Embracing JOY as a Core Life Skill  

Welcome to the 9th installment in my yearlong series on Joy Intelligence (JQ)! 

Embracing JOY as a Core Life Skill  

How to cultivate joy as a foundational skill for resilience and growth.

Yes, this month’s topic is also the name of this whole series! And with the knowledge and tools you’ve collected over the last 9 months, we can go even deeper into this powerful concept.

We’ve learned that joy is not just a spontaneous or momentary feeling. It’s also a skill we can cultivate intentionally, much like we develop a skill in communication or problem-solving – it’s something you can practice, strengthen, and deploy both personally and professionally. 

This idea is at the heart of JOY Intelligence (JQ), as introduced by JOYELY®. Developing your “JQ” involves learning how to better understand and balance your emotional states so that you’re not at the mercy of external events for your joy; instead, you generate it from within through mindset and habits.

Cultivating joy as a practice can literally rewire our brains toward resilience and emotional agility. Research in positive psychology, especially the work of Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, has shown that positive emotions like joy broaden our thinking and help us build valuable inner resources. When you experience joy or gratitude, even for a short time, your mind opens up – you become more creative, more flexible in your thinking, and more willing to engage with others. Over time, these “micro-moments” of positive emotion accumulate and can increase your capacity to bounce back from adversity. 

The good news is joy can be learned and strengthened by daily practices like these: 

• Joy Journaling: At the end of each day, write down 3 things that brought you joy (big or small). This trains your brain to recognize and recall joyful experiences, enhancing your ability to tap into positive emotions on demand.
• Purposeful Play: Schedule a regular activity that you truly enjoy – it could be a hobby, a sport, or just dancing to your favorite song. Treat it as essential “joy training” time. Engaging in play boosts creativity and reminds you that joy is a priority, not an afterthought.
• Joy Breaks at Work: If you work, try inserting a short joy practice in your day. For instance, start team meetings by sharing a positive story or success from the week. It sets a joyful tone, builds camaraderie, and primes everyone’s brain for collaborative, innovative thinking.
• Learn About Emotions: Building JOY Intelligence also means understanding your full range of emotions. Consider reading a book or listening to a podcast about emotional intelligence – definitely check out Joyely’s “Emotions Map”. The more you recognize and name your feelings (including uncomfortable ones), the more effectively you can shift from states like frustration or boredom toward productive, joyful states.

In essence, joy as a life skill creates a positive feedback loop – your practiced joy boosts your resilience and purpose, which leads to more successes and meaningful connections, which in turn give you more reasons to feel joy!

You can watch the video below to expand on this idea of joy as a core life skill, and I’ll also lead you through a Chair of Joy experience. Then join me next month when we’ll explore The Role of JOY in Mental Health.

Watch the Video

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Life & Relationship Coach, Deborah Roth, MA is also a Counseling Astrologer, and Interfaith Minister. She leads women’s New Moon Circles and Full Moon TeleMeditations every month and loves designing creative, meaningful rituals for individuals and couples to energize their lives and relationships.

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