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I've decided one of my New Year's resolutions is to do more things that give me joy, and do fewer things out of guilt or obligation. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about shirking my obvious obligations, like caring for my children! I am talking about making decisions about optional activities based on whether they bring me joy, not whether I will feel less guilt if I do them.
These decisions can feel difficult at first, but once made, they are incredibly liberating. And not surprisingly, when I feel more joy, I spread it to others around me and they feel more joyful, too. Just like focusing on the Reasons Why YOU ROCK. As Marianne Williamson so beautifully puts it, "When we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same." When we are operating in a spirit of joy, that joy automatically spreads to others - our prospects, our clients, our co-workers, our friends, and our family members.
Another one of my new year's resolutions is to read more books, because reading great books brings me joy. So far, I've read three great books - a book a week! I'm hoping to keep that pace up all year. I'll be blogging about the books I read soon, so subscribe to my blog if you want to get notices when I write a new book brief. Click here to subscribe to my blog.
How about you? What brings you joy? What's been missing from your life that could inject a healthy dose of joy for you and others? If you're having trouble thinking of something but know you need a boost, try reflecting on what's great about you for a few minutes. What are some of the Reasons Why YOU ROCK? That list is sure to bring you joy, and might remind you of something you want to pay more attention to in this new year.
And speaking of joy, if you are a woman and you'd like to spend a joyful morning with a group of other great women, come to my Reasons Why YOU ROCK workshop on Saturday, Feb. 19th. (See sidebar for details). Guys, this is a perfect gift for your Valentine, too. And gals, it's a perfect way to connect with a dear girlfriend.
Here's to joy. And here's to creating lots of it in this beautiful new year full of new opportunity.
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