Joy Works Playlist Pick - Work by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Do you believe that your joy is always within reach? I do. Some days it feels a little further away than others, and we may have to work more to find our way to it.
There are days when I wake up in the morning and I know I am going to have to work a little harder to feel my joy. There are situations and people that test and challenge my joy each day.
What are those things that challenge your joy?
I started identifying and admitting to what challenged my joy, and this helped me to better understand the work that I had to invest day after day and moment after moment so that I can experience more joyful outcomes. It began with me pinpointing a few skills that I needed to work on. I had to be honest with myself. That wasn't easy.
It's the small acts that add up, the skill building. What are those skills that you have to work on so that you can experience and sustain a greater level of joy? What is that one area where you know you need to do some HEAVY LIFTING?
Here's a list for reference. These are the 10 skills that often come up when I am facilitating professional learning for leaders.
Patience
Self-Confidence
Self-Reflection
Self-Discipline
Time Management
Stress Management
Impulse Control
Communication (all forms)
Agency
Sociability
Once you choose a skill, take time to describe what it looks like in action. This is very personal and also vulnerable. It helps us get down to the nitty gritty of how we respond in challenging situations. It also helps us to recognize our own voice, both inside and out.
I'll start.
Managing my impulsivity is a skill that I constantly work on. I've had to learn how to listen and think things through. For example, I can be very protective and possessive. I'm ready to fight the world and everything in it for the people I love, especially my children. But you know, sometimes your darling children will have you going into battle having told half of the story...you know what I'm saying. I've learned that managing my impulsivity involves taking a pause, listening, getting clarification, and taking time to probe a bit. This allows me to make better decisions in all areas of my life, and for that I experience more joyful outcomes.
I work at it. Do I feel like I fall short with managing my impulsivity? Absolutely, but I keep joy at the forefront of my mind and heart because that is what I want for my life. I rely on support through resources to help build my joy muscles, especially in those areas that I strive to develop. One thing I do is regulary engage in coversations about joy on my podcast. In this space, I benefit from the joyful connections and reflections of lessons learned.
What are you doing to put in the joy work?
Love, Dr. Joy