What Sparks Your Joy? Choosing What Makes You the Happiest

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"Joy" is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. "Black joy,” similarly, is living unapologetically in your skin. It’s the conscious decision to choose what makes you happy despite personal or collective challenges you may face being Black in America.

I sent a survey to my fellow members of BEACON, Praytell’s Black Employee Resource Group, and asked what brought them the most joy! With each question, a “This or That” scenario was proposed to get an understanding of which option was more joyful to each member. I wanted to observe how our answers differed while celebrating the unity in the items we enjoyed most.

You can’t have both, which one do you keep? - Phone vs. Wallet

Both are super important! But this isn’t about needs, it’s about which would make you happier. Is it your phone that’s with you 24/7 or your wallet that holds all of your money? When asked, 66.7% of survey participants said their phone would bring them more joy. If you agree with the 66.7%, download apps useful for everyday life. I recently just downloaded Happify, an app created to help reduce stress and increase happiness through science-based activities and games.

If you had to listen to one genre for the rest of your life, which one would it be? - R&B vs. Hip-Hop

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Both R&B and hip-hop are quintessential to the Black experience. Listening to R&B is good for the soul and the typical upbeat tempo of hip-hop is an energy booster. Out of the people who took our survey, 80% say they’d rather listen to R&B for the rest of their lives.

My suggestion? Create a playlist! It can just include R&B or a combination of both. If strategically created, a playlist can create and match whatever mood you’re currently in. The Lost & Found Part II playlist on Apple Music is perfectly matching my current mood. It’s the perfect mixture of hip-hop and R&B so it’s a song on there for everyone!

Quick! Which movie would you rather watch? - Friday vs. Poetic Justice

A legendary classic to bring in the laughter or a love story? 60% of the survey participants preferred Friday over Poetic Justice. I have to agree with the majority. Whether you had a great or horrible day, watching your favorite comedy and laughing the night away is tremendously beneficial to your overall mood. My advice? Laugh at your favorite movie, your favorite comedian or even at yourself. Laughter is medicine. If you enjoy Friday, try watching my favorite childhood classic, All About the Benjamins!
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It’s bedtime. What does your nighttime routine mainly consist of? - Extensive skincare routine vs. meditation

Winding down before bed allows one to relax and rid of the worries of the day so they don't get in the way of having a restful sleep. Allow yourself the time to turn off the TV, put your phone on Do Not Disturb and cancel out any other distractions. 60% of our participants said their nighttime routine mainly consisted of a skincare regimen. It’s important for your routine to have a mixture of both; I’ve been doing my nighttime meditation in the same area as my humidifier. Not only does it do wonders for my skin, but I also add lavender essential oil to add an element of relaxation.

You just got off of work. What would you rather do? - Staying inside vs. Getting out the house

It’s 6:30 pm and you just wrapped up your last task of the day. You log off, close your computer and now you want to get your mind off of the day. What would you do? 66.7% of our survey participants said they’d rather stay inside — and I feel the same way. No matter what you decide, it’s important for everyone to have a great work-life balance.

Whether you prefer to go out with friends or choose hip-hop over R&B, there are a variety of ways to express joy. The most important thing is to listen to your needs and take part in things that make YOU happy.

Cheers,

Asia

Looking for ways your organization can be an ally to the Black community? Reach out to us directly at allyship@praytellagency.com

About BEACON: Black Employees Advocating for Change and Opportunity Now or BEACON serves as a safe space to unite, retain, and uplift the voices of Black employees at Praytell. We value fellowship, cultural programming, and elevating representation within the industry.