Word-Of-the-Week #2006: Joy
October 30, 2025 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #2006: Joy
Joy – a deep feeling of happiness or contentment.
When was the last time you had a deep feeling of happiness or contentment? How often does it happen?
This week features Nia Tipton from YourTango.com, “People Who Are Genuinely Content With Their Lives Usually Have These 3 Simple Habits, Says A Philosopher.”
Even in the face of hard times, these simple habits can bring some joy back to your life.
“With the state of the world leaving many people feeling hopeless, it can be hard for anyone to find a semblance of peace in their day-to-day lives. We’re certainly trying to stay optimistic, but it truly does feel like a waiting game. When will things finally start to feel okay again?
A philosopher named Diego Perez admitted that, despite the hardships affecting the majority of people, not only in this country but around the world, there are still certain habits you can prioritize to find joy. During an interview with author and podcast host Mel Robbins, Perez listed some of those habits.
People who are genuinely content with their lives usually have these 3 simple habits:
- They are grateful for the little things
It might sound incredibly cliché, but being grateful really does bring happiness into your life. When you’re actually making a conscious effort to notice the small, yet still beautiful things, like being able to grab breakfast with a friend on a Sunday morning, or even something as simple as going to an exercise class after a long day of work, your whole perspective can change.
Being able to feel gratitude for these little moments means being able to acknowledge that the hard times don’t mean that there can’t be good ones as well. This simple habit can change your mindset. The lows might be low, but the highs are just as important to celebrate.
“Once our attention moves from ‘making it ‘ to survival, we learn the difference between what is important and what we’ve just been doing to fill our time or feel successful. We remember to take in the beauty of a sunrise or truly appreciate and trust the love of another human being,” pointed out licensed psychotherapist Barton Goldsmith.
- They notice when their nervous system is overwhelmed
Perez insisted that those who are content with their lives not only are able to observe when their nervous system might be on edge more than usual, but also respond appropriately. Once they feel out of whack, they immediately start saying “no” to things that are causing them stress.
Rather than just pushing through, they recognize the tightness in their chest or the feeling that they can’t seem to calm their mind, and they take it as a sign to pause and slow down. It’s all about creating boundaries and balance that protect your energy.
They’re able to take breaks without feeling guilty or step back from people and situations that are draining. Being able to listen to your nervous system is really just about starting to listen to yourself and to what your needs are in that moment.
- They don’t hide their love
Perez encouraged people to always let their family and friends know how much they care about them, and that people who are usually content in life do this all the time. Life is too short to just assume that the people we know are already aware of how much we love them. But the truth is, no one ever gets tired of being reminded.
“Expressing your feelings can be a form of intimacy that enhances relationships when it’s done in the context of a close relationship. Verbalizing your caring is a way of deepening your connection,” explained psychologist Karyn Hall.
Given the number of people who might be scared to be vulnerable, the happiest people don’t let their ego or fear of rejection get in the way of nurturing the connections in their lives. When you finally allow yourself to be open and honest with the people you hold dear, you might be surprised how much better (and happier) you end up feeling.
In September 2023 I took a trip to Chicago (where I lived in the 1980’s) with my niece. We had such a great time and when I got home, I was filled with so much joy! And I thought to myself, My Joy Jar is full!
So, that year my holiday gift to my special friends was a Joy Jar that I made. The concept is to fill it with experiences or thoughts that make you feel happy and joyful. It can be something little or something profound. Hopefully, you find at least one thing per day that makes you happy, write it down and put it into the jar. After a month, a few months, a year, or whenever you are feeling down and need a pick-me-up, pull out a note and read it and remember how it made you feel happy and joyful.
This week’s focus is on feeling joy. Are you grateful for the little things in life? How easy is it for you to say “no” to things that are causing you stress? Do you let your friends and family know how much you love them?
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Word-Of-the-Week #1012: Joy
December 28, 2023 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1012: Joy
Joy – a deep feeling of happiness or contentment.
Do you know that feeling joy is strongly associated with subjective well-being, which is essential for human flourishing? When was the last time you felt connected, or reunited with something or someone that’s really important to you?
This week features excerpts from Washington Post writer Richard Sima, “Want to feel happier? Try snacking on joy. Learning to find the joy in mundane experiences is a way to cultivate a more meaningful life. I ran this last year and updated it by adding “My Joy Jar” experience.
“Here’s an antidote to an ever-stressful, busy and uncertain world. Try finding and savoring little bites of joy in your day. I call them “joy” snacks.
By mindfully tuning into the pleasant, nice and sometimes routine experiences of every day, we can transform an otherwise mundane moment into something more meaningful and even joyful.
Lunch with a co-worker. Walking the dog. Texting with a friend. Watching a favorite show. Eating a favorite meal. Calling your mom. Just hanging out.
New research shows that finding and savoring these nuggets of joy can be a way of consistently cultivating a good, meaningful life.
Understanding the science of joy
Surprisingly, joy has been relatively neglected by scholars.
But recent research suggests that joy is a distinct positive emotion for “when we feel connected, or reunited with something or someone that’s really important to us,” said Philip Watkins, psychologist who studies joy, gratitude and happiness at Eastern Washington University.
Big events like weddings or reunions are well-known smorgasbords for joy. But smaller bites of joy in everyday life matter, too, and are easier to attain if we don’t overlook them.
Previous research has shown we derive meaning in life from three key factors — feeling like our life makes sense, having a purpose driven by goals we care about and feeling like our lives matter.
A February study published in Nature Human Behavior involving more than 3,000 participants across multiple experiments reported that valuing one’s life experiences, or experiential appreciation, is another potent way of making life feel more meaningful.
There is also joy to be had when you take the time to reconnect with the person that is always with you: yourself.”
In September I took a trip to Chicago (where I lived in the 1980’s) with my niece. We had such a great time and when I got home, I was filled with so much joy! And I thought to myself, My Joy Jar is full!
So, this year my holiday gift to my special friends was a Joy Jar that I made. The concept is to fill it with experiences or thoughts that make you feel happy and joyful. It can be something little or something profound. Hopefully, you find at least one thing per day that makes you happy, write it down and put it into the jar. After a month, a few months, a year, or whenever you are feeling down and need a pick me up, pull out a note and read it and remember how it made you feel happy and joyful.
This week’s focus is on feeling joy. Do you feel that your life makes sense and that it matters? Does your life feel purpose driven by goals you care about? Have you taken time to reconnect with yourself? How would it feel to find and savor little bites of joy in your day?
I LOVE feedback! Join my Facebook community on my FUN-damentals Fan Page.
Word-Of-the-Week #963: Joy
January 19, 2023 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #963: Joy
Joy – a deep feeling of happiness or contentment.
Do you know that feeling joy is strongly associated with subjective well-being, which is essential for human flourishing? When was the last time you felt connected, or reunited with something or someone that’s really important to you?
This week features the first half of Washington Post writer Richard Sima, “Want to feel happier? Try snacking on joy. Learning to find the joy in mundane experiences is a way to cultivate a more meaningful life.
“Here’s an antidote to an ever-stressful, busy and uncertain world. Try finding and savoring little bites of joy in your day. I call them “joy” snacks.
By mindfully tuning into the pleasant, nice and sometimes routine experiences of every day, we can transform an otherwise mundane moment into something more meaningful and even joyful.
Lunch with a co-worker. Walking the dog. Texting with a friend. Watching a favorite show. Eating a favorite meal. Calling your mom. Just hanging out.
New research shows that finding and savoring these nuggets of joy can be a way of consistently cultivating a good, meaningful life.
“It’s not these big things that we sort of create in our heads, but these smaller day-to-day experiences that bring us meaning,” said Joshua Hicks, psychologist at Texas A&M University’s Existential Psychology Collaboratory.
- Understanding the science of joy
Surprisingly, joy has been relatively neglected by scholars.
But recent research suggests that joy is a distinct positive emotion for “when we feel connected, or reunited with something or someone that’s really important to us,” said Philip Watkins, psychologist who studies joy, gratitude and happiness at Eastern Washington University.
Watkins’s research, perhaps unsurprisingly, finds that feeling joy is strongly associated with subjective well-being, which is essential for human flourishing.
Big events like weddings or reunions are well-known smorgasbords for joy. But smaller bites of joy in everyday life matter, too, and are easier to attain if we don’t overlook them.
Previous research has shown we derive meaning in life from three key factors — feeling like our life makes sense, having a purpose driven by goals we care about and feeling like our lives matter.
A February study published in Nature Human Behavior involving more than 3,000 participants across multiple experiments reported that valuing one’s life experiences, or experiential appreciation, is another potent way of making life feel more meaningful.
When asked by researchers to recount their most meaningful experience that occurred in the past week, for most people, it was not about their grand, overarching goals, but something simpler and more mundane that stood out, such as having an enjoyable conversation or being surrounded by nature.
“It’s not just about you creating meaning in your head,” said Hicks, who co-wrote the study. “It’s about detecting meaning that’s already out there.”
Snacking on joy can go beyond focusing on our own experiences. Sharing our joy snacks also helps foster even stronger bonds with those we care about most. Relationship research has found that couples who celebrate small things regularly — not just the anniversaries — had stronger and happier partnerships.
There is also joy to be had when you take the time to reconnect with the person that is always with you: yourself.
This week’s focus is on feeling joy. Do you feel that your life makes sense and that it matters? Does your life feel purpose driven by goals you care about? Have you taken time to reconnect with yourself? How would it feel to find and savor little bites of joy in your day?
I LOVE feedback! Join my Facebook community on my FUN-damentals Fan Page.
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #77: Joy
May 12, 2009 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #77: Joy
Joy – to experience or show pleasure or great delight.
- Aunt Cindy & Alexander
So how would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest when it comes to happiness? After you read WOW #74 did you identify what makes you feel content?
The word joy is in the definition of happiness. And there are different kinds of joy and happiness. A lot of people are looking for happiness externally.
For example, I have heard people say, “If I get a bigger house, a fancier car, get married, etc., then I will be happy.” I believe true joy and happiness are internal. They come from within.
A perfect example is the story I read in the newspaper on Sister Antonia Brenner. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans. She said, “I never thought twice about giving up my life as a homemaker in Beverly Hills to aid prisoners.”
After visiting La Mesa State Penitentiary 40 years ago, she began volunteering there. Then in 1977, she made the choice to live permanently in one of the prison cells so she could provide prisoners round-the-clock support and protection from abuse. The mother of seven is now known as the “prison angel.”
“Happiness does not depend on where you live,” she says. “I don’t have a lot of pleasures, but I have a lot of joy.”
This week look inside and define what gives you joy and great delight. Steve Straus, the 3-Minute Coach says, “Joy not shared, dies. If you agree, where are you sharing your joy?”
Reader Responses
“Right On! Happiness is a decision we make!” — Don Vance