Finding JoySample

According to Harvard Business Review, research reveals that to live a satisfying life, achievement, meaningfulness, and joy are needed. They discovered, however, that the most elusive of those three was joy.

In this series, let’s address a few research-based insights to better understand and experience more joy.

The first insight to note is this: How people spend their extra time outside of work is more important than how much time they spend at work. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Contrary to modern thought, feeling joy and contentment is not a lowly experience. God designed his people to feel joy and to feel it abundantly. He knows the power of a joyful soul, that it can revive and strength his people, as it is recorded in Nehemiah 8:10 “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Research shows that people who experience more joy in their free time, tend to find more value in their work. If you are fulfilled outside of work you can overflow into others at work. In this series we’ll provide some research-based insights on how to enhance your joy in life.

Questions For Reflection

• What is joy? How does it differ from happiness? Do you feel joy? Does it come often or only occasionally? What about your life brings you a sense of joy?
• Do you find joy in God? What does biblical joy look like? Do you feel satisfaction and contentment in your life, and does it come from external sources or from the Lord?