When Joy Becomes the Engine

I’ve dabbled in adult figure skating for a few years, so I feel a connection to skaters like Alysa Liu who step away and then return for entirely new reasons.

Watching her gold-winning free skate brought tears to my eyes. Yes, it was technically excellent. But what struck me most was something deeper: it felt like pure artistic joy.

People do what they do for many reasons. But the easiest way for energy, effort, and creativity to flow is when the intention underneath it is joy.

My father worked hard his entire life and managed a team of about 60 engineers. He used to say that work isn’t always joyful, but you get through your career better if you can find the spark of joy within it and aim your attention there.

This week I’ve been honing a leadership skills workshop that I’ll be delivering pro bono for a few nonprofit organizations I care about. I’m doing it simply because I love sharing practical, immediately usable interpersonal skills with people who are doing meaningful work.

And I’ve noticed something familiar happening as I think about offering these skills to these organizations: my creativity is humming. I catch myself singing in the car again - music is one of those things I’ve done professionally since I was young, but only as far as it brings me joy. It brings me joy to bring something positive into the world.

There’s something powerful about recognizing your professional calling and giving yourself permission to work from that place. When the intention is aligned with joy, the energy flows more easily.

#LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #NonprofitLeadership #AdultLearning