Over the past month, I’ve been inviting people to pull joy into their life from various different aspects. If you've been joining in "live" or have come to this Joyful July later, have you been noticing any change? Is it easier to reach for joy than it was before? Or is it about the same?

If you haven't done so already, take the time to really check in and think about it, why not take a moment now, or at least sometime in the near future, to think about it. Maybe even journal about it. There is no correct answer, everyone has their own experiences, and so many variables come into play.

Journal prompt: How has including consistent acts of finding joy affect me?

This last week of July, I invite you to share joy with others. Joy is often contagious, and sharing joy can also help us feel more joyful.

I mean, who can deny it when even activist, diplomat and First Lady of the USA, Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.”

Here are suggestions for ways to share joy (but by no means limited! Find the way that works best for you!):

1. Smile - a fairly easy way to share our joy with others is to simply smile at them. Showing others a kind, genuine smile sends signals that help them feel relaxed, perhaps energized and may even inspire them to smile back. (Spreading joy!)
2. Give a compliment - hopefully at some point in your life—if not fairly often!—you have received a compliment that made you feel warm and fuzzy inside and may even have given you the boost you needed to do something you really wanted to do but weren’t sure you had it in you. Even small compliments can literally change a persons life.
3. Help someone out - if you notice someone is struggling, perhaps offer them a hand. A lot of times we are nervous about asking for support because we’re worried about how people may respond, but a kind, no pressure offering of support can go a long way.
4. Write a thank you note - it may seem silly and outdated, but a thank you note can really make a persons day. They may have gone out of their way for you, maybe by giving you a gift, or perhaps supporting you in some way. By sending them a thank you note, especially if they don’t expect it, can be a great way to share joy.
5. Volunteer your time - most of us lead very busy lives, so the idea of volunteering your time may seem like asking for the world, but those who can volunteer, even a little bit, make big differences in the world on both the small scale and big scale. Think: butterfly effect!

What ways are you going to share your joy with others?

I'd love to hear from you, send me a note in the comment box below or come join us in the Yoga for Pandemic Fatigue, Stress, Anxiety & Long COVID Facebook group.

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