Are You Joyful?

Joy is a choice

This may seem like an unusual question, but I’m still going to ask it.

Are you living a joyful life?

As I get older, I have been asking myself more and more if I live joyfully. As a leader, I must demonstrate joy to those around me.

Without joy, life will be dull and uneventful. So, discover what allows you to be joyful. You will be even more successful than you already are when you do so.

And, as a nice side benefit to you and others, you will enjoy your days more!

Lesson to Learn

Joy is a highly desirable trait in our lives.

When you see people smiling and laughing, how do you feel? Do you wish you were doing the same thing? Do you ask how you might also become joyful?

The health and wellness benefits of joy are well-documented. It adds years to our lives and life to our years.

Why then is it so hard for us to pursue joy in our lives?

It should be a top priority. It can be your top priority. And, wonderfully, you even know what joy looks like in your life!

Answer for Me

I am committed to being joyful.

However, during the pandemic, I found it hard to find joy.

Some days it was so hard to even get out of bed. I could see pain all around me. It didn’t even feel right to have joy in my life. What a mistake that was!

As I look back at the last few years, I remember when I was grateful, smiled, and laughed with others. I fondly remember when I helped others and when others helped me.

I remember the moments when my team celebrated success, joked about being on mute, and successfully served others who were in need. These were the moments of joy that helped me find a way through challenges.

At the start of the pandemic, I wondered what I could do to help others that would also be enjoyable for me. I decided to write. I wrote and blogged five days a week for 18 months. I learned that this is what gave me satisfaction and some semblance of joy despite the fear and hurt that was all around. It was the way I could remain strong and focused.

Writing gave me the closest thing to the joy that I could find. It also helped me live out a childhood dream of being an author and writer. I have learned that a crisis can help us clarify what matters most to us.

Action

Are you joyful daily?

Be honest with yourself.

If not, what do you enjoy doing?

Make a list — and let it include even the simplest things.

Smiling is on my list. It’s pretty simple, and I can do it right now.

Also, make your list as long as you can. It gives you more options. What small things or ways of living can you add to your life today?

Find one small habit and start it today. Evaluate how joyful you are on a scale from 1 to 5 daily. If you measure it, you will begin to find ways to become more positive. This is how our human brains work. When we focus on something, we can bring it into our lives.

Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t very joyful right now. We all start somewhere. It is where you are going that truly matters. Then add small joys to your life.

Experience how good it makes you feel! Now, do more of it!

Daily Habits

Joy is a habit we can learn.

Everyone can learn to be joyful and make it part of their daily life.

Let me give you one small example: smiling. Did you know that smiling is contagious? Smile right now. Just do it. I bet you felt at least a little bit better. When you smile, it makes you and others feel better.

This is just one daily habit that will give you joy.

What things can you add to your day to be joyful?

How about a short — or long — walk? Talking to your family or friends is a good one for many. Prayer, meditation, or reflection can be joyful as well.

Add these to your life today. Don’t wait.

And, at the end of your day, ask yourself how you did. Celebrate even a moment of joy!

Tomorrow provides another opportunity to experience joy. Commit to doing so!

Do you want more insights?

To learn more about leadership, visit me at www.macny.org.

To get a copy of my book Present-Future Leader, click here.