I think joy is one of the most underrated and undervalued emotions. For many of us, love is the ultimate emotion, and as one band famously reminded us with their hit, “All You Need is Love.” Yet, in my opinion, as the highest vibrating emotion, it’s joy that aligns you with your heart’s true desires and your biggest dreams. And the best part is that joy is something you can feel on purpose…if you dare to choose.
So to highlight the power of joy, last September amidst the global doom and gloom, I decided to do my bit at home and start a little movement called “Joytember.”
As I proclaimed in my first Joytember Facebook post:
I have just announced in my household that September is “Joytember!” That means only good vibes are allowed. It also means only funny/happy movies and TV shows, only uplifting music, board games galore, more time in nature, more time doing what makes each of us smile and laugh. And absolutely, unequivocally, no mention of the c-word!
I was encouraging others to do the same by making September the month where you simply identify what gives you joy, and you go and absorb yourself in it. While I understand that joy is an innate state that we can all access, I do believe there are certain things you can do to jolt yourself into that place of joy.
Here are the types of activities I got up to last September (many of which I’m planning to do again):
- Enjoying quality time with my mum.
- Watching comedies including re-runs of Friends (in place of thrillers and movies that spike my cortisol levels).
- Taking regular walks in nature and along the beach.
- Sitting in the sun watching my kids play at the local skatepark with no agenda, no focus on time, and no worries.
- Reminiscing as I sort through my old electronic photographs.
- Playing board games.
- Smudging and tidying my house.
- Pampering myself with a facial while enjoying a salt bath with essential oils.
- Making a transition to healthier eating without it feeling like a struggle or hard work.
- Hiding from the kids in an impromptu game of hide-and-seek (which was hilarious).
- Following my bliss by working on passion projects such as my writing course and coaching program.
- Doing random acts of kindness.
- Connecting with others who were keen to participate in Joytember and lift the vibe.
- Taking time in the morning to meditate on my vision for the future. (I recently came up with a process that helps you easily connect to your higher self in the mornings, see below.)
Then I asked others what they would add to their list:
- Ellena M was keen to watch Mrs Bouquet with her Nanny.
- Kylie and Jack H wanted to watch all of the Star Wars movies in order.
What would you add to your “Joytember” list?
When I look back on September 2021 when I embarked on Joytember, I realised it was my most productive and purposeful month of the year! Was it a coincidence that I noticed an overall improvement in the state of my wellbeing and demeanour? I think not. This was also despite my mum having a heart attack on 8 September. In a way, I felt this new approach played a big part in her recovery and my ability to be strong and supportive during an incredibly difficult time. As I remarked in a Facebook post about my mum’s situation:
Joytember continues and lives on even in the face of adversity. I realise now, it’s exactly the remedy we all need at this moment.
I can already sense you wondering…why can’t every month be Joytember? The answer is there is nothing stopping us from making that happen, but I do think it’s helpful to have a goal and be realistic. The last thing we want to do is have Joytember feel like Choretember! That would be counter-productive. Incorporating joyful activities into your schedule might be a whole new way of approaching life, so I encourage you to ease yourself into it and remember there are no rules when it comes to joy. You do joy your way and you’re sure to notice an improvement. For now, I’m keen to get people to embrace a whole month of joy to see how it impacts their life in positive ways. Maybe Joytember is the month we explore and discover all the different things that bring us joy so we can select a few to incorporate into our daily routine. That’s where the real magic will happen.
Years ago, I wrote about my quest for joy when I drew the “Maitraya” ascended master oracle card for myself. Recently, I expanded my knowledge of joy with OSHO’s book titled, Joy: The Happiness that Comes from Within.
I love what OSHO has to say about joy:
Joy is a state of transcendence. Joy is forever. Joy arises within, it has nothing to do with the outside. It is not caused by others; it is not caused at all. It is the spontaneous flow of your own energy. If your energy becomes a flow, a movement, a river, there is great joy–for no other reason, just because you become more fluid, more flowing, more alive. A song is born in your heart, the great ecstasy arises.”
Using OSHO’s description of joy, I like to think that Joytember is about sparking that flow that arises from within. With all the suggestions of nature and comedies and board games, what it’s really all about is this:
The only thing that matters is how you played the game. Did you enjoy it?–the game itself? Then each moment is a moment of joy. OSHO.
Join the conversation on social media:
#Joytember #goodvibesonly #happyhappyjoyjoy #followyourbliss #wecouldalldowithalittlemorejoy
#bringthejoy #bethejoyyouwanttoseeintheworld
A huge thank you to Chery Austen for the original inspiration to bring more joy into my life at a time when most of us were struggling to make sense of the world.
