Welcome to the fourth installment in my yearlong series on Joy Intelligence™! (JQ)
Everyday Flavors of Joy
This month, we’re playing with the many ways we can experience JOY in our lives. Last month, I highlighted the science behind each of the four steps in the Chair of Joy®: SIT. BREATHE. THINK. FEEL. But there’s also lots of research that demonstrates the benefits—mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually—of elevating your JQ™ in your daily life simply by making a conscious effort to do so.
For instance, anybody who knows me knows that I’ve called my grand-cuties my “joy pills” since the oldest, Keira, was born in 2017. And it’s certainly been woven even more deeply into my life since embracing the Chair of Joy (CoJ) experience and becoming certified by Joyely®.
Since then, I’ve continued to deepen and expand my own understanding of joy, and it’s been fun to see the different ways that joy is showing up, both in my own life and in the world. Like the abundance of yummy flavors of ice cream in a favorite local shop, here are a few, with my creative names for them:
- Poignant Joy: In one of my own CoJs, I was surprised that the joyful memory that came up was when my whole family gathered at a hospice to say goodbye to my 21-year-old nephew Max shortly before he died in 2021. We were all completely devastated, yet there was a tender sweetness that we could come together to comfort him and each other at the end.
- Joy of Freedom: When I took my husband Peter through a CoJ, the memory that came up for him was cliff diving in his younger years—we even have a photo of him doing that! Of course, I had my own ideas about what that represented (exhilaration, fun, etc.), but when I asked what he was feeling, the word that came up was “freedom.” This was especially powerful since his body hasn’t felt so free and easy lately.
- Wonder-filled Joy (alternately Awe-struck Joy!): For me, it’s the kind of take-your-breath-away experience that I get watching fireworks… they absolutely delight me! Or driving over the crest of a hill and seeing an extraordinary vista in front of you.
- Ordinary Joy: Then, there are those simple, seemingly insignificant moments that can elicit joy in the middle of an ordinary day… waking up to sunshine after days of rain, hearing a baby’s giggle, or opening your phone to find an unexpected text from an old friend.
What about you? What creative, unexpected “flavors” of JOY have you found in your life or work lately? I’d love to hear your additions to the JOY-fest!
You can watch the video below for a few more flavors to inspire you, then join me next month when we’ll look at “Positive Psychology in Action”, exploring Martin Seligman’s PERMA model, 7 Habits of Happy People, and their alignment with JOYELY principles.
And finally, in the spirit of encouraging you to really engage with the JOY theme of the month, I invite you to pull out the JOY journal you began a few months ago (or start one now… it’s not too late!) and record the memory that came up for you in the CoJ I guided you through in the video. I’d love to hear about it, too!
Connect with Deborah on The Wellness Universe and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
New Moon SisterCircles for Self-Care and Empowerment
Come together under the New Moon, as we celebrate our connection to the lunar cycles, to the earth, and to each other, through movement, song, personal sharing, and magical play.
Join us live – https://bit.ly/NewMoonSisterCircles
25 Tools for Life: A Magical Journey Workshop Series
Learn from 25 experts as they guide you through transformative workshops based on their bestselling book. Gain tools for healing, balance, and personal growth. Can’t join live? Lifetime access to all recordings is included.
Register now to join the journey! https://bit.ly/AMJWorkshops
#1 Best Seller!
The Wellness Universe Guide to Complete Self-Care, 25 Tools for Life
Twenty-five experts from The Wellness Universe share heartfelt stories and transformative self-care tools, offering guidance for personal growth, healing, and a balanced, fulfilling life. This book aligns with The Wellness Universe’s mission to inspire and contribute to a better world, empowering readers to embrace their extraordinary potential.
Grab Your Copy Now
The Wellness Universe is honored to support our charity of choice, the Karina LeBlanc Foundation. Empowering young women to bring to light their inner greatness.
Check out our library of classes today.
Grab your copy today!
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.
Deborah, I absolutely loved reading this—it’s such a beautiful reminder that joy really does come in so many different “flavors.” I was especially touched by the idea of Poignant Joy… I’ve felt that same bittersweet kind of joy in moments of deep connection during hard times. And yes to Ordinary Joy—those little moments truly make life shine! I’m inspired to reflect on my own “joy flavors” now and maybe even play in my JOY journal. Thank you for sharing your heart, light, and spreading your joy.