Inspiration: The Engine of Joy

01/01/22 • 26 min

1 Listener

The element for this episode is inspiration. It’s the magic of being awakened to new possibilities or feeling deeply passionate that you want to do something out of that passion. We all know inspiration can strike when we least expect it to, but perhaps there is a depth to its transcendence and interconnectedness within us that we can learn to tap into. Tune in as we talk about the five qualities of inspiration, how to avoid common pitfalls, and key ways to increase your likelihood of experiencing inspiration.

Key Takeaways:

The more inspiration you have, the more internal drive and purpose you have to be motivated in everyday work.
One of the pitfalls with inspiration is when you only rely on others to get it; that’s just not a reliable source. It is transcendent in how it comes to us, either from within us or from beyond us.
You can increase your likelihood of being inspired by being open to new experiences, practicing positive emotions, and through preparation.

Links Mentioned:

The Joy Lab Program

Key Takeaways:

The more inspiration you have, the more internal drive and purpose you have to be motivated in everyday work.
One of the pitfalls with inspiration is when you only rely on others to get it; that’s just not a reliable source. It is transcendent in how it comes to us, either from within us or from beyond us.
You can increase your likelihood of being inspired by being open to new experiences, practicing positive emotions, and through preparation.

Links Mentioned:

The Joy Lab Program

Previous Episode

Sympathetic Joy: Happiness Goes Viral

The element for this episode is sympathetic joy, which is the practice of delighting in other people’s happiness. But it’s easier said than done—especially when we feel others' accomplishments are unfairly earned or they receive something we want for ourselves. How do we overcome these negative responses? The biggest obstacle to overcome is the belief that we are fundamentally separate from each other; that our happiness is not dependent on others. Tune in to this episode as we talk about how deeply interconnected the world is and how the path to our own happiness may in fact be tied to the happiness of others.

In This Episode:

[00:54] What is sympathetic joy
[03:00] The highest qualities of a good heart
[04:39] Obstacles to sympathetic joy
[06:58] The impact and research of sympathetic joy and emotional contagion
[12:25] Why practicing sympathetic joy is difficult
[16:03] Common cognitive roadblocks with sympathetic joy
[21:12] A model of what the world looks like when sympathetic joy is present

Key Takeaways:

Sympathetic joy is a Buddhist concept that roughly translates into taking delight in other people's happiness.
Sympathetic joy is seen as being a direct path to one's own happiness by learning to be happy for others.
There’s strong scientific evidence that we are impacted by the emotions of those around us, meaning we are interconnected creatures.
Negative emotions can often feel more “contagious” which is why sympathetic joy can be a particularly effective tool to not only buffer the emotions around us but add a positive element to the world.
There are two cognitive roadblocks to sympathetic joy: The fallacy of fairness and the fallacy of scarcity. Both of these distortions are built on the belief that we are fundamentally separate from others.
At the heart of sympathetic joy is the belief that we are all interconnected on a deep level.

Links Mentioned:

joylab.coach

Next Episode

The Forgotten Key to Happiness

In this episode, we are exploring the forgotten key to happiness... savoring! In our modern world, there is both excess and inequity, a recipe that has distracted us from the art of noticing and appreciating the good things around us. We discuss the relationship between dopamine, pleasure, addiction, motivation, and in the midst of those, the superpower of savoring. Listen in for the powerful benefits of savoring and how it can unlock greater happiness in your life.

00:00 Introduction to the Joy Lab Podcast

00:36 Exploring the Element of Savoring

01:28 The Science Behind Savoring

02:24 The Power of Savoring in Daily Life

07:26 Savoring and the Dopamine System

15:14 The Role of Savoring in Emotional Regulation

20:45 Personal Experiences with Savoring

25:08 The Many Ways to Savor

25:50 Closing Thoughts and Invitation to the Joy Lab Program

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Sources and Notes:

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Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
Bryant, F. B. (2021). Current Progress and Future Directions for Theory and Research on Savoring. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.771698.
Parker-Pope, T. (January 3, 2022). Diets Make You Feel Bad. Try Training Your Brain Instead. The New York Times.
Wilson, K. A., & MacNamara, A. (2021). Savor the moment: Willful increase in positive emotion and the persistence of this effect across time. Psychophysiology, 58. doi: 10.1111/psyp.13754
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