J is for Joy

...and Juanette!

Definition of Joy /joi/ - noun. A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

I attended a workshop and the speaker talked about how our brain works and strategies that we can use professionally and personally to achieve our goals, lower our stress and have fun doing it!

Visualization - I am trying to get better at this. Visualization is creating images in your mind of your having or doing whatever it is you want. What you focus on, you attract. Many professional athletes use this technique to connect training and the visualization of the outcome of a race or game. I think of it as a self-fulfilling prophesy. Visualization is simply mental rehearsal. But I also think that visualization should also be accompanied by steps towards your plans.

"Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blue print, and begin to build." - Robert Collier

 

Positivity - Creating a positive environment should be a goal in your personal and professional life. Have you ever met someone and their disposition was always dark? All they do is complain? I (unfortunately) have met, been friends with and worked with people like that. I think that it is a sad and lonely life to always look at what's wrong instead of focusing on what's good and right with people. I would rather believe that people are good and get hurt than assume that people are trifling and regard them with suspicion. When you devalue people and their contributions you are in fact the one who feels less than. Positive people make it a great day, they are not bound by their limitations and they smile a lot! 

 “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”- Mahatma Gandhi

Jacket: Thrifted

Sweater: Old Navy (I love it!)

Shirt: Thrifted

Jeans: Target

Booties: Franco Sarto

Bag: Zara

Humor - I couldn't imagine not laughing everyday. Humor decreases stress and increases serotonin which boosts your mood. Laughter is a much needed factor in my life. My students make me laugh, the people in my life make me laugh and I love making other people laugh. 

"A sense of humor... is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life" - Hugh Sidey

Do you currently use these techniques? Have you found success by using these strategies? (I especially want to know about the visualization part.)
Speak on it!