We all experience joy differently, especially those with high emotional intelligence. It plays an integral role in our life - the feeling of great pleasure, happiness, peace and positivity, but it's not innate - we must work to ensure joy.
Igniting Joy: Unleashing its Power to Create Meaning and Fulfillment
“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” - Henri Nouwen
How Important Is Joy To Our Life?
Joy is incredibly important to our lives. It not only adds happiness and fulfillment but also promotes overall well-being. Joy can uplift our spirits, enhance our mental and emotional state, and improve our relationships. It brings a sense of meaning and purpose, boosts our resilience, and helps us navigate challenges. Cultivating joy allows us to experience life's beauty, appreciate the present moment, and find pleasure in both small and significant experiences. It contributes to a balanced and satisfying life.
What I Know About Joy…
I've spent much time researching and reflecting on joy's role in life. I've learned that this underlying feeling in your core elevates and enriches your life. No matter what happens in your day, including unexpected challenges you face, connecting with your inner joy is vital. I discuss joy in my book, The Power of Emotion. Research has proven that gratitude is the most effective action to improve our lives, ultimately increasing our joy.Choose Joy Each And Every Day
We all experience moments that bring added pleasure, but joy should be a core part of us. Recognizing and celebrating joyful simplicities – the small things in life- bring comfort, well-being, and peace of mind.
Each morning, if we're fortunate to open our eyes, we can tap into our inner joy just by being thankful to be alive. We set the tone of our day and choose to direct our day positively or negatively.
Fear Can Be Paralyzing
Fear can make us feel paralyzed, robbing us of pursuing things that might open our life to joy or happiness. It can affect our decisions, compelling us to play it safe, stuck in mediocrity. That place might feel more reliable, but it's dangerous because it drains the spirit and wastes human potential. Not to mention, often, lack of joy creates negative emotional contagion, which spreads outward to those around them.
Many individuals let fear set their unfortunate path. Fear of trying new things can rob us of growth opportunities. For example, after years in one career, one may feel they want a change but rely heavily on the financial rewards and stability their job offers. They stay put and risk becoming bored and disengaged, leading them to sacrifice their joy and happiness.
Overcoming The Fear Of Failure
It takes great courage to overcome the fear of failure. Realizing that perfection is impossible and that it's okay to make mistakes is essential. We learn and grow from our errors and move forward with that knowledge. The greatest inventions in the world were born out of failure and materialized because inventors didn't quit; instead, they found success, joy and happiness through their mistakes.
How Is Joy Connected To Emotional Intelligence?
Joy is closely connected to emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing one's emotions and recognizing and empathizing with the emotions of others. Joy is an emotion that falls within the spectrum of emotional intelligence.
When we have a high level of emotional intelligence, we can better recognize and cultivate joy in ourselves and others. We become more aware of our emotional states and can actively choose behaviours and activities that bring us joy. Additionally, emotional intelligence allows us to empathize with others and understand their emotional needs, which can help us create joyful and supportive environments for them.
Emotionally intelligent individuals are also skilled at managing negative emotions, such as sadness or anger, and finding ways to shift their focus toward more positive emotions, like joy. They can regulate their emotions effectively, which enables them to bounce back from setbacks and experience happiness even in challenging circumstances.
In particular, emotional intelligence plays a significant role in our ability to recognize, cultivate, and share joy, enhancing our well-being and the well-being of those around us.
The positive role joy plays in life is profound, without question. You enjoy the feeling of happiness, peace and positivity if you embrace joy daily. Increase your emotional intelligence by taking this quick online complimentary quiz. Connect with me for support to develop these skills. If you're interested in business growth consulting or emotional intelligence training, contact us.
This article was originally published on June 1, 2019, and has been updated (July 2023).
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