In this episode, Sheryl Lynn shares her personal journey from trauma, dysfunction, and searching for joy to founding Joyely, a lifestyle brand and community centered around the concept of joy intelligence. She discusses how joy is often misunderstood, the science behind it, and how it differs from happiness. Sheryl explains the core elements needed to prioritize joy—safety, presence, and joy itself—and introduces the concept of joy as a skill rather than just an emotion. Sheryl Lynn, founder of JOYELY, a global lifestyle brand, and co-creator of the JOY Intelligence framework. As a speaker, innovator, and mother, Sheryl has dedicated her work to helping people navigate emotions with confidence through joy as a core life skill. Today, she’s sharing a talk titled Everything I Learned About JOY Was Wrong—a personal journey that redefines joy from elusive to essential. Her key message is this: the goal isn’t to get joy right, it’s to take the time to understand its impact.        

Key Topics Discussed

  • Sheryl Lynn’s Background: A story rooted in trauma, multiple business ventures, and a lifelong search for something more meaningful beyond mediocrity and societal expectations.
  • Turning Point: A transformative moment on a beach involving a practice called the "Chair of Joy," leading to a pivotal life change and the creation of Joyely.
  • What is Joyely? A lifestyle brand, community, and mindset focused on joy intelligence, offering programs, classes, and research-based tools to help people reclaim and prioritize joy in their lives.
  • Joyely Intelligence Explained: Joyely is not just an emotion but a core life skill that everyone possesses. It requires prioritization and is accessible through three elements: safety, presence, and joy.
  • Misconceptions About Joy: Joy is often confused with happiness or seen as fleeting or superficial. Joyely research highlights that joy is always present beneath other emotions like sadness, anger, or guilt.
  • The Joy vs. Happiness Distinction: Happiness is described as a fleeting, external emotion, while joy is internal, constant, and foundational.
  • The Joy Emotions Map: A tool that categorizes emotions into stages—awareness, reflection, and expansion—with joy existing as a foundational layer beneath these emotions.

Strategies for Supporting Body Image:

Promote Self-Compassion and Positive Self-Talk
  • Encourage gentle, non-judgmental self-talk about one’s body.
  • Replace negative thoughts (“I hate my thighs”) with compassionate, supportive statements (“My legs help me move and experience life”).
  • Practice gratitude for what your body can do, rather than focusing on appearance.
Curate a Positive Media Environment
  • Limit exposure to media, social accounts, or advertisements that promote unrealistic body standards.
  • Follow and engage with diverse, body-positive content creators who celebrate all shapes, sizes, and abilities.
  • Remember that images online are often filtered or edited.
Focus on Health, Not Appearance
  • Shift the conversation from weight or looks to healthy behaviors, such as balanced nutrition, joyful movement, and adequate rest.
  • Set goals related to how you feel (energy, strength, mood) rather than how you look.
  • Celebrate achievements unrelated to appearance, such as learning a new skill or reaching a fitness milestone.

IMPORTANT TIMECODES FROM THIS EPISODE:

  • 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
  • 03:25 Sheryl Lynn Background and Journey
  • 04:35 The Turning Point: Birth of Joyely
  • 07:19 Understanding Joyely: A Lifestyle Brand
  • 09:00 Joy Intelligence: The Core Concepts
  • 17:33 The Chair of Joy Experience
  • 19:24 Implementing Joy in Various Settings
  • 23:47 Accessing Joy Resources and Final Thoughts

CONNECT WITH SHERYL LYNN:

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Part of the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network, produced by the Tweaky Tales.

**Disclaimer:**

This podcast is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is given with the understanding that neither the host, the publisher, nor the guests are rendering legal, clinical, or other professional information. If you want or need a professional, you should find one to work with who can address your individual needs and situation.