10 ways to experience joy and its returns in your life and your bottom line

by Sue Lindgren Hawkes, CMEC (www.sayyess.com)

It’s been an interesting and full week; I was either the keynote speaker or trainer four times on a variety of topics to some fairly wide-ranging audiences. 

Despite their diversity, there was a common thread in all my audiences – just about everyone is full of fear right now. It is everywhere; in conversations about the business climate and consistently through all the media outlets with which we inundate ourselves.  Surprisingly, I also noticed a concurrent theme - ineffectiveness. 

That fear and ineffectiveness are related isn’t a particularly groundbreaking observation. Fear reinforces a pervasive experience for each of us that there is “less than enough.”  We simply don’t function at our best when our thoughts and feelings reek of concern or worry.  Yet many people continue to engage in conversations and communications that reinforce worry, lack, and fear.

On the other hand, effectiveness correlates strongly with abundance.  Typically, when we are productive it’s due to an experience of “more than enough.” 

Heard any of that on the news lately?  While we were doing chores the other day, my 15 year old son spouted off to me, “Mom, did you know that 10% of the people are not working today?” I replied, “Yes, I’ve heard that.  So what percentage is currently working then?”  He knew the math, stated that he was going to college to increase his odds of getting a job and went back to his chores. 

While double-digit unemployment is a concern, keeping our focus on it is similar to focusing attention on that one employee of ten on your team who isn’t producing.  What we focus on expands and plain and simple, it just doesn’t work. So, focusing on what’s working, while being joyful and happy is not a Pollyanna response – it results in good business and a fine life!

So what can you do during these challenging times to increase your happiness, (and thereby your productivity, effectiveness and abundance)?  Here’s my top ten list of things you can do to be joyful.  I’ve been sharing this with my clients, audiences and anyone else who’s interested.  The feedback indicates it’s working as well for others as it does for me.  So, enjoy.  If not, delete and go back to the news.

1. Laugh.  Every day for any reason, find a way to laugh and celebrate as many times as possible.
2. Journal daily about at least 12 things you’re grateful for.  I recommend doing this at the end of the day. Pay attention to what happens to your attitude and experience over time. (Do this for a minimum of 3 weeks, then let me know what happens!)
3. Turn off the news three days or more each week.  Trust me, you’ll still stay informed!
4. Read something inspirational daily.  I recommend subscribing to “Notes from the  Universe.” You’ll get a short note Monday through Friday that is quirky, fun and you’ll have a great way to “re-set” your thinking. Go to http://www.tut.com/notes/?action=notes to sign up.
5. Do something kind for someone every day.  Giving is its own medicine.  We all get “stingy” when we experience fear.  You can’t contribute to another human being and be fearful at the same time.
6. Do something you used to enjoy. I was broke during college, yet I remember having a ton of fun – free museums, cards with family and friends, playing board games, having a potluck dinner, reading together, taking up a hobby, connecting with old friends and classmates on facebook, sending out e-cards, cooking, baking, de-cluttering your space, helping a neighbor, drawing, writing articles, calling an old friend for no reason and in no hurry, swapping talents with someone, take a walk, sharing  photos you’re always going to get to, making a list of fun things to do…
7. Enjoy a video like this one – thank you to Carla Anderson for thinking of me and forwarding it. Its worth the 5 minutes - watch the entire video and notice your experience: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080722.html
8. Read this article about “The Happiness Effect” which offers statistical evidence from Time Magazine about the results from being happy and hanging with happy people.  (Thanks to Sheila Callander, Manager of Training and Development at St. Jude Medical for this one!) 
9. Get a coach, mentor, or support person(s).  The more you isolate in your own (limited) thinking, the more you reinforce it.  Find a way to reframe your thinking by connecting with those who are upbeat, forward thinking and doing well.
10. Focus on those things that are working.  There are always just as many things working as not. It’s a choice which you give attention to.  Remember, what you focus on expands, so the question becomes “why would I give attention to anything that doesn’t forward who I am and all I am up to?”

PS – I couldn’t finish this article without adding this last nugget; if nothing else, think of fear this way:

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real