What IS Joy, and Why Should I Care About It at Work?

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When’s the last time you felt a real spark of joy?
Not just “this is nice” happy, but full-body, eyes-light-up, heart-exhale joy.

Maybe it was curling up with your dog and a good book.
 Swinging with your kiddo at the playground.
 Or three whole minutes of peace with your coffee and the sunrise.

That’s joy.

And we don’t just want more of it—we need it.

Joy isn’t fluff. It’s not a reward for getting everything right or being endlessly productive.
 It’s something we cultivate—with small, everyday choices.
Because joy gives us the zest and energy we need to tend to the hard stuff, too.
It makes us more resilient, not less real.

And yes—joy precedes success.

 (It’s science, not just a sweet idea.)

In this episode, we’re talking about what joy really is (hint: it’s not the same as happiness), why it matters so much for your health, work, and relationships, and how to actually practice it—even in the middle of your full, messy, meaningful life.

You’ll learn how to recognize it, how to invite more of it in, and why joy might just be your most underestimated strategy for doing brave, beautiful things in the world.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Joy versus happiness (12:42)
• Why joy is important for our health (18:30)
• Joy in the workplace (20:22)
• Four ways to bring more joy into your life and work (31:31)
• Leaning into soft strength (36:02)

People Mentioned in this Episode:

Dana Lemay

Sophie Cliff

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Notifly

LISTEN NOW: The Boundary Brunch 

Book:  The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Douglas Carlton Abrams,  Desmond Tutu,  Dalai Lama

Study: Martín-María, Natalia et al. “The Impact of Subjective Well-being on Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies in the General Population.” Psychosomatic medicine vol. 79,5 (2017): 565-575. doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000444

Study: “Positive Intelligence.” Harvard Business Review, 8 Oct. 2014, hbr.org/2012/01/positive-intelligence.

Study: “Read @Kearney: Joy at Work.” Kearney, www.kearney.com/leadership-change-organization/article/?%2Fa%2Fjoy-at-work. 

Podcast: Joy@Work podcast

Video: Virtual Tour of Kickstarter Offices

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