"Does this spark joy?"
"Does this spark joy?"
Bringing the wisdom of Marie Kondo to your digital space
Hello, beautiful you.
You *may* notice that you are receiving this missive from me in a different format. I’ve moved my newsletter and my writing to Substack and, I’ve changed the name. New digital home, new name, fresh energy… ahhhh. I’ll talk a bit more about the platform and the different ways to subscribe at the end of today’s post on prioritizing your own enjoyment and pleasure in your digital spaces and how Marie Kondo’s idea is helping me, and might help you, too.
Over the last few years, which included moving back to the U.S. from Zambia, settling in and completing two big home projects to make our home livable, finishing a master’s degree, and coming back my work as a coach and teacher after a hiatus, I forgot about prioritizing my own joy and satisfaction in the doing. Particularly in my work, I felt the heavy weight of “shoulds” - you should have sales funnels, nuture ‘warm’ leads, do webinars, TikTok, don’t forget Reels, send a newsletter every week, and don’t forget to repurpose content in different places!
I love systems and working in my business but…
I felt like I had missed the bus when I restarted my business. I felt behind, I felt overwhelmed, and I decided I needed to build my work on platforms and with structures that literally make me want to crawl under my desk and nap because I was following the siren call of, “This is what you do if you want to be successful.” Which is exactly what I strongly advise against when I am coaching others who are developing their business. It’s so good when I heed my own counsel…
Let’s ask better questions.
It seems that the question (based in fear and scarcity) that underlies every marketing tactic, every business “hack”, all the apps, systems, and the software is, “What is going to be the secret to quick success?”
This is, unequivocally, a terrible question because there is no *objective* answer - just an endless string of rabbit holes that never lead to satisfaction and rarely success. There are literally endless good ideas, products, platforms, and business structures but the business systems and structures that you will be successful with are the ones that you will actually implement and utilize. How do you know what you will implement and utilize? Follow the joy.
Let joy lead (yes, even in matters of business).
When I realized just how bogged down I felt by the platforms and systems that I had chosen, it was because of contrast. I happened to be in a place I love at the time - a place that is beautiful, with fantastic energy, with easy touchpoints and ways to connect with others.
I knew I wanted that in my business. IN my business, meaning when I am working in my business be it connecting with potential clients, or updating my website, writing an article, or working on client files I want to feel joy in in the day to day doing.
So now I’m asking myself intentional questions like:
“Does this software or app spark joy?” How would I know that? Well, do I enjoy the user experience? What do I notice in my body when I am engaged in this process or with this program? Am I satisfied with the results? Just like Marie Kondo advises, I’m contemplating everything I “touch” in my work and asking these questions question.
Other excellent questions are, “Does this help me create real connection with the people who I come into contact with?” “Does this help me create a supportive, nourishing space for myself and my clients?” and for me a question that is important is, “Do I find it beautiful?”
You may think that your experience of working in and on your business doesn’t matter, but I believe it does. If, when I’m writing a newsletter I feel irritated and annoyed by the platform I’m using, that is transmitted through my words on some level.
I want the best of me infused in all parts of my work.
For me, that means experiencing delight with the digital tools I engage with as much as I delight in the work of serving coaching clients. I know that the energy I bring to the parts of my work that no one but me will ever see matters, deeply. In my experience, the delight I take in my days is directly tied to the vitality of my work. You have nothing to lose by prioritizing your own joy.
Your joy matters.
Find, and learn, or create the tools and systems and processes that bring you joy (or at least satisfaction). Nourish your own pleasure in the day to day doing of your work. Keep asking, over and over, Marie Kondo style, “Does this spark joy?” and find as much bouyancy in every aspect of your work as possible to create sweet sustainability and deep enjoyment as the foundation that your business is built on.
To that end, I put together a sweet little guide of systems are sparking joy for me right now. You can get it here.
A few notes on this new space.
Welcome to my lovely new space, The Wild Journey Home, a missive that offers conscious women in business clarity, inspiration, and the best kind of truth about the transformative path of coming home to your true self, authentic abundance, and right livelihood. I’ve been eyeing Substack (and not enjoying my old newsletter/blog format) for over a year, and finally, I prioritized joy and ditched Kajabi for sending news and publishing my writing online (and I may be moving off of Kajabi entirely. True story).
If you received this in your inbox, you are already a subscriber from my former newsletter MORE and I thank you for inviting me into your inbox. I hope you will stay and connect with me, Nona Jordan, and the wider community however, you are always free to unsubscribe.
You also now have the choice to support my writing financially. If you choose a paid subscription, you will have access to an exclusive monthly question, answer, and conversation session with me and the community (sometimes live over Zoom, sometimes asynchronous) and you will also have my great big, heartfelt appreciation for valuing my writing. Just hit the subscribe button and choose free or paid. Either way, I am truly delighted you are here on your own Wild Journey Home.