Building JOYful Communities

Welcome to the 11th installment in my yearlong series on Joy Intelligence™ (JQ)! 

Building Joyful Communities

Fostering connection, collaboration, and a shared commitment to collective well-being.

Joy has a remarkable way of bringing people together. We’ve all felt it – the buzz of happiness at a celebration, the camaraderie of shared laughter, or the comfort of a positive community event. Shared joy strengthens community bonds by creating positive emotional experiences that people go through together. When a group of people shares a joyful moment, it builds trust and empathy among them. Neighbors at a block party who dance to the same music or work colleagues who celebrate birthdays together are not just having fun; they are also weaving threads of connection. 

Psychologists describe joy as “social glue” – it increases the hormone oxytocin (often called the bonding hormone) in our brains, which makes us feel closer and more affectionate toward others. Over time, communities that regularly share joy (through festivals, team sports, group volunteering, etc.) tend to develop a strong sense of belonging and safety. People feel “known” and valued because they’ve celebrated side by side. This sense of safety is crucial in both personal and professional settings; it means community members are more likely to support each other in tough times, not just come together in good times.

There is even scientific evidence that joy is contagious across social networks. A famous 20-year study from Harvard and UCSD found that when one individual becomes happier, it increases the chances that their friends and even friends-of-friends will become happier. In other words, joy spreads through communities like a ripple in a pond – whether that community is in a workplace, in a neighborhood, or at a city-wide event (like a parade or cultural festival). Empathy grows in such environments because when we frequently witness others feeling happy, it humanizes them. We start to understand and care about each other’s well-being on a deeper level, which enhances connections and performance.

Actionable Insights: 

How can you help build a more joyful community? A few ideas:

• Organize a small community joy event: It could be as simple as a weekly potluck dinner, a neighborhood game night, or a cultural exchange where everyone brings music or food from their heritage. Regular positive gatherings create traditions of joy that people look forward to and talk about.
• Start a “joy wall” or online group: Dedicate a bulletin board at a local coffee shop or a Facebook group to sharing uplifting news, thank-you notes, or community successes. When neighbors read about each other’s joyful moments, it amplifies community pride and kindness.
• Practice inclusive joy: Next time you plan a joyful activity, think about who in your community might not usually have access. Could you invite the new family on the block, or ensure an event is wheelchair-accessible, or provide materials in another language? Spreading joy to the margins strengthens the whole network by showing everyone they belong.
• Volunteer with a joyful heart: Many volunteer activities (helping at a soup kitchen, tutoring kids, cleaning up a community space) can be done in a spirit of joy. Play music, laugh, and chat while working, celebrate small wins (“we packed 100 meals today!”). Your positive energy will make the service more enjoyable and attract others to join, multiplying the impact on the community.

You can watch the video below to learn more about building JOYful communities, and I’ll also lead you through a Chair of Joy experience. Then join me next month, our last one in the series, when we wrap everything up by exploring Living JOYELY® as a Lifestyle

Watch the Video

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Deborah Roth

Life & Relationship Coach, Deborah Roth, MA is also a Counseling Astrologer, and Interfaith Minister. She leads women’s New Moon Circles and Full Moon TeleMeditations every month and loves designing creative, meaningful rituals for individuals and couples to energize their lives and relationships.