay attention, although I don't always do it.

Before I moved home 15 years ago, I had a "feeling" that I was heading in the right direction. I used my head for the logistics of the move, but I didn't spend a lot of time judging the pros and cons of the move. I'd like to believe that even though there was money involved it wasn't the primary concern. "Taking care of my parents" had a kind of angelic, good-girl appeal to it. But it was also more than that. When I first got here I wasn't the caregiver I've become. I was just another person in the house to help out. While I felt (and still do) that my return home was Divinely orchestrated, I'm not sure I'd call it bliss.

Is bliss the same as love? I love my Sweetie with all my heart. I was okay with the way things were going for most of our relationship. When the whole marriage thing came up last Spring, I knew in my gut, mind and heart that it was important to make our union "official." I was/am very happy. Is marriage the bliss that will "open doors for me?"

In my uncertainty, I'm left with two things that may or may not be my bliss. Should I point my bliss GPS in their direction? The Guild of the Christ Child ministry that I started continues to touch me in a way I can't quite explain, even when I can't do what I want to make it bigger and better. It sits on a back burner of my life and I've had to learn that that is okay for now. The other thing is writing. Does following my bliss mean making a concerted effort to write seriously? What does that look like? Is writing a blog serious enough? What doors might open for me if I set my intentions to write a book - a real book? Does it follow that once my "bliss" is named that my fears will disappear?

As this year draws to an end, I see a different future looming before me. While I don't know when my Dad will pass away, I can be pretty sure that it will be sooner rather than later. Of course, I thought that last year too. I don't want to spend the next 365 days waiting for life to come to me. I want to reach out and grab it. I think it's about time to find and begin pursue this thing called bliss. Got any suggestions?

Wishing for you days of utter joy,
Merry ME

Comments

MamaJoe said…
I pray you find your bliss and grab ahold of it like the elusive brass ring.
Blessings to you in 2011...Blessings and Bliss.

Debbie
Fire Byrd said…
Finding your bliss is being fully in this moment right now as you read this. It's about stopping and thinking about how you are, physically and mentally, like moving your leg if you are uncomfortable. Allowing yourself to obversve say, your bad temper, and then allowing yourself to change your mindset just like you moved your leg. Then to allow yourself a moment to be, hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting the world around you right now and giving a prayer for thankfulness for this moment, then you find bliss.It is the Buddhist concept of being in the moment, and it truely works regardless of any religious belief. As it's about the spirtual moment at one with the world. Go on try it you've nothing to loose and a lot to gain!
Happy New Year
xx
QnDani said…
"I think it's about time to find and begin pursue this thing called bliss. Got any suggestions?"

since you asked....

mindfulness & gratitude.

and then go read Terri's blog on welding. THAT is bliss described and defined.
Jennifer said…
I've had blissful moments but I can't say I've found my bliss. I'm learning every day to change how I think - to think of others and yet think of me. To not be so wounded but not shut myself off. It took a long time to hide my inner core to feel safe...to not be the outgoing, laughing, bubbly person I always have been. The edge was gone. But I'm resurfacing. Your bliss - you may not see it - but I see it shining through - the beauty of the person you are. What you seek? I'm not sure. What you give - it's so very evident in your words. Thank you and may you find what you are looking for and have joy and comfort. Jennifer
Jennifer said…
Let me know which book you're reading by Maya - and what you think. A friend sent me a bracelet that had beads reading "phenomenal woman" with the poem right after I had my kidney removed for Kidney Cancer and I fell in love all over again with her writings and poems. Her biography is very interesting. Jennifer

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