Workshop: Amp Up the Joy in Your Life
Many of us crave more joy in our lives, at work and home, especially after the past few years when so many of us experienced the shrinking of in-person communities. But what is joy, and why does it seem so elusive? How is it different from happiness? How can we stop seeing joy as “out there” for lucky people, and utilize it as a powerful internal compass? How can companies and organizations help leadership and staff grow their individual joy in ways that also directly benefit a business?
Michelle Cove (award-winning documentary filmmaker, national best-selling author, and Director of Communications for Experience Camps for Grieving Children) has partnered with seasoned healer and teacher Barbara Gosselin to offer a joy workshop that enables participants to learn, brainstorm, play, connect and create a practical roadmap to weave more joy into their lives.
Michelle Cove (award-winning documentary filmmaker, national best-selling author, and Director of Communications for Experience Camps for Grieving Children) has partnered with seasoned healer and teacher Barbara Gosselin to offer a joy workshop that enables participants to learn, brainstorm, play, connect and create a practical roadmap to weave more joy into their lives.
How the joy workshop makes business sense
According to a survey conducted by A.T. Kearney of more than 500 employees of various ages in companies with more than $2 billion in revenues and in a range of industries: nearly 90% of respondents said that they expect to experience a substantial degree of joy at work, yet only 37% report that such is their actual experience. This discrepancy is known as the "joy gap."
For Gen Xers and Millennials (the vast majority of the study's sample), there was a joy gap of 57% and 44%, respectively. In research focused on joy/happiness at work for Millennials and Gen Z, it was seen that while the generations have different work styles, both generations experience more anxiety and stress than older generations, and both equally prioritize mental-health benefits and work-life balance and support.
The payoff of bringing joy to the workplace is also real and measurable for businesses: International positive psychology expert Shawn Achor's research has proven that increased happiness leads to a 23% reduction in stress, 39% improvement in health and 31% improvement in productivity. Our brains function significantly better in positive mood than in negative, neutral or stressed mood.
Says Achor: Happiness leads to increased cognitive function, improved problem-solving ability, increased memory and retention, higher accuracy and more creativity. All of these things give staff members a huge advantage, allowing them to perform at their peak.
For Gen Xers and Millennials (the vast majority of the study's sample), there was a joy gap of 57% and 44%, respectively. In research focused on joy/happiness at work for Millennials and Gen Z, it was seen that while the generations have different work styles, both generations experience more anxiety and stress than older generations, and both equally prioritize mental-health benefits and work-life balance and support.
The payoff of bringing joy to the workplace is also real and measurable for businesses: International positive psychology expert Shawn Achor's research has proven that increased happiness leads to a 23% reduction in stress, 39% improvement in health and 31% improvement in productivity. Our brains function significantly better in positive mood than in negative, neutral or stressed mood.
Says Achor: Happiness leads to increased cognitive function, improved problem-solving ability, increased memory and retention, higher accuracy and more creativity. All of these things give staff members a huge advantage, allowing them to perform at their peak.
JOY WORKSHOP AGENDA [can be MODIFIED TO 2-4 hours] and includes:
*Discussion on how joy is different than happiness, and why joy is vital in our decision making
*How joy can be used as an internal compass in our decision-making
*Brainstorm - obstacles to our grief
*Why joy matters from a healing perspective and how it's connected to grief
*Body embodiment meditation - how can we feel and name joy physically?
*Interactive play and movement activities that boost joy
*Creating a practical roadmap for cultivating more joy in our lives
*How joy can be used as an internal compass in our decision-making
*Brainstorm - obstacles to our grief
*Why joy matters from a healing perspective and how it's connected to grief
*Body embodiment meditation - how can we feel and name joy physically?
*Interactive play and movement activities that boost joy
*Creating a practical roadmap for cultivating more joy in our lives
About the Workshop leaders
Michelle Cove is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, and national bestselling author whose projects have been featured on numerous national platforms including “The Today Show,” The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and The New York Times. She is currently the Director of Communications at the award-winning, national nonprofit Experience Camps for grieving children, and founded the nonprofit MEDIAGIRLS in 2014, which empowers girls and young women. She has spoken at numerous film festivals and women's conferences, including Mom 2.0 Summit, Celebrating Women: Mind, Body & Spirit, and The Worcester Women's Leadership conference.
Barbara Gosselin is a seasoned healer and teacher whose 35+ year professional journey has taken her from sports-medicine physical therapist to intuitive energy healer specializing in deep emotional healing. She is passionate about helping women heal from past traumas and toxic conditioning to remember who they truly are so they can live their most joyful and expansive lives. She is continually amazed and awed by the resilience and power of the human spirit, and honored to hold safe space for women to do their deep healing work. www.barbaragosselin.com
Barbara Gosselin is a seasoned healer and teacher whose 35+ year professional journey has taken her from sports-medicine physical therapist to intuitive energy healer specializing in deep emotional healing. She is passionate about helping women heal from past traumas and toxic conditioning to remember who they truly are so they can live their most joyful and expansive lives. She is continually amazed and awed by the resilience and power of the human spirit, and honored to hold safe space for women to do their deep healing work. www.barbaragosselin.com
FEEDBACK & TESTIMONIALS from pilot workshop
Based on anonymous feedback surveys from the pilot's 14 participants:
"I loved the ability to learn about joy within myself and connect and learn from others."
"I appreciated having an emotional discussion about joy and grief with a wonderful group of women of all ages who were open and willing to be vulnerable."
"I liked being inspired by the group leaders and other participants!"
"I really enjoyed hearing about other people's experiences with joy and how they're trying to cultivate more of it in their lives. I also loved dancing around!"
"I liked the intimate setting, meeting women from different generations, and the mix of activities (sharing, reflecting, dancing, etc.)"
- 100% would recommend the event to a friend or colleague
- 92% said they "have a better understanding of how to cultivate more joy in their lives"
- 92% said they "know the obstacles getting in the way of their joy" and also "the next steps they can take to have more joy in their lives."
"I loved the ability to learn about joy within myself and connect and learn from others."
"I appreciated having an emotional discussion about joy and grief with a wonderful group of women of all ages who were open and willing to be vulnerable."
"I liked being inspired by the group leaders and other participants!"
"I really enjoyed hearing about other people's experiences with joy and how they're trying to cultivate more of it in their lives. I also loved dancing around!"
"I liked the intimate setting, meeting women from different generations, and the mix of activities (sharing, reflecting, dancing, etc.)"
TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT
To learn about bringing the Joy Workshop to your group or organization, contact Michelle Cove.
