J is for Joy: Find It in the Process, Not Just the Results

"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day." – Henri Nouwen

Joy is one of the most powerful yet overlooked performance tools. When you truly enjoy what you do, you bring more energy, passion, and resilience to the table. But too often, we let pressure, expectations, or comparison steal that joy. Think back to when you first started—whether in your sport, career, or any pursuit you care about—when it was just about the love of the process. What if you could bring that feeling back, not by waiting for joy to appear, but by actively creating it in your daily life?

*Self-Awareness: Are You Finding Joy in the Process?

It’s easy to get caught up chasing results—wins, stats, achievements. But if your happiness only comes from the outcome, you’ll always be chasing, never fulfilled. What if joy wasn’t something we waited for but something we created daily?

*Strategy: Shift Your Focus to Joy—On and Off the Field

Joy isn’t just in the big moments—it’s in the process, the effort, the growth. On the field, it’s in the early morning grind, the friendships built through competition, the lessons learned through setbacks. Off the field, it’s in the simple things: a conversation, a deep breath, a moment of gratitude. We get to choose where we place our focus.

*Action: Find & Fuel Your Joy

Today, pick one thing in your sport or daily life that brings you joy. Write it down. Focus on it. Then, actively create a moment of joy—laugh with a teammate or loved one, appreciate the effort you’re putting in, or simply pause to recognize something good.

Closing Thought

Winning is great, but loving the game—and life—is greater. Choose joy. 🔑💙