When you think of joy, hope and faith your mind might wander to the spiritual realm. Indeed, such words are spirit-centered for the most part. However, when applied to other areas in life, good health and success never seem to be far behind. Although having a strong faith, being a hopeful person and choosing joy is good for the soul, these are also very tangible means for improving the state of your mind and body, and achieving success in personal relationships and business as well.
It’s true that being joyful is a choice. As a devout Christian, I often turn to the Scriptures for practical living advice as I believe the Bible is the living word of God and serves as a roadmap for my journey to heaven. One of the great writers of Scripture, a man named James, said we (believers in Christ) should “count it all joy” when we face trials in life. (James 1:2 RSV) Why? Because the testing of our faith “produces steadfastness, which in its fullness helps us to be complete and lack for nothing.” This means we need not crumble when faced with business challenges, adverse health conditions or relationship problems.
Hope and faith often help secure a good grasp on joy, and joy is typically entwined with gratitude, which naturally increases hope and faith. It’s all connected in a beautiful circle of life. We have a habit of compartmentalizing these things from our day-to-day situations, when in fact, if we were to pay closer attention to them, we’d likely find improvement in all areas.
One of my favorite lines in the movie, “Remember the Titans,” is when the captain of the football team and one of the lead players are having an argument. The captain is accusing the player of having a bad attitude and not giving his all for the team. The player responds by saying, “Attitude reflects leadership.”
If we choose joy, maintain hope and live in faith in all we do (not just at church on Sundays) we become greater assets to those with whom we work, live and serve in the world. Have you ever noticed just by encountering someone at work (or the grocery store) who is upbeat, energetic and positive, you begin to feel that way too, even if the day didn’t start like that? We might not ever see words like joy, hope and faith listed in a business plan or on someone’s to-do list taped to the refrigerator, but each has the potential to help us achieve personal and professional success.
We can’t always avoid our trials, nor should we want to, according to the Apostle, James. We can, however, make a conscious choice to have joy, hope and faith in our hearts as carry out our duties, overcome our challenges and interact with others in our homes, workplaces, churches and communities.
Perhaps the missing components in your current plan for success might be: joy, hope and faith!
Writer Bio
Judy Dudich resides in the beautiful woods of Pennsylvania, where 24 acres of land and a home-office provide the perfect setting for her children’s home-education and her own homesteading and business ventures. Life is full of blessings (and challenges!) for Judy, as a wife, mother of 10 and Grammy to six. She is a published author, whose book, “I Surrender/A Study Guide for Women” continues to encourage and support others in Christian family lifestyles throughout the world. Judy has also previously worked in the online speaking circuit. Her passion for permaculture, re-purposing, foraging and organic gardening fills her days with learning and adventure that she loves to share.
