Joyfulness is good for business. Let’s say that one more time: Joyfulness is good for business.

At SMA, we make our work fun, because positive emotions set the foundation for learning, growth and high performance.

In our recent webinar: How to Create More Possibilities through Positivity, I was joined by SMA Board Member Michael Kithcart, Creator of the Wynning Your Way Framework to help answer what, on the surface, seems to be a simple question.

How do you bring joy every day?

For me binge watching Netflix is pretty high on the joy list. In fact, the night before our webinar I was watching New Amsterdam’s fourth season and surprised to see the first episode was called “More Joy.” Too perfect, right? Well, do yourself a favor and check it out. At about 7 minutes into the show, there is a great scene about finding joy. The gist is finding joy is about refocusing on what truly matters and just when you find yourself feeling uplifted and excited. An alarm sounds. Poof. The joy fades.

If you identify with Sandra who asks “can you walk me through what (JOY) that might look like,”  … we’ve put together five actions with activities you can start today that will elevate positivity, provide better results for your effort and bring more joy to your life.

Step 1: Expand possibility through visualization.

Possibility sparks positive emotions and an effective way to connect to and expand possibility is through visualization. Your mind is a secret weapon. It can push through reality, so create your own new version of a reality that’s based on where you want to go.

ACTIVITY: Think about the goal. Close your eyes and think about a goal you want to get to by the end of the year. Think about the outcome as if it has already happened. Visualize that you’re already there and celebrating the success of that moment.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Who else is with me in the moment (teammates, friends, family, crowds)?
• What sounds would there be?
• How would I react and/or celebrate this success?

Now think of a mantra in your head. For example, “I am unstoppable.” “I am calm,” or “I am solution-oriented. Most often, “I am…” phrases are the most powerful, as they are a form of visualization. However, you may use any trigger phrase that will help you enhance this moment.

1. OPEN your eyes. Write down your I am statements – how do you feel in this moment – jot it down.

When you visualize, it activates the Occipital lobe in the back of your head that is responsible for vision and allows you to visualize scenes you’ve never actually witnessed before. Visualization helps you achieve your goals by conditioning your brain to see, hear, and feel success in your mind. It removes limitations.

Step 2: Practice Gratitude

Many studies have shown a direct correlation between gratitude and being happy. Happiness is not a constant. It does ebb and flow throughout life. However, you can choose to seek out joy, to see the positive in any given moment.

You can bring joy to any situation, conversation or group gathering. At a time when it’s so easy to feel out of your control, you can always decide to focus and take inventory of what’s going right.

People who are grateful don’t overly obsess with comparison. Comparison is a joy killer.

ACTIVITY: Take a moment and jot down three things you’re grateful for. Try it now. Just take 30 seconds to acknowledge what you appreciate about your life right now.

Step 3: Create YOUR own definition of success

Conventional wisdom says, if we work hard, we will be more successful, and if we are more successful, then we’ll be happy. This is actually backward: Joyfulness powers success.

When we are positive, we are also able to define our own success. Through the lens of joyfulness, rather than through someone else’s definition of success.

Positive emotions expand possibility, options and ideas. The more you see and believe opportunity exists, the longer you stay in a joyful state and a creative one.

Likewise, negative emotions diminish your thoughts and options. It’s rigid and breeds frustration.

Both positive and negative emotions are recurring. You get to choose which way you want to cycle through the day.

ACTIVITY: What are you currently telling yourself you need to do or have to do? Write something down. Doesn’t it immediately drain your energy? Does it support your definition of success?  

Now if you replaced “need to” or “have to” with “want to” or “I get to,” is it still true?

What “want to” statement would you create that defines YOUR version of success?

When you shift from doing things you need to do to things you want to do notice how that shifts your energy. It feels empowering when you say I get to do something and it’s in service to your definition of success.

Step 4: Measure where you came from vs. where you’re going

Goal-oriented achievers know where they want to go, but disappointment prevails when the focus in on things that have yet to happen.

Focusing on what’s already been accomplished is a much bigger contributor to getting results and doing so joyfully than focusing on what’s next.

Dan Sullivan calls it the gap and the gain. Psychology proves that confidence is not what creates success. It’s prior success that creates confidence. By looking back and recognizing all that you’ve already achieved, you immediately elevate confidence. That’s why you must Track your Wins.

Joy is generated by measuring against where you started vs. where you’re going. It increases your level of satisfaction.

ACTIVITY: What’s a win you’ve had this week? Write it down. 

Feeling more satisfied and calmer is good for business. It puts you in a proactive vs reactive state. It’s contagious, as you’ve just demonstrated by writing down your wins.

Step 5: Bring the Joy

With positive thinking, you can attain up to 30% more energy, creativity and productivity. The key is to think positively and find the joy today, rather than waiting for the right moment.

There are several ways you can elevate positivity right now. And, surprise, you’ve been doing them by being present as you read this blog. You can create a practice for yourself, habits you can form to raise your level of joy each day

ACTIVITY: Try one of these, or something different, every day for a week (here are a few things we do):

• Do something nice for yourself, even if it’s for five minutes
• Say no to something you would have said yes to but didn’t really want to.
• First thing in the morning, choose a word that describes how you are going to show-up that day. How you decide to show up each day greatly impacts your perspective, progress and performance. Regardless of what’s going on around you or how much feels out of your control, you always have the power to decide how you are going to see the situation, what attitude you are going to bring, and the energy you are going to share.
• Track your daily wins at the end of each day, even on the weekend.
• Declutter a space you occupy at home or work.
• Listen to more music.
• Laugh, really belly laugh.
• Send a note/text/call to someone who’s been on your mind or who could use a pick-me-up – every day for a week.
• Write three things you’re grateful for at end of the day.

By uplifting others, you can feel more positive. It makes others want to be around you and do business with you. Spreading joy increases revenue. Seeing what’s possible is solution-focused and puts you in action mode faster. Happiness builds confidence, and when you believe you have all that you need to be successful, you’re more likely to get after it and take the steps toward the outcome you want.

So, get out there and find joy. It’s good for business.