Look Beyond For Joy
By: Beth Schaefer Director, Institute for Professional Development
Normally, this is the time of year that I write about the “New Year, New You” and how training classes at IPD can help with that.
However, 2020 was not a year of normal, and the first few weeks of 2021 have not started as normal either (I hope).
While training brings joy to me – it is my passion and how I like to help others – taking a training course will most likely not fulfill your need for joy. What does joy even mean in these extraordinary times?
The most common definition of joy has not changed; Joy is a sense of well-being connected to living our convictions.
In contrast, the common definition of happiness is; the result of an event or circumstance.
While these times do not afford as many occasions for happiness, they do offer opportunity for joy; for what better time than now to reaffirm, recommit and live your beliefs?
To help, here are some action steps I learned while studying the practice of joy. I hope they will help you better live out your convictions during these turbulent times.
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Express gratitude each day.
What is something you can be thankful for today?
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Connect with others.
Who in your life needs you to reach out to them with a word or note of encouragement?
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Look for a silver lining. Adversity brings opportunity.
What opportunity do you have now due the current circumstances? What action can you take to bring that opportunity to fruition?
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