Five years ago I made a decision that radically changed my life fo-evah! I left my near 20-year career with the corporate world.
Being a diehard idealist, I questioned my involvement with for-profit focused corporations when most companies were remaining intensely prioritizing monetary profit above people and planet.
That year I gave birth to my third child, another new teacher … my Sonshine (pictured with my 2nd daughter/teacher above). I gifted myself an extended absence from my career which allowed space and time to fully experience each and every moment as it came to me without the pull of career responsibilities and to-do-lists.
This opening led me to reconsider every way I used my personal energy and to contemplate my life based using the joy factor.
Simply put, the joy factor is anything we do to INTENTIONALLY create joy or limit suffering in our lives or in the lives of those close to us.
I stopped long enough to witness the pure joy of humanity through my children’s human being-ness.
I ceased my self-created and self-imposed insanity of my too busy over-scheduled hectic demanding “perfect” life.
My purpose and intentions shifted and I lightened.
I gave up my fancy titles and my corporate income.
I assessed my vanity. I stopped wearing makeup and trendy dresses and suits. I bucked societal expectations and amazingly truly started enjoying life again, fully in the moment, with baby spit-up on my shirt, beds unmade, children laughing and covered in paint, and dirty dishes in the sink.
I really embraced my life and my power to choose how and where I spend my energy. I consciously committed to my own JOY.
I found new and unusual ways to love myself and started to celebrate my imperfections. I realized I was perfectly imperfect and hugged myself daily (and all my squishy parts too). I embraced the white hairs on my head and wrinkles on my face, and felt gratitude for them as sacred visual gifts reminding me of my time spent on earth.
I realized that if I can’t love and accept myself exactly as I am in my most natural state, then however did my children stand a chance to do the same for themselves? Especially amidst the media-created-mirage of “beauty”?!
I was terrified that I could somehow contribute to their marginalization.
I am my children’s first teacher and they may mirror me. I must become the change I wish to see in the world. My little cherubs’ inner beauty: their gorgeous bright spirits, their souls ah-blazing … I must contribute to the preservation of their true essence, by being real and flawed and true to my heart.
Young children shine a lovelight so bright, their joy is contagious.
Larger than my own energy and life, I could feel the possibility that my children do not have to disconnect from their source, their true nature. They do not have to become guarded, limited or apathetic. They can believe that being human means being true to themselves and embracing and celebrating their uniquities.
The joy factor created a startling personal revelation that beckoned me to change my course, to live with a renewed profound purpose; to love myself, love my children, to love all people on earth as the miraculous marvels we are… exactly as we are, perfectly imperfect.
Enough about me, what about YOU? How is YOUR joy? Have you ever reassessed and reactivated your daily energy to intensify your joy? Please comment below….
Ooooh, and please know you are invited to join me in an In Box adventure I’m calling JOYFUeL. Registration closes on 30th November. Inbox JOY sent beginning 1st December for 44 days. No requirements, no cost, just joy-infusions sent to you with lots of love.
❤ becky ❤
Today’s post is featured as part of the Moods of Motherhood blogging carnival celebrating the launch of the second edition of Moods of Motherhood: the inner journey of mothering by Amazon bestselling author, Lucy H. Pearce (published by Womancraft Publishing).
Today over 40 mothers around the world reflect on the internal journey of motherhood: raw, honest and uncut. To see a list of the other contributors and to win your own copy visit Dreaming Aloud.net
ɛïɜ let your SOUL shine ɛïɜ 
Although not as deeply embedded in the corporate world I was a single-parent, and when my daughter was 6 I quit my job to start my own business – mostly so I could be the person to raise my daughter. I was criticized until people saw I could work 9-2:30 and still have money for fun stuff. It was a struggle and pretty scary at times, but I cherish the time I had to be her mom moment to moment 🙂
Your story is so inspiring Becky! I wish I had your courage to leave corporate life. I admit to a lot of fear if I am again the sole breadwinner in our family, having faced that reality before. and that this fear colors my decisions. I hope to work through this!!
I agree with Pam – the word I was left with after reading your post was inspired. I love how you followed your heart and are not looking back. I’m excited about JoyFuel!
There are so many different ways to live. I’m so glad that you and your family have found a balance that respects your humanity and theirs’, and that adds to the joy of each of you!