“We all have an inclination to seek joy in our surroundings, yet we have been taught to ignore it.”

– Ingrid Fetell Lee, Author of Joyful

I had the pleasure of having a very rewarding conversation with Ingrid Lee on my Intersections webcast on ‘How Ordinary Things Can Create Extraordinary Happiness’. An idea we discussed — and which I want to share with you in this newsletter — is something that Ingrid calls ‘joyspotting’, an intentional way in which we can craft joy in our lives. Joyspotting is simple to do, and I invite you to experiment with it today.

Here’s how to engage in it. Go out for a walk today, and look for small moments of joy. You can also do joyspotting while you’re doing something else, like walking your dog or doing the laundry. Simply lean into your senses, taking notice of your surroundings. You may find something that lifts your spirits — a bright pop of color against a relatively dull landscape, or a bunch of wildflowers…or maybe the light is doing something interesting. Spend 15 minutes like this, and when you see something that sparks joy in you, consider capturing it, and sharing it with a friend or family member. To quote Ingrid, “…One of the things about joy is that when we share it, it actually heightens our own joy so we get more joy out of sharing.” If you wish to, you can also post it on Instagram with the hashtag #joyspotting, which has already gathered over a hundred thousand posts, as people all over the world come together to share the little things that spark joy.

We often move through the physical world as if it were a stage set, a mute backdrop for our daily activities. Yet in reality, it is alive with opportunities for inspiration, wonder, and joy.

Warmly,
Hitendra

PS: Would it make sense for you to share this newsletter with five other people you are close to, so that they too may benefit from joyspotting?

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