Got joy on your journey?
Whatever bridge you’re about to cross, or are crossing right now…I want you to experience JOY in the process! Many times, when the bridge brings challenge, struggle, or hardships…we think there’s no joy to be found.
Not so, grasshopper!
I remember, years ago, a fellow coach and friend of mine, had a friend and client who said she felt…joyless. And she longed for it. By the end of their conversation, my friend said something to her along the lines of, “If it’s joy you’re looking for, you need to talk to Deni.”
Wow. She knew that’s what I’m about, and sensed it in all of our interactions. And so…she knew where to turn to help her client in that area. (A story for another time.)
Why Too Many People Miss Joy
On the natural side...it's not because they don’t want it. It's because they’ve defined it as a grand finale, instead of a faithful companion across their life.
They keep waiting for something big to happen to make them feel joy...to feel alive. A grand breakthrough, a vacation, a compliment, a number on the scale, or a miracle turnaround. Until then, they hold off on celebrating and expressing gratitude…believing that joy is something you earn after you achieve something worthy.
They’re striving to walk toward it, when they simply need to walk IN it.
And while the dictionary definition of joy is, the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation,” …I challenge the simplicity of that blanket statement.
Here’s what I know to be true: Joy isn’t reserved for the finish line. It’s stirred up on the inside, in the acknowledgment that something good has already arrived, and in the expectation of something good to come. It’s where we focus our minds and hearts. That center piece.
In fact, the very definition of JOY in the Laymen’s Bible Encyclopedia, is: “Joy is an emotion excited by the acquisition, or the expectation of something good.”
I believe it’s both. Where they overlap…when we walk in both...that's where joy is experienced.
On the spiritual side...this source’s definition also references the Biblical sense of the first (acquisition) and second (expectation) coming of Christ, I believe and receive, that we experience it as it applies to our everyday lives. Why? Because there’s the emotion of joy, AND there is the command of joy (according to Scripture).
The more we can acknowledge what we’ve already received in this life with gratitude, AND expect (not out of obligation or entitlement) that something good is also coming with a sense of hope…the more we will experience JOY in our lives.
JOY becomes an ongoing emotion that is excited within us.
But what about outside circumstances?
When it comes to joy...I’m talking about what we have within us, in spite of outside circumstances.
Meaning…regardless of what is happening around us, we can excite an emotion deep inside of us of gratitude and hope…JOY.
When people don’t know this, they chase happiness like it’s a lottery ticket. Rare. Random. Out of reach. They may or may not “win” it. So, why should they expect joy?
And when “something” doesn’t happen for them as they expected, or “something” does happen to them that they didn’t expect…they stay discouraged, unmotivated, and disconnected from what’s already working for them in their lives.
And when we've trained ourselves to overlook the little wins…the little blessings…we miss the momentum that could carry us forward…in JOY.
This doesn't mean we're going to be happy-go-lucky all the time. It simply means that...we have something inside of us that we can choose to tap into. To excite. To walk in.
That’s the mistake. That’s the misfortune.
We're ignoring the joy we've already experienced, and blocking the joy that wants to build in anticipation.
Here’s the better way: Understand that...
Joy is both a response to what is good and a readiness for what could be good. It’s emotional energy in motion.
This mindset shift is powerful because it grounds you in reality (what is going right) while also awakening your hope (what’s coming). That combo is fuel. And unlike fleeting happiness...
Joy doesn’t depend on perfection of circumstances. It thrives in perspective of circumstances.
BOOM! 💥
So…how do you apply this?
- You choose to be present and…look around you.
- You learn to name and celebrate the small wins, and express gratitude for these blessings.
- You document what’s working, and what is true.
- You focus your heart and mind on what is true.
- You pause to see the fruit of your effort…even if it’s small, slow, or still forming.
- You allow yourself to feel joy now...because something good is already in motion.
And when you do? You feel more clarity. More energy. More motivation and momentum to keep going…forward.
You begin to notice patterns of progress. You build confidence. And joy shows up more often because you’ve trained your heart to look for it, AND to receive it.
This is exactly why I created the Small Wins, Big Momentum health wins tracker for my clients, recently. It’s a simple tool designed to help you name and claim those micro-moments of success in your better-health journey…so joy becomes a regular rhythm, not just a rare occasion.
Ready to put joy in motion?
I'm making this awesome tool available to YOU. Download the free tracker now, and start seeing how far you’ve already come…and where you just might be headed with momentum…next.
I’d love to know how you love it! Choose JOY!
On a personal note: A spiritual perspective - JOY is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The result of His presence within us. Galatians 5:22-23 AMP
I receive that truth, as He lives within me. I also receive the other fruits, not in isolation, but rather, to orchestrate these "fruits" in my life, every day: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, ans self-control.
So...for me...there are some days when I choose to amp up (excite) the JOY, especially as the result of acknowleging and being grateful for something good...AND exercising the hope and espectation that more good is to come!
Additional reading (AMP): Psalms 16:11; Psalms 28:7; Psalms 63:7; John 15:11. And feel free to search the Scriptures for more on JOY!
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I'll meet you on the bridge!
Deni
I believe:
- you were uniquely created by God
- your identity is key to everything you do in life
- you are here to make an impact...on purpose
- your impact has a ripple impact forward
- life and all of it's transitions, are best viewed from a bridge perspective
- life is better when you orchestrate it, vs trying to balance it
- you can live a healthy, whole life
- you can live a JOY-filled life
- I'm here to help
If you love this information, please leave a comment. 👏🏽🙌🏽
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