Maintaining Your Joy in Extreme Adversity

The balancing act of maintaining high vibration energy while the energy of fear from others surrounds you is as tricky as a high-wire act. I've been straddling the abyss myself a lot recently.

I can't say I completely blame those in fear. I've been there, focused on what I don't want, instead of what I do. But the one thing that I've learned over the years is that you get what you focus on. So I'd rather focus on joy.

So, how do you maintain joy in extreme adversity? Here are some things I suggest to stay in that vibration:

1. Remove yourself from the low-vibration energy. Don't engage in discussions that raise your fear or your anger, and distance yourself from naysayers. They may want to stick to you like glue, but get away from them as fast as you can, even if they are close family. Let them be in their own misery; you don't have to participate or engage.

2. Listen to and watch information that is helpful and positive. I highly recommend the new DVD, Quest for Success, with visionaries such as the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Jack Canfield, and Marci Shimoff sharing their stories and advice on success and how to achieve it. It's beautiful and inspiring.

3. Continue to focus on shining your divine light for others to see. Be your brilliance; let others see your gratitude and joy and they will begin to respond in the same way.

4. Share what you have with others. Whether it's a piece of positive news, money, or donating blankets for the homeless, what can you give to others that will continue that cycle of giving and receiving? We will all have to come together as a community for us to get through this period of uncertainty.

5. Keep a gratitude journal. What are you thankful for? Even if it's as simple as a warm bed to sleep in, write it down before you go to sleep. What you think of as you fall asleep will not only affect your rest, but you will start the next day at a higher level vibration.

6. Continue to focus on what you want to manifest in your life. The universe can't respond if it doesn't know what you truly desire.

7. Be ready to receive what you want to bring into your life. If you aren't the container for what you want, even if it appears, you won't see it or won't be ready to have it and it will not remain.

8. Read inspirational and uplifting information.

9. Keep in mind, this too shall pass. One thing that struck me before I stopped reading the doom and gloom: every news story recites history and how we somehow always made it through to better times. Focus on where you want to be, not the past. If there is anxiety or regret, you are no longer in the moment, and no longer in a space where joy can enter.

10. Remember, you have a choice. You can choose to stay in fear, or you can choose to be in joy. Remarkably, it's no harder to choose joy.