Living  the  Joyful  Life  -­‐  Week  08   7/27/1427  July  2014  

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Living the Joyful Life Week Eight

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Review of what we have learned so far

� Understanding the concepts motives us to do the exercises.

�  The exercises are what changes us. �  You have to keep doing them to rewire

your brain. �  You need daily practice. It can take two

years to rewire your brain. We want to practice so much that it becomes

instinctive, like driving home.

Living  the  Joyful  Life  -­‐  Week  08   7/27/1427  July  2014  

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Virtuous Cycle

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What exercises have I learned?

� Appreciation

� Immanuel

� Lectio Divina

� Returning to joy

� Knowing when to stop

� Attachment styles

Living  the  Joyful  Life  -­‐  Week  08   7/27/1427  July  2014  

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Let’s do one now!

� Appreciation

What is God grateful for?

What am I grateful for about myself?

What am I grateful to God for?

What person am I grateful for?

What am I grateful for today?

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Now we share our appreciation moments with

each other �  Tell the story to your group. Make sure you

use the words to describe how your body and how your emotions felt.

�  While telling the story maintain eye contact with your group.

�  Be dramatic! Let your emotions show.

Living  the  Joyful  Life  -­‐  Week  08   7/27/1427  July  2014  

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Group Guidelines � Sharing is strongly encouraged, but not

required. “Pass” is always an option.

�  Stay on topic, respect time limits, & make sure everyone gets a turn.

� Respect the confidentiality of what is shared; do not repeat it to others.

§  Tenderly protect each other’s flaws.

§ Supportive listening - always appropriate. Advice/criticism are not.

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What gets in the way? � When our relational circuits (RC) go

off, we can’t do relationships.

� Relational circuits are the part of your brain that does relationship.

� The same circuits that help you relate to people help you relate to God.

Living  the  Joyful  Life  -­‐  Week  08   7/27/1427  July  2014  

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Examples from our lives � Think of a time your RCs were on.

� Tell the person next to you about it.

� Think of a time your RCs were off.

� Tell the person next to you about it.

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Shalom for my body �  Four Moro reflexes (throwing back head) while

breathing in �  Four chants, When I am afraid, I will trust in you God

(Ps 56:3) while breathing out.

�  Four yawns to the right, while breathing in. �  Four chants to the front, while breathing out.

�  Four yawns to the left, while breathing in. �  Four chants to the front, while breathing out.

�  Four taps on the vagus nerve while breathing in. �  Four chants while massaging the vagus nerve while

breathing out.

Living  the  Joyful  Life  -­‐  Week  08   7/27/1427  July  2014  

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Relational Circuit Checklist �  Do I feel connected to __________?

�  Do I want to be connected to ___________?

�  Do I experience them as unique, valuable, relational beings?

�  Am I aware of their true heart?

�  Do I feel compassionate concern regarding what they are thinking or feeling?

�  Am I patient and tolerant (as opposed to impatient, intolerant, and irritable)?

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•  Am I free of judgment?

•  Do I experience their presence as a source of joy (as opposed to a problem to be solved or a resource to be used)?

•  Am I glad to be with them?

•  Am I comfortable making eye contact (other than angry glaring)?

•  Am I flexible and creative (as opposed to rigid and unable to think outside the box) with respect to thoughts and options?

•  From Outsmarting Yourself by Karl Lehman.

Living  the  Joyful  Life  -­‐  Week  08   7/27/1427  July  2014  

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Are our circuits on? � We want to create a welcoming place

for children

� Stack the chairs

� Greet them with a smile

� Respect their space.

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Other great ways to get circuits back on

� Appreciation

� Attunement

Living  the  Joyful  Life  -­‐  Week  08   7/27/1427  July  2014  

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Our Goal � To create a healing, maturing

community. A safe place where we can experience the joys and sorrows of life together.

� To stay aware of our RCs and get them back on when they go off.

� To form that secure attachment to God

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� Outsmarting Yourself, Karl Lehman, 2011, KCLehman.com.

� Theophostic.com, Ed Smith.

� A Redeemed Life@wordpress.org (search on Relational circuits)