{"id":1657,"date":"2018-04-13T03:50:51","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T07:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/?p=1657"},"modified":"2018-04-12T19:05:11","modified_gmt":"2018-04-12T23:05:11","slug":"week-187-repost-happyness-in-action-take-the-giving-challenge-with-stephanie-l-jones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/?p=1657","title":{"rendered":"Week #187 – Repost: Happyness in Action (Take the Giving Challenge — with Stephanie L.\u00a0Jones)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

(Used with permission.)<\/p><\/div>\n

Week #187 – Repost: Happyness in Action (Take the Giving Challenge — with Stephanie L.\u00a0Jones)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/i>Greetings Happyness Tribe!<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was such a thrill to meet Stephanie Jones in person on Monday — I just had to repost her story of Happyness in Action<\/a> with you again this week!<\/p>\n

Stephanie L.\u00a0Jones is known on the web as “The Giving Gal<\/a>.” \u00a0What started in 2011 as a month-long challenge to give one gift every day for a month — turned into a 522-day journey into the art of giving\u00a0and ultimately grew\u00a0into a book launch, speaking, and consulting gig. \u00a0Stephanie’s book, The Giving Challenge: 40 Days to a More Generous Life<\/span><\/a> launched in January of 2017 — and her weekly “Giving Challenges” have Spread Happyness to countless recipients, making her a great nomination for Happyness in Action!<\/p>\n

And it all started on New Year’s Day!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephanie\u00a0shared her story with me: \u201cIn December 2010 I read the book\u00a029 Gifts<\/span><\/a> and on January 1, 2011, I started on my giving journey. \u00a0I intended to give a gift every day for a month. That turned into a year, and 522 days later I was still giving.” \u00a0(You can view a list of her 500+ days of giving<\/a> on her website!)<\/p>\n

“I blogged a little during my giving journey and people kept saying, “You should write a book.” \u00a0I thought they were crazy. \u00a0I wasn’t good at writing; I hate grammar and had no idea how to write a book.”<\/p>\n

But that didn’t stop her! \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephanie started researching how to write a book — and reaching out to people she knew who could give her advice. \u00a0“I knew nothing about writing and publishing a book and I didn’t know anyone who had written a book. \u00a0I was flying blind and making a lot of mistakes.”<\/p>\n

The book was originally going to be titled “365 Days, My Year of Giving.” \u00a0Stephanie’s plan was to go back through her blog and figure out what stories to work on. \u00a0“The biggest challenge was not knowing what I didn’t know. \u00a0Spending money that I didn’t need to spend. \u00a0Lots of lessons learned.” \u00a0But Stephanie kept writing.<\/p>\n

And she continued to give!<\/strong><\/p>\n

“In Spring 2015 I found my first editor and she was the one that suggested 40 stories and came \u00a0up with The Giving Challenge name. \u00a0But even after working with her, trying to cut stories took time. \u00a0I continued to give gifts so something fun would happen and I’d swap out an old story for a new one.”<\/p>\n

Stephanie started to connect and get involved in various groups on Facebook…and started to meet people who could help, and they did!<\/p>\n

“The book took me four years to publish. \u00a0Honestly the pressure I felt to get it done and out there is what kept me going. \u00a0Every time I’d quit, and that was like 100 times, someone would give me encouragement, say the right thing, and I’d get up and start again. \u00a0It was really obedience to God continuing to whisper in my ear to get the book done. \u00a0He laid this on my heart and kept showing up and put people in front of me that could help me.”<\/p>\n

What kept her going?<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I struggled with it (the book) up until December 15, 2016 when I was sending final edits to the publisher. \u00a0I would take one step forward and then another hurdle would pop up. \u00a0At every hurdle, even though I was so close, I wanted to throw my hands in the air and quit. \u00a0I saw people around me putting out books quickly and I wondered why I was having so many challenges. \u00a0But now I have a great story because every setback improved the book.”<\/p>\n

I asked her about that linchpin moment when she realized the book was really going to happen. \u00a0That moment where the struggle gave way to the finish line.<\/p>\n

“When the book arrived in the mail, that is when I knew I’d crossed the finish line. \u00a0It was an overwhelming moment. \u00a0I have it on video and I’m a hot mess!”<\/p>\n

What’s next?<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Now there are 1000 more finish lines. \u00a0Just because the book is out doesn’t mean the journey has ended, nor have the struggles.” \u00a0Stephanie’s focus turned to promoting the book, lining up speaking engagements, and beginning the next project — all while working her full time job!<\/p>\n

“Time is the hardest. \u00a0I work full time for a Fortune 100 company and have a very demanding job. \u00a0But following my passion made me do my full-time job better. \u00a0I’m happier. \u00a0I’ve found even though I don’t work the crazy hours for the company that I used to because I thought hours equalled success…I’m getting more done in less time and I’m more productive.”<\/p>\n

Oh…and more giving!<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The easiest part is I don’t mind the work I have to put into all the follow-up I’ve had after the book. \u00a0I work a lot of early mornings, late evenings, and weekends. \u00a0I love it! \u00a0I love connecting with new people. \u00a0I love the opportunities that are becoming available now that I’m on the right path.”<\/p>\n

Which is how I met Stephanie!<\/strong><\/p>\n

As many of you know,\u00a0in March of 2016 I picked up and moved my entire life across country in about sixteen days. \u00a0By June, I was still disorganized and floundering — and desperate to get my bearings. \u00a0I posted in a group looking for ideas to re-focus and re-set my goals for the second half of the year. \u00a0Stephanie was the only person to respond — and then she took a step further and reached out to me personally via direct message. \u00a0She introduced herself — and offered an hour of her coaching time. \u00a0My world hasn’t been the same since!<\/p>\n

“Giving is a part of my life and I continue to give daily. \u00a0It’s a habit that I don’t think about, it’s who I am: The Giving Gal! \u00a0I give and expect nothing in return, but giving changed my life, and the more I give, the more incredible things happen in my life.”<\/span><\/p>\n

What about you, Happyness Tribe? \u00a0Are ready to take The Giving Challenge?!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your Happyness Challenge for the week ahead: TAKE THE GIVING CHALLENGE! \u00a0<\/strong>Join Stephanie’s Facebook Group\u00a0(facebook.com\/GivingGal<\/a>) and take the weekly challenges she posts! \u00a0You can follow her on social media, sign up for email updates at her website (GivingGal.com<\/a>), or read the book and take The Giving Challenge: 40 Days to a More Generous Life<\/span><\/a> on your own or with a group! \u00a0Whatever you do, be sure to connect with Stephanie. \u00a0“I always love to connect and learn about people’s dreams and how I can help.”<\/p>\n

\u201cGiving and serving others is Happyness.\u201d (Stephanie L.\u00a0Jones)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spread Happyness — take The Giving Challenge and discover your own source of Happyness!<\/p>\n

4\/13\/17 by Grace Church<\/em>
\n\u00a9 Grace Church
\ngrace@spreadhappyness.com<\/em><\/p>\n

(Thanks to Stephanie L.\u00a0Jones for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her story with me last year — and to meet me in person this week! \u00a0To learn more about Stephanie, sign up for her emails, or purchase The Giving Challenge: 40 Days to a More Generous Life<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0check out her website at www.GivingGal.com<\/a> — and\u00a0follow Stephanie on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, and Pinterest<\/a>!)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Week #187 – Repost: Happyness in Action (Take the Giving Challenge — with Stephanie L.\u00a0Jones) Greetings Happyness Tribe! It was such a thrill to meet Stephanie Jones in person on Monday — I just had to repost her story of Happyness in Action with you again this week! Stephanie L.\u00a0Jones is known on the web […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1657"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1659,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1657\/revisions\/1659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.spreadhappyness.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}