The world is bananas right now. A lot of us are angry, afraid, and struggling to stay out of the pit of despair. And that makes sense! It’s totally understandable. AND… my offering to you in this episode is the idea that centering ourselves in joy is what will fuel our ability to keep showing up.

Joy isn’t the byproduct of things being amazing, it’s the lighter fluid for keeping ourselves alight.

If we don’t center our joy, we will burn ourselves out, my love. And now more than ever, claiming your joy means relentlessly deciding that joy matters. That you deserve joy, that it isn’t frivolous or inaccessible.

And if you don’t know where to start, I’ve got a whole big list of ideas to offer ya! Not in a toxic positivity or spiritually bypass-y kind of way, but in a small, daily practices to contribute to your mental and emotional well-being sort of way.

References, Resources, and Links

Spiritual bypassing: using spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201901/what-is-spiritual-bypassing

Improv comedy. Where all the things are made up on the spot! So good! Find your local improvisers and go laugh at the absurdity. In Portland, I recommend: https://www.curiouscomedy.org/

Microjoys: Finding Hope (Especially) When Life Is Not Okay by Cindy Spiegel.https://bookshop.org/a/109472/9780593492222

Follow me on Instagram and tell me what brings you joy! https://www.instagram.com/settling.is.bullshit

“Good Day” by DNCE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LksMebsBzc

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. https://bookshop.org/a/109472/9781607747307

The Lightmakers Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy by Karen Walrond. https://bookshop.org/a/109472/9781506469942

Jolene covers. SO GOOD! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6tIrJUTXaJPxrZxK2EF9yx?si=vV5mtmHNSY2wySE5y4Ka0A