The Joy Deficit

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I would consider myself to be a happy person. Possibly a bit too optimistic about people & situations, which can pose an occasional problem. I’m largely driven by simple things, which might increase my chances of happiness. Yet, I will openly admit that I could be happier. My life has room for improvement, so to speak — and finding more joy would be beneficial. I’m not sure of the severity of my own joy deficit, but it is definitely present. Addressing that deficit seems vital. For all of us.

So what should be the focus if we set out to increase the amount of joy in our lives?

Research on life satisfaction appears to hinge on three major constructs, achievement (recognition & a sense of accomplishment), meaningfulness (a sense of purpose regarding our actions) and joy. White the two former constructs feel easier to define and capture — the latter feels much more esoteric and quite personal

When considering the notion of joy, I cannot help but look to the poets and philosophers. They not only seem to understand what brings joy, they have enjoyed the added bonus of writing about it. Love and nature seem to be enduring topics, but I suppose this is highly specific to an individual. Personally I find laughter to be the most accessible “joyful” activity, as life can come with more than a decent amount of stress and emotional burden.

I think we pass over joy rich activities as either frivolous or unimportant (I love rearranging the furniture) — but they are not.

Everyone should reflect on the elements that supply them with joy, as we spend too far little time paying attention to this.

I’ll start with 5 joy-inducing elements. You’re next. Leave your list in comments.

  1. Walking through a summer garden.
  2. Laughing with one of my children, over something silly.
  3. Standing on a beach, appreciating the vastness of Lake Michigan.
  4. Seeing one my my paintings happily installed in a collector’s home.
  5. Rearranging the vignette on my black marble coffee table.

What brings you joy?

Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychology Practitioner who focuses on bringing core stability to our work lives. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Top Voice Program. Her thoughts on work & life have appeared in various outlets including the Harvard Business Review, The World Economic Forum & the BBC.