When People Call You by the Wrong Name... and You Like It

I’m often introduced as Joy.

And I rarely correct people because I LOVE it.

Sharon is such a 1960s name. If you meet a Sharon, there’s a fair chance she was born somewhere around that era.

And of course, there was the UK popular TV Series called Sharon and Tracey in Birds of a Feather which made it so popular too! 😂

So yes, Sharon definitely belongs to a particular generation. And it's been so interesting this year as I've worked with two other Sharons - we attract each other too.

But Joy?

I’ll happily answer to that.

Many people comment on my energy.

And I’m always so appreciative because after serious illness, energy is something I guard fiercely.

I am definitely NOT always on.

Rest is gold.

And I’ve learned that doing nothing is actually doing everything.

We are having great fun in my membership exploring the science behind the brain at rest.

I am definitely NOT always joyful.

I loved hearing that a famous Tibetan monk said that he still has many highs and lows and yet he is overall happier. I'll add his name when I remember it.

“Sharon was the name in the Bible of the carrier of the dead across the Red Sea.”

I was told that after a talk I gave. I loved that too!

However, I’ve only just fact-checked it and Sharon in fact comes from the biblical Plain of Sharon, a fertile plain, somewhere things can grow.

Which is maybe even better.

Because so much of our work is about creating the conditions for people to come alive, connect with one another in another light and remember how much they matter and what is still possible.

When organisations phone me, they’re often looking to give their team their mojo back.

There is so much change fatigue.

They want to improve morale, rebuild trust and connection and create an unforgettable memory together.

To help people feel like a team again.

And to give them practical tools they can actually use in the moment when life or work gets hard.

In the Joy Academy, it’s about building a life that feels good again.

It’s about hope.

That after huge life curveballs, life can change again.

Life can still surprise you.

Hey, life can get a whole lot better than before.

In our charity and community work, it’s about increasing confidence and self-compassion, encouraging self-belief and supporting emotional regulation.

And creating a sense of belonging that stays long after the session ends.

I love being called Joy as I’ve reinvented myself again and again throughout my career.

I'm sure you have to?

For a while I was doing anxiety and depression big time, I was called Killer Miller the teacher, then the drama lady, the prison lady, then the laughter lady and I'm humbled that it's Joy I'm now known for.

Years ago, after an international talk in Vienna, the organiser said:

“I think we should make it possible that when you wake up in the morning, Joy is there to keep you inspired.”

The room erupted. I'll never forget it. 😂

But I like to think we are all JOY. We are at the core aren't we?

My favourite quote from Abraham Hicks is 'There's a potential party in everyone you meet"

If you’re new to Joyworks, have a wee look at the new website and read about the 360° Joyworks Method and the thinking behind what we do 💜

What does your name mean, and has it shaped you in any way? I'd so love to hear.