Today I watched a short TED talk. I really loved it – it’s called “Where joy hides and where to find it” by Ingrid Fetell Lee.
Here is the TED talk:
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What is joy?
Joy means a feeling of great pleasure or happiness, although joy is distinct from both pleasure and happiness.
Joy is all about feeling good in the moment, now. It is intense positive emotion. It makes us smile and laugh, and feel like we want to jump and down, or sing and dance. Joy is different from happiness – that’s about about how we feel over time.
Joy cuts across gender, age and ethnicity. When you see fireworks, you want to stop, look and celebrate too – even if you don’t know what the fireworks are for! You just want to watch and experience the joy that fireworks bring.
The speaker talks about how sometimes adults who wear bright colours and are exhuberant can be judged or dismissed as childish, too feminine, too serious or self indulgent. So we hold ourselves back from joy. Why? Children don’t, so why do adults? Why do we make those judgements about others – why can’t we just be happy that others are joyful? Why do we settle for things that are drab and sad? Why do we stop using our imaginations?
Create some joy! Think with an abundance mindset!
We can all create more joy around us.
We can transform our own spaces. We can add colour and light and shape and happiness in small ways. We can think with an abundance mindset. I’ve written about creating an abundance mindset here:
https://winningcareerfromhome.com/create-an-abundance-mentality
As the speaker says “Moments of joy are small, but over time they add to more than the sums of their parts. What we should be doing is embracing joy and finding ways to put ourselves in the path of it more often.”
How do you create joy in your life? How do you put yourself in the path of joy? Does your job allow you to experience joy?
Leave me your thoughts. What does joy mean to you?
I love this post! It is very eye catching and grabs my attention. We do need more joy in our lives. For me joy is freedom to be able to choose how and when I am able to provide. Joy is spending time with my family. Thank you for your insight and how to be creative.
Hi Nancy, thanks for your kind words : )
Joy for you sounds very similar to what joy is to me as well. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here. All the very best!
Cheers
Melissa
I believe everyone could add more joy to there life. You can never have too much joy. I know I could use more. Joy to me means family. Joy is when I have the time to spend with my wife and kids. They give me the most joy. Thank you for the article.
Hi Tim, joy to me means family too : ) Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could spend the time we have with the people we love, doing the things we love? It is one of the reasons that I started this website and is the reason why I like to help others create the lives they want working from home. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here Tim.
Cheers
Melissa
Hey, this was a really good post. The video was really much needed I think that I will be painting my walls with different colors to brighten up a few things for more joy. I think this makes perfect sense the change in our environment can bring us joy. I like the idea of painting hospitals and schools for more joy and attendance she may be on to something new if it catches on.
Hi Fred, I loved the video too. It made so much sense to me. I loved the idea of painting hospitals schools. I can see why kids would feel safer in a beautifully painted and bright environment. It sounds so simple but makes such a difference. All the best to you Fred.
Cheers
Melissa
Very joyful post! To me, joy is a way of life. You can choose to be sad and depressed or you can choose to live with joy in your heart and mind! I choose joy!
Hi Karin, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts here! All the very best to you.
Cheers
Melissa
We could all do with more joy in there lives for sure.We all get so caught up in our day to day hustle and bustle .So getting a chance do the things we love is not always possible with family.Like going to a museum or visiting the zoo .Just the freedom alone is so huge and what gives me the most joy
Hi Nigel, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts here.
All the very best to you.
Cheers
Melissa
If people would take this more seriously, we would be in a different world! I tell myself positive affirmations that uses the specific word joy every week. I have to tell myself these things especially when I am fighting cursing someone out online. It is not easy these days and it is all that is keeping me sane. Good subject matter!
Thanks for sharing here Thomas. All the very best to you.
Cheers
Melissa
So true! Encouraging everyone to be more present, wear more colours, it all makes such a difference when we do these small but powerful things.
Thanks for spreading this great message : )
Hi Danielle, I agree that small things can all add up to make a difference! Thanks so much for visiting page and sharing your thoughts here.
All the very best to you.
Cheers
Melissa
Hi there. What a lovely topic for a post. Thanks for sharing and we could all use joy in our lives. For me joy is inner peace. To quote you, “We can all create more joy around us.” I believe that joy is something that really changes how we interact with people and the world around us. When you are joyful you are a better listener, you care more and deeply, you have compassion and you have a real purpose in the world. It’s more than just how I feel but how others feel as well. I become more joyous when I see others are joyful. I think joy wakes you up in the morning ready to go, excited. Joy makes you sleep and dream nice thoughts. It is really everything and there is nothing more sad than to see people who do not have joy in their life. Gosh, I could go on and on.
Thanks Dwyan, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here. All the very best to you.
Cheers
Melissa