How to Radiate Joy
Spring is in the air! Driving around this time of year, it’s hard NOT to notice the vibrant green colors that radiate from the grass, fields, and tips of trees. It’s almost as if there is a light turned on under the ground, or inside the trees, which makes the green shine so bright. As I observe nature’s new growth, I am aware of the physical manifestation of what I have been pondering in great length recently – the inextricable link between growth and radiating joy.
You see, I’ve observed this in people: when they are growing–when they are pushing themselves to produce something new or to reach a new level–they seem to be really joyful. When people feel stagnant–when there seems to be nothing challenging them to be a bit more than they were yesterday–they do not seem to be joyful.
I am not suggesting that joy is a result of where you find yourself; in fact, notice that I said, “there SEEMS to be nothing challenging them.” Yes, joy is a choice, and it’s a choice you make every day. My own personal definition of joy includes that “joy is in spite of circumstances” (and happiness is due to circumstances), but joy seems to radiate with much less effort when people are growing. Just like the grass – when it is bursting forth with new life, it radiates.
I have been asked a few times recently, “How do I choose joy?” Or “How do I find joy again?” And here is one answer from my observations – choose growth and excellence: Raise the standard of what is considered to be a success. YOU choose to find something to challenge yourself. You may choose something overtly external that other people readily observe (like an improvement in the way you handle your business), and you may find excellence in a more personal way (such as reading or exercising more). In whatever way you decide makes the most sense for you today, YOU choose to find something to challenge yourself.
The suggestion is not that choosing growth is the only way to choose joy or to find joy again as there are many other ways that also may work for you. This is just one option that seems to work for many people. However, it’s not always “easy.” The irony about excellence is that it sometimes feels hard. In fact, it has been my observation that when people are really stretching themselves, they feel tired. You have probably experienced that with a really hard workout that stretches your physical capacity – it is tough; you are tired when it’s done, but you FEEL great!
The experience is mirrored when you stretch yourself mentally, and you have probably felt this kind of tired, too. It is a good tired – the kind that makes you feel like you have accomplished something, like you are becoming better, like you are living excellence, like you deserve to lay your head on the pillow…like you are full of joy!
I imagine this is how grass would feel, if it could. It gets a bit tired after it grows, and is run over all summer, and starts to fade. It is so tired it hibernates for the winter. The good news about you is that you are a more complex being than grass! You have many more functions and significantly more capacity than grass. So the challenge for you is to stretch yourself in new and different ways to experience continual growth – it will not always be in the exact same area of your life because you, too, will need to rest. But as you rest in one area of your life and/or business, you can continue to grow in another. You choose the challenge that will help you to grow today…and be full of vibrant joy.
If you are feeling easily full of joy right now, share with us where or how you are challenging yourself and growing. Do you know that you are experiencing excellence in your life? If you are not feeling easily full of joy, where could you add growth and excellence in your life?
Be Free!
Leah Simpson
Instructor
Leah, what an awesome post. As I am writing this I am FULL of joy! The food choices I’ve made over the last month have been an extreme challenge for me, but I’m sticking to my program and living excellence in the is area of my life everyday (I just finished a lunch of carrots, spinach, Kale and lemon all raw!!) As you know a couple of months ago that would have a pizza w everything and a Coke! Joy is a choice. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that when you are living your truth and achieving excellence in one or more areas of your life, that choice becomes easier and easier. I’ve also found that excellence in one area will rub off on other areas of your life and expand exponentially!!! It’s kinda funny how life works that way
Anthony Chavez
Comment by R. Anthony Chavez — April 8, 2010 @ 4:04 pm
Lia, Thank you for your meaningful and uplifting words! Your so right it is a choice. It’s a daily challenge for me to remember and be centered by the power of that choice. But each daily act of choosing joy- despite what the heck maybe going on, this choice really is true power…it’s at the time you can become your own adoring internal coach. It isn’t easy- Every day, in every way I relearn this action of choosing joy during the bumps and grunts of day!
Thanks for the “freedom” reminder!
Suzanne Watson
Comment by suzanne watson — April 9, 2010 @ 6:27 am
How true this is! It’s almost a caveat to if you need something done, give it to a busy person. Not to stress anyone out, but when you need to accomplish things, your focus gets sharper and as a result, you grow! And spread joy!
Comment by Laura Rusiecki — April 9, 2010 @ 12:22 pm
I couldn’t agree more with your assessment Leah. Anytime I’m fully devoted to a project or a goal and pursuing excellence, I feel energized…naturally joyful. It’s kind of ironic, because you’d think that you’d be MORE tired from working so hard, but it’s exactly the opposite.
Right now I’m working on getting back in shape. Today was my first workout! I’ll be back in the gym Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. I can’t wait. My body should be aching by Friday. I love that feeling.
Comment by David M — April 14, 2010 @ 1:53 pm