21 Habits of Joyful People, Part 2

“I do it for the joy it brings, cause I’m a joyful girl. ‘Cause the world owes us nothing, we owe each other the world.” Ani Difranco

For the next 6 installments under this title, we will explore 21 things joyful people make a habit of doing on a consistent basis.  

Here a recap of the first three mentioned in Part 1:

Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed. We've all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life. 

These people will: 

1. Appreciate Life

2. Choose Friends Wisely

3. Be Considerate

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Part 2

 4. Learn Continuously

"Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them."

Proverbs 18:15


Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that have sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.

“I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me!”

1Corinthians 9:26 ~ The Message Bible

5. Creative Problem Solving

Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the setbacks affect your mood; instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His Purpose for them.” 
Romans 8:28 – New Living Translation

6. Do What They Love

Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.

“Do you want to be truly rich? You already are if you are happy and good. After all, we didn’t bring any money with us when we came into the world, and we can’t carry away a single penny when we die. So we should be well satisfied without money if we have enough food and clothing. But people who long to be rich soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and finally send them to hell itself. 

For the love of money is the first step toward all kinds of sin. Some people have even turned away from God because of their love for it, and as a result have pierced themselves with many sorrows.

1Timothy 6:6-10 ~ Children’s Living Bible

Many thanks to my Sister Beloved, Dr. Michelle McCollin for the idea and much of the above content. 


Photo Credits: Google Images

TEAMS by Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

As Daniel Goleman stated in his book, Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence (2002), “leaders work under the assumption that nothing important gets done alone” (pg. 51).   

One sign of an effective leader is the group of followers who exert an energy that radiates from the leader’s upbeat and enthusiastic style.  (Photo Credits: Google Images)

Researchers have found that the glue that holds a team together and commits people to a share goal is the emotions that they feel.  Being able to promote positive emotions between people working together is an essential task of the leader.  Under the guidance of an effective leader, people should feel a mutual comfort level that comes from a positive relationship.  Positive relationships between people working in a team can lead to the sharing of ideas, new learning from one another, collaboratively made decisions, and task completion. 

Effective teams have the ability to remain focused even when profound change and uncertainty are surrounding them.  An effective leader knows how to bring this kind of emotional bonding together to form teams that drive people to get more done together than could ever be possible alone.  Relationship and team building skills allow leaders to use their emotional intelligence to work. 

For leaders, teams, and organizations, the bonding that forms relationships and teams is particularly important.  The heart of any healthy group is the relationships between people and the organization’s goals.  Whether it is a family, a club, or a company, when members of a group are attached to each other and to common goals, a sense of well-being and enjoyment exists.  This kind of environment allows people to perform at much higher levels because a high performing team has members who want to belong and are strongly bonded together. 

Effective leadership is all about how people are brought together to create a synergy that will bring out their best and achieve team goals.  The following tips may help you create more effective teams:

·        Focus your mind on the words you use and the transactions you use with others

·        Get rid of fear, threats, and negativity within your team

·        Use dialogue that is driven by mutual respect

Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a mother, educator, and wife living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the President of the Leadership Empowerment Group, LLC and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  

Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the author of Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader. 

For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barbara@leadershipempowermentgroup.com or visit Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com

21 Habits of Joyful People, Part 1

Many thanks to my Sister Beloved, Dr. Michelle McCollin for the idea and much of the following content. Photo Credits: Google Images

Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one really wants to be sad and depressed. We’ve all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life.

“No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.”       
~ Barbara de Angelis

For the next 7 installments under this title, we will explore 21 things happy people make a habit of doing on a consistent basis.  

Here are the first three:

1. Appreciate Life

Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

“Let all that I am praise The LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me.” Psalm 103:2 (NLT)

2. Choose Friends Wisely

Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.

“Don’t hang out with angry people; don’t keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious – don’t get infected.”  Proverbs 22:24 (The Message Bible)

3. Be Considerate

Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change them. That’s God’s job. Try to brighten the day of everyone with whom you come into contact.

“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood (family of faith). Fear God. Honor the king.” 1Peter 2:17 (NKJV)

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” ~Abraham Lincoln