In this episode of Joy Meets Pain, Taffy and I share how we’re intentionally shaping the kind of human we want to be in 2026 — in our relationships, our environment, and intrapersonally. This episode is an invitation for you to reflect on your own journey: How do you want to show up for the people you love? What patterns are you ready to shift? Grab a notebook, take a breath, and join us in a meaningful conversation about becoming better humans — together.

Show NotesWherever you go, try to do something kind for a stranger (0:01:28)

Actively cultivating and pursuing joy (0:08:33)

Dr. Murray Bowen’s concept of triangles in relationships (0:15:09)

Bowen, M. (1978). Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. Jason Aronson, Inc.

Dr. Lisa Berkman (0:24:35). Berkman, Lisa F. PhD. The Role of Social Relations in Health Promotion. Psychosomatic Medicine 57(3):p 245-254, May/June 1995.Worksheet- How do you plan on becoming a better human in 2026? Becoming A Better Human

Episode 30: When the Year Ends but the Patterns Don’t: Family, Reflection, and Soft LandingsIn this closing episode of Joy Meets Pain for 2025, Dr. Dorcas and Taffy reflect on the family patterns, unspoken conversations, and emotional roles that quietly follow us from one year into the next.This episode explores:Why families avoid certain conversations — especially around the holidaysHow silence can protect belonging and prolong painThe emotional roles we replay year after yearWhat it means to end the year with awareness instead of resolutionRather than pushing for new goals or forced optimism, this episode invites you to slow down and take a softer landing — noticing what shaped you this year, what still hurts, and what you may be ready to leave behind.This conversation is for anyone who feels the weight of family expectations, unfinished conversations, or emotional patterns that don’t reset with the calendar.

PDFs links:

1) Short Year End Reflection Worksheet-

https://joymeetspain.com/resources/Short_Year_End_Reflection_Worksheet.pdf

2) Detailed Year End Reflection Worksheet-

https://joymeetspain.com/resources/Detailed_Year_End_Reflection_Worksheet.pdf

Holiday gatherings come with laughter, awkward silences, and landmine topics that everyone politely walks around — until someone doesn’t. This episode explores why families repeat the same conversations every year, how unspoken rules shape communication at the table, and what these patterns reveal about belonging, safe topics, distractions, and elephants in the room.

As the year winds down, the world gets louder: “Finish strong.” “End on a high note.” “Don’t carry old energy into the new year.” But what if the real power move isn’t the final sprint—it’s the ability to exhale, reflect, and land gently?

In this episode, we explore the quiet tension between ambition and burnout, productivity and presence, goal-crushing and soul-honoring. We’re challenging the belief that a meaningful year needs a climactic ending and making space for a softer, more honest truth: you can be proud without performing, complete without rushing, and enough without adding more.

You’ll walk away feeling seen, grounded, and permission-filled—with prompts to honor your unsung victories, celebrate progress that was personal rather than public, and redefine success on your own terms. Because sometimes the best way to cross a finish line… is by not collapsing when you get there

As the year winds down, the world gets louder: “Finish strong.” “End on a high note.” “Don’t carry old energy into the new year.” But what if the real power move isn’t the final sprint—it’s the ability to exhale, reflect, and land gently?

In this episode, we explore the quiet tension between ambition and burnout, productivity and presence, goal-crushing and soul-honoring. We’re challenging the belief that a meaningful year needs a climactic ending and making space for a softer, more honest truth: you can be proud without performing, complete without rushing, and enough without adding more.

You’ll walk away feeling seen, grounded, and permission-filled—with prompts to honor your unsung victories, celebrate progress that was personal rather than public, and redefine success on your own terms. Because sometimes the best way to cross a finish line… is by not collapsing when you get there.

The holiday season is often painted as a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for many, it can be one of the most emotionally challenging times of the year. In this episode, we explore why the holidays can feel especially heavy when families are navigating conflict, estrangement, unresolved trauma, or the deep ache of loss. If the holidays feel complicated for you, you’re not alone—and this conversation might be exactly what your heart needs right now.

In recent years, “narcissist” has become one of the most overused labels in our cultural vocabulary. From social media to relationship advice, it seems everyone knows—or has dated—a narcissist. But what lies beneath this growing obsession? Host Dorcas Matowe invites listeners to reflect on the relational patterns and emotional wounds that draw us to people we later call narcissists. She unpacks how projection, unmet needs, and blurred boundaries can keep us stuck in painful dynamics—and how turning the mirror inward can lead to healing, accountability, and growth.This is not an episode about diagnosing others—it’s about reclaiming your power by understanding your role in the relationships you create.

We all tell ourselves stories — about who we are, what we do, and why. These narratives give meaning to our experiences but can also quietly limit us. In this episode, Dorcas explores the life stories we craft to protect ourselves and make sense of our world. What happens when the story that once served us starts holding us back? Using her own narrative, “I’m busy,” Dorcas reflects on how certain self-stories become defense mechanisms, shaping how we connect, love, and live.

When someone asks, “So, how would you describe yourself?”—what comes to mind first? Do you lead with your job, your personality, your family role, or the things you value most? In this episode, we explore the many ways people choose to present themselves and what those choices reveal about identity, self-perception, and belonging. Through reflection and real stories, we’ll uncover how the words we use to define ourselves shape not only how others see us, but also how we see ourselves.

Our family histories shape more of who we are than we often realize. In this episode, I demonstrate how to create a genogram—a powerful tool that visually maps out your family tree, patterns, and relationships. More than names and dates, a genogram reveals stories, dynamics, and connections that help us understand how we came to be. Join me as we explore how this simple yet insightful exercise can uncover hidden influences, strengthen self-awareness, and open the door to healing and growth