Sandra Steen, Unmovable Joy, Track 2.
(Bonus: Full Track)

“Joy is my choice?” Am I ready for this?!

SAN ANTONIO -- The more cynical among us may be inclined to write off Sandra Steen’s new CD and journal, Finding the Joyous You, which includes the above quotation, as just another attempt to cash in on the self-help bandwagon and society’s neverending search for happiness. After all, it’s easy to tout joy when you only have to speak about it at seminars. Living joy is a different matter and for many of us, impossible to imagine.

But, spend five minutes in casual conversation with Steen and it becomes apparent that her “Joy is a choice” mantra is sincere, heartfelt and very much a part of her daily life. The passion of her message permeates every conversation while her distinctive and genuine presentations drive the message home. Sandra Steen’s energy is contagious, in fact, her audiences have been so affected by her seminars that they have repeatedly asked her to provide daily motivators for them.

One-of-a-Kind CD Provides Inspiration

It was in response to that growing demand that Steen created the Finding the Joyous You Journal and companion motivational CD Say It So! Discovering the Power of Joy through the Spoken Word. “When I started this project,” says Steen, “I looked for a product like this for myself and couldn’t really find any. There simply are no other CDs of this kind on the market that I could find. There are inspirational lectures and speeches, but no other audio tool that was short, inspiring and easy to listen to.”

Punctuated by mood appropriate music, the nine short (average time is one and a half minutes) motivational tracks on Say It So! are geared to embolden the listener to choose a joy-filled life. It’s the simplicity of the message that makes it stand out. “Everyone can listen to this and get something from it,” says Steen. “It’s so straightforward yet multi-faceted. You can listen to this CD repeatedly and glean something different from the tracks every time.” While Say It So! is intended as a daily renewal, the journal is more of a private coach says Steen. “Together, they form a complete workshop. I like to think of this program as a personal trainer for your spirit.”

Listen to Say It So! Audio Snippets

1. Joy Affirmation
2. Unmovable Joy
3. Say It So
4. I Showed Up On Purpose
5. Seasons of Life
6. Overcoming Obstacles
7. Serving Others
8. The Power of Identity
9. All Things Are Possible

Journal Encourages Soulful Exploration

A small booklet subtitled “A 4-Week Journey to Joy,” the journal contains questions for reflection each week, as well as Steen’s trademarked Joy Affirmation, Recipe for Joy and quotations. Steen says she intentionally made the journal a four-week experience because studies have shown that a

The journal’s users are asked to spend time six days a week reflecting on the questions that pertain to that particular day. The seventh day in each week is reserved for rest. The Biblical parallel is intentional. “I don’t preach religion,” she says, “I advocate a relationship with God.”

Answers Lie in Asking the Right Questions

Steen is quick to point out that the journal and CD don’t provide answers they simply provide the tools to ask the right questions. It is up to each individual to find the answers to those questions within themselves. She also emphasizes that she does not see the world through rose-colored glasses. “I am not a Pollyanna. None of us has a life free of challenges,” she says. “We must be prepared for reality but there is nothing wrong with having faith in the positive. I truly believe that hope needs to be fed in each of us.”

Response to “Joy” Overwhelming

Since introducing the journal and CD combination at a women’s forum in San Antonio recently, Steen has been inundated with requests for Finding the Joyous You and Say It So! In fact, it has been the best response to any product she has introduced. She’s been surprised by who has been asking for it, too. “The first person to purchase this product was a man,” says Steen. “The response from men has been overwhelmingly positive and a testament to the universal message of this program.” One prominent business leader has determined that the CD is such a wonderful tool he has already made it part of his daily routine.

Children seem to respond to the CD as well. While it was not created for kids, parents are telling Steen that their children are affected by the tracks. One mother of a 5-year old boy says that her son began uncharacteristically waving his arms joyfully overhead in response to the message he was hearing. The father of three-year-old boys relates that they reacted uncharacteristically as well when he played the CD in the car. He says both boys grew silent when they heard Steen’s voice and remained that way for the 20-minute duration. That’s something he says he’s been trying to achieve for three years!

Book Led Steen to Find Her Joy

While Steen compiled the CD and created the journal in response to her audience, it was also inspired by her soon to be published book entitled, Who Stole My Joy. “The process by which I wrote that book really made me discover my own joy,” Steen says. “The CD and journal are my attempt to walk people through that process for themselves.” It is her hope that once the process is completed, even the most cynical among us can find joy.

Finding the Joyous You Journal and Say It So! CD may be purchased from Sandra Steen’s website, sandrasteen.com, or by calling (210) 804-0655. The journal and CD are companion products and have Steen’s trademarked Recipe for Joy, Joy Affirmation and additional quotations for $15. The CD may also be purchased separately for $10.

Sandra Steen is President and CEO of Sandra Steen & Associates, Inc., an international speaking, training and consulting firm. Established in 1993, the firm has served such Fortune 500 clients as SONY, Proctor & Gamble, SBC and Wal-Mart.

For more information, contact Sandra Steen & Associates, Inc. at (210) 804-0655, www.sandrasteen.com