The mathematics of joy
This entire blog post could be this short:
Start a list.
Write down 3-5 things that bring you joy.
Over the next week or two, continue to add things until you reach 100.
Done!
…
More info, please?
A little more explanation? ‘Kay.
What I call ‘The Mathematics of Joy’ or the ‘Mathematics of Meaning’ exercise is the first exercise I give everyone: my creativity students, coaching clients, workshop participants, hair stylists, Lyft drivers, people I grab on the street and yell at ‘Do you want to be more creative? Do this!’ This is also the list that a half-dozen former students or clients are now doing with their students or clients.
However, if you’re a rules and guidelines person, I got your back there:
Guidelines:
Hummingbirds, street art, and Puerto Rico: Three things on my Mathematics of Joy list.
Think small. Infinitesimally small at times. Instead of ‘my house,’ think ‘the smell of the jasmine plant whenever I walk out the front door’ or ‘the contrasting green and purple colors in my kitchen.’ Or infinitesimally large: ‘pigeons,’ ‘jeans,’ ‘Tahiti’, truly anything.
Specific memories count, as do moments in time.
People don’t count. Other than Mr Rogers or Beyoncé, no one is pure joy. But moments or interactions do count. Like, the way your kid still hugs you in front of their friends, or your best friend’s laugh, or how your barista remembers your drink? Add ‘em.
The majority of students share items from their list with me and with each other, but no one is ever forced to share anything with anyone. This is for you. Very few people write out all 100 things in one go, and even I still haven’t finished my list of 100. (Things get added every few months or so, and many items have dropped off the list over the past decade, and your list will undoubtedly go through some of the same changes.)
That’s it! This is the bedrock exercise. There’s all sorts of science-y/brain-ish reasons why, but we’re focusing on joy for a mo’. Your brain will thank you.