Spreading Joy

Our brains amplify big emotions, even when those emotions weren’t ours to begin with.

Ever walked away from an anxious person and thought, “I was not feeling anxious before that encounter!”?

Ever felt mad after being with an angry person even when you were not angry before?

We can walk away from others feeling hyped up and not even know what hit us.

In the same way, our brains will amplify JOY! Have you ever considered that you could be a person who SPREADS JOY to others? Sounds fun, right!

Here’s how my colleagues, Jim Wilder, Ed Khouri, Chris Coursey, and I defined JOY in our book, Joy Starts Here:

Joy is relational; it cannot be experienced alone.

Joy means that someone is glad to be with me!

Joy is a real, face-to-face, in person encounter.

We are creatures of joy!

Joy creates our identity, how we see ourselves.

Joy is the basis for bonding.

Joy gives us strength.

Joy is transforming.

Joy is the building block for a healthy brain.

Joy is the fuel for life-giving relationships.

Joy gives us the strength to face pain.

The lack of joy drains our relational batteries.

Joy means we are the sparkle in someone else’s eye!