QUOTE FROM THE HEART
In each issue of Heartsong, I will open with a quote, poem or lyric, which I have found inspiring and uplifting. Today's quote reminds us of the need for joy in our lives and world, and how, in truth, joy lies all around us.

"The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world's joy."

Henry Ward Beecher

A NOTE FROM KIM
Welcome to today's issue of Heartsong, September is flying by quickly for me, and, as it is one of my favorite months of the year, I'm cherishing every moment. We're getting an abundance of rain, but are anticipating some sunshine to grace us very shortly.

I want to apologize again for having to revise my teleclass schedule. If you go to:
http://www.seminarannouncer.com and look up my classes in the "personal development" section, I've gotten those dates corrected. The dates on my site have also been corrected. As I mentioned in my previous email, the dial-in numbers and actual class times will remain the same, and only the dates will change. Thanks for your understanding.

My next teleclass is "Taking the Stress Out of Stress: How to Turn Your Stress Into Bliss." The new revised time is Thursday, September 21, at 8:00 PM, ET. We all lead hectic, stress-filled lives, and in this class, I give some great tips on how to take your stress and turn it into something positive and motivational. Come join the fun! You may register at: http://www.kimloftis.com/classes.htm 
I look forward to meeting you in class.

Finally, I would be very grateful if you could please take a minute out of your day to join me in saying a prayer or thinking a thought for my dear friend and web mistress, Kate, and her family. They're going through a difficult period right now, and I know any thoughts and prayers for healing, joy and resolution would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all very much.

Also, you may visit Kate's wonderful site, Soul Kisses, at: http://www.soulkisses.com/

until next time, enjoy the rest of today's issue!

Love,
Kim

FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE, WITH LOVE
A lighthouse serves as a beacon of hope in a violent storm. A lighthouse sheds light on our worries and troubles, and brings us joy and peace. Therefore, in each Heartsong issue, I will include an article, which will help to guide you through the dark and troubled times, or lighten and brighten your heart and life in a special way. In today's Lighthouse article, we're going to talk about joy, it's importance in our lives, and how to receive more of it each and every day!

Overflowing Joy: How To Fill Your Life with Joy, Each and Every Day

When I think of the times in my life when I was completely and totally filled to the brim with joy, I always smile and thank God for such joyful moments. I'm sure those of you reading this article can relate to that. When we are joyful, we feel as if we've got the world on a string, so to speak. We know that life is great, that things can only get better, and that others will pick up on our joy and begin to feel great, too!

Unfortunately, most of us have trouble hanging on to those joyful moments. They're there one minute, and the next... poof, we feel rotten and depressed, and are left wondering, "Where did my joy go?"

The good news is, there are tools we can use to assist us in staying more joyous, more often! Staying in joy all the time is a process, and it takes work and practice. But the more we can live in joy, the happier, healthier and more abundant our lives will be. Here are some tips to help you learn to live life from a place of overflowing joy.

Remember your joyful moments. I already mentioned this tip earlier in passing. When we remember past experiences or circumstances that put us in a place of joy, just the memory of that joy draws more joy to us. When we are thinking of a joyful situation, we open ourselves to feel that joy again. Remembering past joys is like turning on a faucet that pours more joy into our present lives. Thank about your joyful moments often, and feel what a great difference it makes in the joy you experience right now.

Find joyful companions. If you constantly spend time with people who are complaining about how bad, empty and unproductive their lives are, their negativity will bring you down and make you feel unhappy, as well. In contrast, if you choose to spend time with people who are always looking at the positive, who see their glass as half-full, and who are striving to make their lives more fulfilled, their enthusiasm and positive attitudes will raise your spirits and bring you more joy, just by association. Joy is contagious! If you're open to receive the joy of others, you will become more joyful.

Do things that bring you joy. Find joyful activities to engage in during your spare time. If you don't have any spare time... make some! We all need to take a few minutes each day to do things that bring us joy. Read a chapter of a beloved book, watch a favorite show on TV, indulge in a favorite food, or go for a walk and enjoy the beauty around you. If you take some time to think about it, you can find an activity that will bring more joy into your days.

Find joy in the activities that aren't so joyful. This one can be tough. However, if you want to be more joyous more often, it's important to find joy in all that we do. If you're doing laundry, for instance, think of the joy found in the ability to wear fresh clean clothes. If you have a job you don't find joy in, find something about your work that can bring you happiness, such as that you're able to help others in some way, etc. Find what works for you.

Laugh as often as possible. Laughter is a fantastic time of joy! Children laugh hundreds of times each day, but as adults, it's often something we don't do enough in our lives. Allow yourself to laugh openly, fully and often. The joy that laughter will bring you is immense!

I wish you days filled with overflowing joy!

Also, remember that I offer personalized life coaching services, which may be of great assistance in helping you to discover and cultivate more joy in your life. Call or email me for more information, or to set up a free forty-five minute coaching session to see whether coaching is right for you.

Also, while we're on the topic of joy, here's a lovely website that I discovered while searching for the perfect joy quote for today's issue. Check it out.
www.imaginesongs.com/joy.html

HOME AND HEARTH
In this section of the newsletter, I will provide tips to help you to bring your own creativity, spirituality and unique talents into your everyday life, and, more specifically, into your home.

A Gentle Glow: Using Candles to Warm Your Home's Atmosphere

Candles have all kinds of wonderful uses, and are terrific home accents. They come in all colors, shapes, sizes, and many are aromatic, as well. There uses range from racing your dining room table, to creating a rich ambiance for a romantic evening. Aromatic candles can enrich our homes with uplifting fragrances. Depending on the color, candles can either raise our spirits with lovely reds and royal purples, or soothe our souls with cool blues or delicate silvers.

A technique I once learned involving candles, is to use them in meditation. By concentrating on a gently glowing candle flame, and allowing our thoughts to melt away in the process, we can achieve a relaxing and/or meditative state, helping us to reduce our stress levels and increase our well-being.

My Cherokee mentor has often told me that by keeping a candle lit, it lets the spirits of our ancestors know that they are welcome in our homes at all times. Candles are welcoming in general, and so you may want to light a few when guests or family members pay you a visit. They tend to lighten and brighten the mood of any gathering.

Enjoy using candles to warm and brighten your home's atmosphere.

PRAYER FROM THE HEART
Each issue of Heartsong will feature a prayer, either from my own heart, one which I hold dear in my own life, or one suggested to me by others. I hope they will speak to your spirit, as well.

"Oh that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory; that Your hand would be with me and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"

The Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10)

HEARTSONG REFLECTION
Until our next issue, reflect on the joys in your life, both past, present and future. What people, places and circumstances bring you joy? What ways can you think of to increase your joy and the joy of your loved ones?

Love, Light and Blessings,

Kim

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Heartsong is a biweekly publication, and is published on the first and third Sunday of each month. All content is copyright Kim Loftis, unless otherwise indicated.
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Have any questions or comments about this issue, or about Heartsong in general? If so, please don't hesitate to email me.   Kim@KimLoftis.com 
And who knows? Your questions may inspire an article for an upcoming issue! Your questions and comments help me to make Heartsong as engaging, fun and inspiring as possible, and I thank you in advance!
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For compassionate, personalized spiritual healing and coaching services straight from my heart, please visit my website: http://www.kimloftis.com   I would be honored to serve you today!
Until the next issue of Heartsong, let your heart sing, and I send you all my love!