Maintaining Joy in Teaching—Joy Multiplies Influence!

1. Maintaining Joy in Teaching—Joy Multiplies Influence! Derek J. Keenan, EdD ACSI Vice President of Academic Affairs Derek_keenan@acsi.org

2. Living in a Joyless Culture “The classical picture of happiness is one of a deep and settled emotional state that is peaceful and contented and results from gratitude.” –JP Moreland, Lost Virtue of Happiness

3. Living in a Joyless Culture The post-modern culture identifies happiness as that transitory emotion which results from activity, accumulation, achievement, and accomplishment.

4. “Joy has vaporized because we are going at the speed of light. Speed is toxic to happiness, causes train wrecks, and makes us irritable. When we get too busy we economize on relationships, and irritability is poisonous to good relationships.” —Dr. Richard Swenson

5. Biblical Picture of Joy • We are called to: • Complete Joy • Constant Joy • Contagious Joy • Confident Joy • Comforting Joy

6. Joy and Teaching • The joyful teacher, if one intends to be influential, must be filled with the genuine, classical form of joy that is settled in heart, habitualized in action, and pervasive in attitude. • Joy increases our influence quotient because: • It bonds relationships • It breeds trust and respect • It bridges conflict and adversity • It blunts pride and haughtiness • It begets hopeful attitudes • It builds confidence • It banishes discouragement

7. The Joy Robbers “Many Christians tend to hit their low point in character during the ages of twenty to forty… most conspicuous in the trough are the virtues of joy, patience/gentleness, self-control, and inner peace.” (Zigarelli) • Sins of the spirit-attitudes • Result from: Workload and time pressures, shifting expectations, attacks of the evil one • Life realities-disappointments • Result from: Unrealized achievement, overextended finances • Diminished intimacy-relational starvation • Result from: Ambiguous priorities, busyness, isolation

8. The Joy Restorers “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” —Cicero

9. The Joy Restorers • Grow in Gratitude • “Gratitude sets a thought context for processing circumstances—a context of an abundant life; a context where everything we have is a gift.” (Zigarelli) • Grow in Faithfulness • Practice the daily disciplines of prayer, worship, celebration, and service •  Grow in Joyful living • “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.” Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes • Forgiving spirit—self and others • Life purpose—sense of vocational value • Determined attitude—mind focus on being joyful

10. What Joy Does for Teachers • Discerning function • Wisdom to sort between the trivial and the important • Resets the defaults in your values and priorities • Energy function • Produces stamina for the daily, short, and long haul • Resets the defaults to hope in your anticipation • Influence function • Relational investments increase your capital • Resets the defaults in your people skills

11. Seven Keys to Joy • Measure your Joy Index • Memorize Biblical Axioms for Joy • Accountable to Someone for your Joy Spirit • Read the Mirrors in your Sphere • Establish daily Joy Moments • Practice Joy Investing • Maintain Balance for Joyful Living “Joy is not an attainment, but lived.” —C. S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy

12. Commitment to Joy “Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame or disappointment will darken their faces.” Psalm 34:5

13. “Lord, May I …”

14. Bibliography Lewis, C.S. 1955. Surprised by Joy. San Diego, CA: Harcourt. Moreland, J.P., and Klaus Issler. 2006. The Lost Virtue of Happiness. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress. Zigarelli, Michael A. 2005. Cultivating Christian Character. Colorado Springs, CO: Purposeful Design Publications.