The Joy Factor

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Joy May Be as Close as Your Smile

Posted by Tricia Molloy on October 16, 2010 · 1 Comment 

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Monk

When I speak about how raising your vibrations can support your success at work and in life, I often begin with a simple demonstration. I ask for a volunteer from the audience to join me up front and request for that person to smile. Then, I invite the audience to smile, too. “A big bright smile. Stretch those lips. Show those teeth. Don’t forget to breathe!” That always prompts a giggle. “Let’s hold this smile for about 20 seconds.” I encourage them to look around at all those smiling faces. There’s more giggling and laughter. Then, after the allotted time, I tell them they can stop smiling–if they want to.

“What happened? How did you feel?” I ask. The answers are always the same. They felt happier. Simply by faking a smile, you tell your body you are happy and your body responds by releasing feel-good endorphins into your system.

So, smile when you wake up in the morning, as you take your shower, when you’re in rush hour traffic and when you’re on the phone. As you walk into a networking meeting, greet everyone with a big, bright smile and you will attract people to you like a magnet.

Smiling is one of the best ways to raise your joy factor.

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Joy Comes in Different Packages

Posted by Fran Asaro on August 6, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

Have you ever seen someone who looks really happy? You know the type of person you want to be around because they are fun and exciting and you want their energy ALL over you. Maybe you even hope that one day you can have as much joy as that person. Wow, what would it take to be that happy?

First of all, most likely that person is that happy because they choose to be. It’s not because life is better for them then it is for you. It’s just a decision they made to bring out the joy in their experiences.

Second of all, not all people who have joy, wear it on their sleeves. Some have a very subdued joy. The type where life is good, and yet, they don’t need to be so overt about it. Somehow though you can sense that they have it anyway. Sort of like the difference between those who flash their money when they are rich and those who have money but are very discreet about it. You can tell they have a certain dignity and maturity about their wealth. Well the same goes for joy. Neither are right or wrong. Just different ways to display the same thing.

Having a subdued level of joy can be more rewarding for some, especially as they get older. Not having to bounce off the walls to tell the world you are happy is a nice feeling. You can harness that joy and bring it inward. Not to be stingy, but to emanate it – to be a walking demonstration of inner, pure and collective joy.

So for today, know that joy comes in different packages. We get to share ours any way that seems to fit – just make sure you share it. Because the world needs your joy.

Happy Friday

Enthusiastically,
Fran

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Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy — You Choose

Posted by Trish Carr on June 25, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

Joy. I love that feeling. “Joy” goes beyond “Happy.” Even dictionary.com agrees – look at the difference between the 2 definitions:

“Happy” means:
1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing.
2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment.

To me that sounds like “Fine,” “OK” or “Good.”

Whereas “Joy” is defined as:
1. the emotion of great delight caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying.
2. keen pleasure; elation.

How would you rather feel — pleased or elated? I’m thinking “elated” wins hands down. When I feel elated I feel a fullness in my body, almost like there’s so much inside me I’m going to burst. I love that feeling. It feels like…Thankfulness. It feels like…Power. It feels like…Love. What does Joy feel like for you?

My life, like yours, has many distractions…lots of emails to keep up with, more phone calls to return than I have time for, and more projects than I can possibly manage effectively. Yet when I remind myself to find the Joy in the moment, I see Joy everywhere. In my 4-year old nephew’s laughter, in my husband’s touch, in the rich flavor of my coffee.

Consider the Joy in your life. It’s there. When you stop and notice you’ll see, hear and feel it in the rustle of the trees on a breezy summer day, in the symphony of the birds singing, in the expressive faces of children, in the kiss from your romantic partner, in the rich conversations with your friends, in the beautiful color of your eyes, in how amazing you look in that dress, it’s all there, you just have to notice.

When I live in Joy things seem to go more smoothly, people are nicer, I get more done. I believe that like most things in life, Joy is a choice. In any situation, at any time I can choose to a least find what’s good. So why not go further than finding the good and find the Joy? I can be pleased or glad at any situation, or I can choose to feel great delight or even elated. It’s my choice. And when I choose it, when I feel Joy, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can stop me. Choose Joy today and watch your life become magical.

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