Joy Journal

Every Friday, you can receive the Joy Journal, which will give you information, inspiration and tips that you can use in your pursuit for joy.

Letting Go Doesn’t Mean You’re Incapable

Climbing vs. Carrying

“These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb.” — Najwa Zebian

This week, I am focusing on this wonderful quote by Najwa Zebian. On the surface, it seems pretty straightforward. But when you pause for a minute to think about it, it gets deep pretty quickly.

Deep Thought #1: As a high-achieving individual, you are constantly striving, aka climbing. Typically, others are on the path with you, using their strengths to help you summit as a team. Yet, sometimes (or maybe too many times), your teammates don’t pull their weight or contribute at as high a level as you would prefer. So, what do you do? Pick up the slack, aka start carrying.

Deep Thought #2: As a high-achieving individual, you are climbing, but maybe you are on the path by yourself. There can be a variety of reasons for this—there isn’t anyone who has time, capabilities or interest in joining you. Or maybe you don’t know how or unwilling to invite or include others on your journey. So, rather that simply climbing, you end up carrying the full load.

Deep Thought #3: Once you start carrying, asking others for help feels like weakness. You tell yourself you “should” be able to handle this. It’s your path and vision, after all. And, by the way, many of you are climbing multiple mountains at the same time (career, family, community involvement, etc.) and expect to be able to carry for all of them well.

Final Deep Thought (for today): Stop and breathe. Put down the pack(s). You don’t have to climb AND carry all the time. You are not a lesser person by acknowledging that fact. You wouldn’t climb Mount Everest without a sherpa, would you?

Past Journals

How would you answer these 3 questions?

Joy JournalEvery Friday, you can receive the Joy Journal, which will give you information, inspiration and tips that you can use in your pursuit for joy. How would you answer these 3 questions? A self-reflection moment Inc. magazine recently published the...

I scream…You scream

Joy JournalEvery Friday, you can receive the Joy Journal, which will give you information, inspiration and tips that you can use in your pursuit for joy. I scream…You scream Let it rip! Have you ever felt so frustrated, angry or some other intense emotion that...

Try this productivity hack…

Joy JournalEvery Friday, you can receive the Joy Journal, which will give you information, inspiration and tips that you can use in your pursuit for joy. Try this productivity hack... And you get a reward I’m a consumer of productivity hacks. I love them....

Burnout Bias

Joy JournalEvery Friday, you can receive the Joy Journal, which will give you information, inspiration and tips that you can use in your pursuit for joy. Burnout Bias The stigma has an impact Quote: A stigma is a barrier rooted in prejudice, avoidance,...

Do more than treat the symptoms

Joy JournalEvery Friday, you can receive the Joy Journal, which will give you information, inspiration and tips that you can use in your pursuit for joy. Do more than treat the symptoms Fix the root cause WARNING: This journal is sad. The news is not...

Stop making it about “Where”

Joy JournalEvery Friday, you can receive the Joy Journal, which will give you information, inspiration and tips that you can use in your pursuit for joy. Stop making it about “Where” Focus on giving more autonomy Stat: The reasons employees don't want to...

Wash, Rinse, Repeat

Joy JournalEvery Friday, you can receive the Joy Journal, which will give you information, inspiration and tips that you can use in your pursuit for joy. Wash, Rinse, Repeat The joy-sucking nature of monotony How many of you feel like the 1-2 years we...

« Older Entries