I began this year with “Fighting Parkinson’s, and 2026…the year of joy!” Part of feeling joy on the inside is the creation of internal joy. Today is part 4 of creating internal joy.
Creating internal joy
In the last three blog posts, I explained how smiling at people was a first step in creating internal joy. Also, adding conversation to the smiling was how I increased the internal joy. Moreover, these are part of the mind healing of the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery®. Finally, in part 3, I explained how I faced my internal demons, defeated them, and found more joy.
If you have not read the creation of internal joy parts 1-3, here they are. Also, reading them prior to reading part 4 will assist in understanding part 4.
- Click here to read the creation of internal joy part 1.
- Click here to read the creation of internal joy part 2.
- Click here to read the creation of internal joy part 3.
Understanding an old bad habit
In part 3, I explained:
“Moreover, instead of trying to fight back against the internal demons, I took the conversation to God with gratitude. Additionally, I accomplished this by using the criticisms against themselves. Each criticism was a reminder that I was doing something, so I gave gratitude for the ability to do whatever I was doing.”
Doing this was quite wonderful and brought me a lot of joy. However, I realized that I still was engaged in an old bad habit from the past. I was being reactive in my life rather than proactive. I was waiting for the complaint about what I was doing, and then defeating it with gratitude for the ability to do.
Moreover, I realized that in my life, I had created this old bad habit of waiting for something unpleasant to happen. Additionally, I then would jump into action to deal with whatever unpleasant thing just happened.
Finally, it occurred to me that this old bad habit created fear-based adrenaline. Also, it was the fear-based adrenaline that fueled the Parkinson’s symptoms to the surface as it drove down dopamine-based joy.
Creating a new good habit
As a result of understanding the dynamic of my behavioral past habits, I knew I needed a new good habit. Also, the new good habit needed to fuel dopamine-based joy and drive down adrenaline-based fear.
Additionally, I realized that I already was giving gratitude reactively for what I could do (creating joy part 3). Finally, this propelled me into my new good habit of being proactive in my life by being proactive in my gratitude. Essentially, I began giving gratitude in advance for what I already had…the ability to do things.
It looked like this:
“Thank you. I am _____.”
(The blank is what I already could do).
“Thank you. I am ______.”
“Thank you” is gratitude in advance for what I already had (the ability to move and to do things). Also, “I am” is Spirit self. Additionally, the ____ is the movement the body will do in response to “Thank you. I am ____.”
Examples.
I would get to the front of the chair. Also, I would have my feet pointing forward close to the chair, not way out in front away from the chair.
Moreover, prior to the standing, I would say or think, “Thank you. I am standing up from the chair.” Finally, I would stand straight up from the chair with no thinking.
I would go to drink a glass of water. Also, I would look at the water glass.
Additionally, prior to reaching for the glass, I would say or think, “Thank you. I am having a sip of water.” Finally, I would pick up the glass and take a sip of the water with no thinking.
Practicing walking. I would prepare myself and have my head up, looking forward.
Also, prior to taking a step, I would say or think, “Thank you. I am walking across the room (or wherever I was going to walk).” Finally, I took a step and walked across the room, or to the kitchen, or down the street, wherever I was going to walk with no thinking.
Moreover, I began doing this “Thank you. I am ___” prior to every movement. Additionally, I realized that it would get the body following my Spirit self again, just like the fluid movement I had throughout life prior to the Parkinson’s.
“Thank you. I am _____.” Gratitude = Joy = Dopamine
The more I said or thought “Thank you. I am ____” prior to every movement, the more I increased my internal joy. Also, the more I increased my internal joy, the more I released dopamine. Moreover, there was proof: My fluid movement was returning.
As you know, when I put a plan together to re-write the old habits and turn them into new positive habits, I was relentless in my actions. Also, this was no different. Additionally, I was watching my fluid movement return.
One day, I was in the kitchen drinking a glass of water. Also, in that moment, the most amazing realization arrived:
I had been in the living room moments earlier, and I had not said or thought, “Thank you. I am getting up from the chair; Thank you. I am walking to the kitchen; Thank you. I am pouring a glass of water; Thank you. I am drinking the glass of water.” I put down the glass and cried.
Finally, my fluid movement was returning, and in that situation, I had not needed the “Thank you. I am ____” to be able to move without thinking…pre-Parkinson’s movement without thinking. Also, my crying was from the joy that rose from my heart and soul in that moment. I knew I was finishing my recovery.
Conclusion
I continued doing the gratitude in advance, “Thank you. I am ___” as I knew one time of fluid movement was a notification that was on the right track. Also, my relentlessness of gratitude in advance helped me get back all of my fluid movement and finish my full recovery.
Extra inspiration for you
I have posted the following video in the past. However, what struck me about it is when Denzel Washington says, “Say thank you in advance for what is already yours.” It is exactly what I had done in finishing my recovery. Additionally, as my gratitude in advance for what I already had evolved, my gratitude for this life and everything in this life grew as well.
Let’s be grateful for each day of this life and for each other!
Please post a comment below and let us know how much joy you feel inside when you give gratitude in advance for what you already have!
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Wow!! I’m taking this to heart. Thank you Howard!!
Thank you Howard! I just finished reading the blog and then I watched the “Thankyou” video! What an awesome reminder of the myriad of things I have to be thankful for! The main takeaway for me was that I need/must be thankful “IN ADVANCE” before doing “ANYTHING”. That will require a lot of daily practice in which I will fall down, get back up, fall down, get back up, etc….and keep on practicing thankfulness and gratitude “IN ADVANCE” before I do anything! As I watched the video this morning I inserted God after each Thank you in the video because God is the Spirit inside of me and the source of my “internal joy” and my “eternal joy” that I long to experience everyday of my life! IN ADVANCE, Thank you God for Howard, Thank you God for Recipe that I GET to do everyday, Thank you God for every mile that I hike each day: Goal, 2-4 miles each day. Thank you God for an infinite list of things I have to be thankful and grateful for.
Lastly I thank you God, for placing within my heart, soul and mind the desire for FULL RECOVERY from my Parkinson symptoms. PS I am grateful for all the wonderfully encouraging comments in the BLOG each week! An awesome reminder that we are not alone in our quest for FULL RECOVERY!
Thank you!!!!!
Thank you!
As I watched the video I realized the volume was high and the windows open.
There was a split second in which I was going to turn the volume down, but then I realized: Let all my neighbors hear this, let everyone be inspired!
Thank you for the ability to soar with inspiration, Thank you for the ability to be inspired & to inspire others, Thank you for my life, my recovery, my journey, and the love that’s everywhere on the way…
Thank you, Howard, and dear fellow travelers, you are all an inspiration!
Thank you! I can relate to so many aspects of this blog. Yesterday at work, I felt a new surge of positivity and nearly forgot all about symptoms. Also, I noticed how much people come to talk to me about their own health concerns when they see my symptoms, and I realise that it’s a big blessing to connect with others in this way. Before, I had no idea, so many people have such a variety of health issues that they quietly manage without sharing them. Thank you for this helpful formula, Howard, and thank you to all of you in this community, for the comments and encouragement and shared experiences : )
Thank you Howard for another inspiring post. I have so many good and positive things in my life and I thank God every day for each and every one of them. I am so grateful for the recovery that is coming. Keep smiling!!
Thank you Howard for completing the formula! You added Gratitude as the action to achieve Joy which results in Dopamine.
In every moment and cirumstance there is something that we can be thankful for. Thank you Howard for pointing this out and for re-sharing this powerful video! It really shows what is in our control and the positive steps we can take.
I am thankful of your personal example to help show us a way to complete the formula and fight Parkinson’s.
Gratitude practice both before and after the event is easy, but not so easy is doing it from the heart rather than just the mind. I’m hoping that by following the practice it will shift to the heart.
Thank you Howard for your support and fellow warriors for your comments.
Being thankful in advance has helped me tremendously over the last few days as I struggle with worsening symptoms. There is a joy to practicing this and realizing if I acknowledge what I can do and am thankful in advance the doing gets easier.
Very grateful for you Howard and Thank You for continuing to mentor to all of us.
Joy = dopamine!
Sandra, thank you for your words of encouragement. I’m going to step up my game and be more relentless! I too struggle from worsening symptoms. Be well fellow warrior!
It’s AMAZING! After reading your Blog above and watching the ‘Say Thank You’ video you included, I tried doing this and almost instantly it worked! Thank You Howard!
May the Blessings Be.
Marie
Thank you Howard for the inspiring post and video ! It’s true, Joy=Dopamine. Internal joy is very important for our recovery. I’m grateful every day for finding you, Howard, and for the support of our community! Keep smiling!
Thank you so much for your wonderful advice, Howard.
“Thank you” is such a simple, yet profound phrase that we all use every day.
You have added so much more meaning to it.
And thank you to all the other fighters for our combined healing. May we all find our dopamine.
I’ve been using this gratitude practice for both before and after for sometime now. I must admit, sometimes it is hard to give thanks before the action because often I’m concentrating so hard on what I’m doing, that I’m not thinking about anything other than completing the task. But when I do give the intentional thanks in advance, it feels amazing because it feels closer to walking in gratitude with God and that is pure joy= dopamine.
Thank you, Howard for the great reminder of how this process works and why we’re doing it. Cheers to all fellow warriors for your comments and to finding our dopamine.
#Temporary #Courageous #Limitless
Thank you Howard! I love the video! It opened my eyes to so many more things to be thankful for! It switches my focus from my problems to the solution. It is so good to thank God in advance for what is already ours!!