JOY is a movie about hope, dreams, creating, and finding oneself. Joy is a great movie that is based on the true story of Joy Mangano, a self-made millionaire who created her own business empire.

I would highly recommend you see it if you haven’t yet. Enjoy these life lessons that I took from the movie.

Always DREAM: Joy: What happened to us? What happened to all the things that we used to dream about for our lives? I just feel like it’s getting further and further away.     You can see and feel Joy wondering what happened to the little girl who always would create and tell beautiful stories. She was worried that she was loosing that part of herself.      I think we all have moments like this, where we wonder what happened to our dreams, how we lost track of time and how we were going to get back on the path to following our dreams. They are just baby steps away. You can take one little step each day to learn something new, to talk to someone who is living your dream, to begin preparing to leave your job, to take small steps in the directions of your dreams. [Old or New dreams]. Just begin.

 

Just Do It! Create: Joy: In America everyday people make of what they will of themselves. I’m going to do something.     This makes me want to share tiny stories about big companies that started small. Melissa & Doug toys began with one toy 25 years ago & they sold it out of their station wagon. Nike also began out of the trunk of Phil Knight’s Plymouth Valiant. Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Disney, Mattel–all began in garages.     We are all creators. It is just a matter of finding what inspires, motivates and lights you up.

 

Don’t let the Naysayers in:  Mimi: [to Joy] You don’t exactly have your whole life ahead of you, but you still have a good portion of it. Peggy: Joy has never run a business. Rudy: It’s a big mistake. It’s my fault. I gave her the confidence to think she was more than an unemployed housewife. Peggy: It’s a fantasy!          Joy had to push beyond her limiting family and the beliefs they had. Joy was determined to rise above.       We each have people like that in our own lives. People who may belittle our dreams, who may naysay our ideas. Rise above it and begin to believe in the possibilities.  Remember: there is a positive and negative energy in everything. Do not surround yourself with those that are heavy, who can’t see the vision, who do not lift you and your ideas up. They will weigh you down in the end.

 

Believe in Yourself! If you don’t, who will?  Joy: I have real ambitions and real ideas.    Tony: What if they don’t see you?  Joy: They’re gonna see me no matter what.      Joy had quite a few obstacles that she had to handle and in the end it was her pure determination that got her through.         Each one of us will have walls that we hit within our lives and we have to figure out how to hurdle over them. Whether they are personal insecurities, having to learn something new for a job, changing jobs, creating a space to pursue a dream or just pushing forward when life gets tough. If you don’t believe you can–find a way. If you can find pure will, there will be a way. Believe.

 

Use any motivation possible to propel yourself forward: Even if it is your negative family. Joy:  I don’t want to end up like my family. I have to do things myself, once and for all.          It is safe to say that Joy was stuck in many ways. She was feeling like her back was up against a wall and all she could do was go for it. She found determination in that.

 

Trust those people who have your back: In the end, Joy was betrayed by many she loved, but she also learned who would always have her back.          We have people who come and go within our lives, but hold tight to those who will be loyal no matter what. They are the true gems that will be worth the most in your life.

 

Be yourself! Even if it scares you. [backstage at QVC Joy is dolled up and given a poofy black early ‘90s style dress]
Neil Walker: Wow. Beautiful. What do you think? How do you feel?
Joy: I’d like to change just one thing, do you mind?
Neil Walker: Okay, surprise me.
Joy: Small thing. I’ll surprise you.
Neil Walker: Okay, surprise me.
[she goes back into the dressing room and closes the door, Neil paces impatiently]
Neil Walker: I wonder what the small thing is that she changes.
[Joy comes out of the dressing room wearing her hair down and she’s wearing a shirt and trousers]
Neil Walker: What? You undid the whole thing.
Joy: This is me.
Neil Walker: This is you? You’ve got the exact same outfit you had when you came in here.
Joy: I wear a blouse and I wear pants. That’s who I am. I want to go on as me.

Joy believed in herself and her product. She was determined to do it her way and did just that. She broke through the fear and found her wings.

 

The Real JOY