how to unearth the {JOY}

Linking up today with the community of writers at Lisa Jo Baker's blog for Five Minute Friday. Today her writing prompt is joy. The idea is to write for just five minutes on the prompt of the day. No backtracking or worrying about perfection. Won't you come and join us?

Sometimes the joy is hard to come by. 

Sometimes you wake up in the morning with a scowl on your face and you’d just as soon slip back under the covers and pull them over your head. 

Who wants to face a day without joy?

On those days where joy is hard to come by, what do you do? 

The joy seems to be the hidden treasure. It seems to be at the bottom of a stack of folded woolen blankets that have been stored for spring and summer.

One way, and really the best way I’ve discovered to unearth the joy is with pen and paper. Yes, that’s right. 

Two very simple tools. 

You don’t even need a shovel.

See, those negative emotions have been building up over time. 

Maybe over the week, or the month or the year. Or even your lifetime. The negative emotions have taken up residence and need to be sent on a permanent vacation.

1. Take your pen in your hand. 

Poised to write now, you have your journal or just a piece of paper in front of you.

2. Start writing. 

Write down the anger, the pressure, the responsibilities you have. No one needs to see this. This is for your eyes only.

There is something almost magical.

I can tell you from experience.

There is something magical about this process of letting the negative emotions come out of your heart and soul, down your arm and onto the paper.

It’s like draining the sink of dirty dishwater after your chores.

It clears your heart, your mind and your soul.

I strongly urge you to try this technique if joy has been hard to come by for you. 

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Thanks for stopping by today, friend! Here's to finding the joy!