Linn Academy Wisdom and Tips from Graduates!
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Delighting and Lighting Up in the Dance of Life
“DELIGHTer than Air” in Sedona, AZ ~ © Maria McGonigal
by Maria McGonigal, Soul Coaching® Advanced Trainer, and Master Practitioner
Delighting and Lighting Up in the Dance of Life
(During the Holiday Season and Beyond)
Words have always held a special place in my heart and have been a source of delight in my life.
From a young age, I loved exploring unusual words and diving deep into their meanings. Whenever I asked my father about a word, he never gave me a direct answer. Instead, he encouraged me to look it up myself, saying, “If I tell you, you might forget, but if you discover it on your own, it will stay with you forever.”
Later in life, a teacher encouraged us to research dictionary meanings when writing. I found profound messages in the roots and nuances of words, sparking inspiration that shaped my writing.
From this wellspring of curiosity, I invite you to reflect on the word “Delight”.
DELIGHT
“A state of profound satisfaction or pleasure; a joy that lingers beyond fleeting excitement. Delight differs from joy in its enduring, grounded quality — more than a burst of happiness, it is a steady current of contentment and fulfillment.”
The Soul Coaching® Oracle Card for December, DELIGHT, invites us to awaken the playful spark within.
“Clap your hands with joy and let your inner child play. Be silly or play hooky and take a day off. This isn’t the time to buckle down and get to work; it’s a moment to be madcap and spontaneous. Have fun!
Your spirit guardians are delighted when you’re filled with childlike wonder, joy, and exuberance! When one person feels true delight, that energy radiates outward like ripples on a pond, reaching even the farthest shores of humanity. Your pleasure can rejuvenate you and can have a powerful healing effect on others.”
This card calls us to embrace life’s wonders with curiosity and open hearts, release the grip of the inner taskmaster, and rediscover the sacred dance of play.
Delight is a sacred practice. It is a conscious choice you hold in your hands, a gift you share with your soul and others.
Yet for many, delight feels just out of reach.
One key reason lies in how our brains are wired. Humans evolved to focus more on threats than on pleasures, tuning us to spot danger first to survive.
This creates a negativity bias tendency to give more attention and emotional weight to negative experiences than positive ones.
Because of this, even after a mostly good day, one harsh comment can overshadow all the joy we experience. Negative moments linger longer and affect how we feel and decide more than positive ones.
This mindset limits how much delight we allow into our lives.
Understanding negativity bias helps us be gentle with ourselves when negative thoughts arise.
It encourages us to intentionally seek and savor moments of joy, helping to balance our natural tendencies and cultivate a more positive, resilient outlook.
4 Soul Coaching® Tips to Invite Delight into your life during the holiday season and beyond
1. Schedule Spontaneity
The holidays bring busy schedules.
Set aside at least one day, or even just an hour each week, for something unplanned.
Turn off your phone, wander, and say yes to what makes you smile.
2. Lighten Your Energy Field
Heavy emotions can mute delight.
Holiday gatherings often reunite us with loved ones who can stir up old patterns and tender feelings.
Remember, don’t let one harsh comment overshadow your joy.
Start your mornings with a cleansing breath or visualization:
Imagine golden light filling your heart and extending to all family members and everyone you meet.
3. Engage Your Inner Child
Recall what delighted you as a child.
Coloring, dancing, playing, listening to music, or watching clouds drift.
Bring that activity back into your life.
Your inner child holds the key to authentic joy, creativity, and pure delight.
4. Embrace the Magic of Music
Music delights my inner child.
As a special holiday gift to you, I’m sharing a song performed by my husband and me called “Light of the Angels”.
This song was originally written for the survivors (and those lost) of Hurricane Katrina, which is why I recite a French passage at the end.
Music quiets our busy minds, opening a space for creativity, imagination, and delightful expression.
It also brings us into silent agreement, harmony, and deep connection as a couple.
This magic isn’t limited to romantic relationships but it’s a powerful tool for any bond.
Simply put, it’s pure delight experienced through sound.
We invite you to listen by yourself as a Meditation or play it for your family or friends.
The Transformative Power of Delight
As you let delight flow through your days, expect your energy to shift.
You become a magnet for grace. Life responds with more reasons to smile.
What begins as play can unfold into profound healing.
Action Statement of Empowerment
Anytime you need a positive boost use this powerful Soul Coaching® Affirmation.
Pause, take a deep breath, smile softly, and affirm:
“I delight in everything in my world, and divine joy fills me.”
May the Angels of Delight Shower You with Blessings during the Holiday Season and Beyond
Maria McGonigal, Soul Coaching® Advanced Trainer
“In a fast changing world we may feel unbalanced, unsettled or even lost.
With no place to anchor ourselves, we are called to go within.
My passion is to guide you into the eye of the hurricane, that place of stillness anchored in your soul.
All of the answers you need spring from within.
I will assist you to listen and decode these messages and will guide you to access your deepest wisdom and craft the life of your dreams.”
I offer more than guidance, I offer soulful partnership on your journey to authentic living.
Drawing from my rich heritage and decades of experience as an artist, educator, I create immersive, sacred spaces where you can safely explore, heal, and transform.
My unique approach integrates Soul Coaching®, Yoga, Meditation, Sound Therapy, and Art into vibrant experiences that nurture self-discovery and invite you to mine for your inner gold.
Through customized guidance and honed intuition, I help you recognize patterns, release what no longer serves, and gently step into your most expansive self.
As a certified Soul Coaching® Advanced Trainer and Master Practitioner, Advanced Yoga & Meditation teacher, Acoustic Sound Therapy Practitioner, and International Bestseller in three collaborative books, I bring together diverse traditions and embodied wisdom.
My teachings, collaborative books, and creative offerings are designed to illuminate your path and spark inspiration within you.
Whether you join my trainings, classes, workshops, or private sessions, you’ll experience a unique blend of creative practices, holistic teachings, and heart-centered wisdom and support.
Above all, I offer an oasis, a sanctuary of beauty, safety, and possibility.
Here, you are invited to stay curious, shed limitations and rediscover your magnificence.
My clients find clarity, resilience, and empowerment while embracing a life lived with grace and authenticity.
If you’re ready for transformation and deeper connection to Self, I welcome you to join me and experience what’s possible.
I look forward to meeting you!
“Maria is a true master of her craft. Teacher, Mentor, leader & friend.”
Johanna Walsh ~ Certified Soul Coaching® Practitioner
October 19-26, 2018 in Prescott, AZ ~ USA
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