Joy: A Mid-Year Check-In

In lieu of making New Year’s resolutions, I’ve been choosing a single word by which to live throughout the year. This year’s word is Joy:

1. Just remembering to be playful. Much of what I listed above comes with responsibility, but it’s also supposed to be fun.
2. Joy is rooted in the senses. There’s a certain quality to it that takes us out of our heads and into our bodies. God knows I could stand to spend less time up there.
3. Increased embodied joy brings relaxation, calm, and confidence. And these things will lead to a better performance and outcome.

Soon after I chose this word for 2024, I had the idea to keep a joy logbook: I bought a little pocket weekly planner, and I’d write down all the big and little moments of joy that I experienced during a given day.

This practice has helped keep me on track, as well as kept me mindful of this word on a daily basis. I’m more likely to appreciate small experiences such as watching a bird out my window or a really delicious meal or a song that catches my spirit or a great night’s sleep. I’d have enjoyed these anyway, but they’ve taken on an extra dimension of gratitude for me thanks to this practice.

More recently, I’ve been noticing a shift in how I consider upcoming events or activities as well. There have been several instances when I’ve weighed whether to do something, and an inner voice has asked, “Will it bring you joy?” It may involve some extra preparation, but if the answer is yes, then I’ve been more likely to go through with it. And then sure enough, I’m glad that I did afterward.

So, six months in, Joy is going well. It’s been transformative, and has caused me to look at certain things through a different lens. That’s the goal every year with this One Word practice. I’m certainly meeting it so far.