Sparking Joy: Your Thursday Gift
E72: Capturing every day joy in Austin, Texas.
Have you ever wondered why it's so hard to find joy at work?
We rush around in our worlds of high-stress and high-stakes which makes it so easy to miss the joy in our lives.
It's something I highlighted back in February when I shared the missing ingredient when joy fizzles out. 👇
It's obvious once you realise: that we can re-discover joy by focusing on it.
But maintaining that focus requires not only intention but attention as well: it takes a conscious effort to choose joy.
This week I've been in Austin for a conference, and have taken some time to be intentional about welcoming joy into my world.
This week's Effortless Thursdays shares a few special moments of joy from my week in Austin
I hope these stories ignite a spark within you to notice and savour the joy in your life, no matter where you are in the world.
Enjoy!
Joy being in nature
It doesn't quite have the stunning peaks of the Lake District, but Austin is rich with places to be in nature.
Returning to Barton Springs for a swim, five years since my last visit, was a highlight of my weekend.
Running along Lady Bird Lake each morning brought a lot of joy, even though this morning's run was a hard one in the heat (28C / 83F) and humidity.
Joy meeting (internet) friends
I met Cam Houser in Write of Passage - the online writing course that's now in its 12th cohort (which is happening right now).
We met up, and he took me on a guided tour of his neighbourhood in East Austin, pointing out all the changes that have happened over the last few years, the demographics, the best Indian-Mexican food truck, the best pasta place, and a wonderful champagne bar.
The funny thing is we’ve only met on the internet. Social media gets a lot of criticism, especially for the algorithms-that-create-addictions-that-create-revenue, but when it opens up deeply engaging, rich conversations, it really can bring us together in meaningful ways.
Cam’s a whizz at entrepreneurship, runs technology accelerators, and - how I know him best - teaches people how to make great video to tell engaging stories.
His newsletter on video and leadership is a must-read, and you can find out more about him here.
His writing always brings me joy with his perspectives on life.
Joy watching chefs craft meals with passionate precision
I could watch chefs for hours perform their craft. I gather so many rich tidbits from watching them cook: how they slice fish, how they place a duck leg to get a duck confit really crisp, how they magic up a plate with everything mise en place.
👉 Over to you!
What one moment of joy can you bring into your world this week?
ps If you’re an entrepreneur, a lawyer or another high-flying professional - who’s looking to re-discover the joy for what you do, get in touch and let’s have a conversation.
That’s it for this week!
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To your health and success!
Eric
Aww I love that you and Cam hung out! So good ❤️
Enjoy Austin!