Posts by Maria Hill
Joy: The Benefits Of Healthy Sharing
What has happened to sharing? It seems we are all messed up on the topic. We have over-sharing, under-sharing, boundary violations that distort sharing, and all sorts of behavior that mucks up the possibilities of a natural way of community. That may sound harsh; after all so many people get up every day despite all…
Read MoreJoy And Delight
Most people think of joy as a feeling, and it is. When we make joy our anchor and compass, it brings us important benefits. The Energy Of Joy Joy is more than a happy feeling. It can be that, but it is actually a lot more. Joy is the feeling of rightness. It comes from…
Read MoreSpite: Is It Always Negative?
The Spite House: Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst on Unsplash Spite is a close cousin of anger and resentment. It is a combination of resentment and defiance which make our lives and the lives of others miserable. Spite and the feuds it creates have a long history and some hidden benefits. What Is Spite? According to Dictionary: a malicious, usually…
Read MoreHave We Misplaced Surrender?
What is surrender? When you hear the word, do you cringe – even a little? Surrender is often associated with humiliation. Because war is central to how we too often view life, when we think surrender, we usually think of a defeat and a humiliation. We can too often be defeated even when we are…
Read MoreA Different Kind Of Bold
Joy has many special and overlooked qualities and, as a practice, becomes a different kind of bold. Boldness and aggression have been joined at the hip for a long time. How often, when we are prodded to be bolder, is it about “getting out there” or “pushing the envelope?” How often are we asked whether…
Read MoreRelease The Baggage – Meet The Real You!
We all carry baggage from the past. We can feel it in our energy. We know it is in our minds especially when we are ruminating on something we do not understand or something that has hurt us. Many of us work with meditations of various kinds and other exercises to release the burdensome feelings…
Read MoreThe Value Of Uselessness
Being useless feels awful. Being useful feels good, doesn’t it? It is nice to feel valued and know we are valued. It helps us to feel secure. It also means we are supported by others and welcome in the world. Is There A Stigma For Uselessness? As a highly sensitive person, I suspect that…
Read MoreTwo Different Freedoms
Freedom is an important subject. It is something that we all yearn for and seek in some way. Freedom is also the subject of ideological and political mischievousness. We can easily get bogged down and messed up on this subject. What Is Freedom? According to Dictionary, freedom is: the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. the power to determine action without restraint. political or national independence. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom. Notice…
Read More50 Gifts From A Joy Practice
Too often, we can get wrapped around the axle by problems, worries, and drama, all of which consume our time and energy and offer us little in return. Wouldn’t it be great to change that? The truth is we can. Joy is not just a feeling. Joy is an intelligence, an anchor, a practice, a…
Read MoreThe Joy Of Meeting The Moment
One of my favorite phrases is “meeting the moment.” Do you know what it is? Have you ever had the experience of meeting the moment? Meeting the moment is more than being present. It is what you do when you are present like the bird in the image. What Is Meeting The Moment? What does…
Read More