Joy is a Practice

This month, the theme for my newsletters is Planting the Seeds of Joy: nurture what lights you up–one small shift, one joyful moment at a time.

Joy is a Practice, Not a Personality.

As young children, experiencing and expressing joy comes naturally. As we get older, we find ourselves bogged down with daily life and we often feel “silly” expressing joy. We carefully unwrap our presents instead of ripping off the paper with excitement (although to be honest, I’ve always been a “careful” un-wrapper as the anticipation of the present itself brought me joy). We grind our teeth at the idea of “blowing dandelion flowers” because it means more dandelions will sprout up in the yard. We watch our kids play joyfully outside from the window because we have so much to do inside.

It is true that joy comes more naturally to some people – perhaps it is the chemistry in their brain that makes expressing joy easier. However, joy is a practice, it is not a personality. As an adult, it’s a muscle that must be used and strengthened until it becomes a part of you again. It’s also important to remember that being joyful doesn’t mean EXPRESSING “big” joy all the time. Some of us just are not as expressive as others and that’s OK!

My Recent Moments of Joy:

• Every spring, we get a flock of finches that arrive in our yard. They land on the stalks of the tall dandelions and eat the dandelion seeds – it is so cute! They also sit in the trees nearby twittering. I just find myself standing at the kitchen window smiling at those little birds enjoying their feast.

• On another day, it had rained pretty heavily. I was at the kitchen window again and noticed several robins and finches bathing in a puddle of water on our patio.

• The smell of the lilac in our yard.

• Watching my teen daughter come in with a single flower from our yard or the neighborhood regularly. She loves to bring them in and just set them down in random places.

• Sitting around our first campfire of this year watching the flames and listening to the sounds.

• Watching my teen daughter joyfully catch frogs at my parents house.

• Taking pictures of blooming buttercups.

Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla), also known as the Pacific chorus frog

Meadow Buttercups (Ranunculus acris), also known as Tall Buttercups

Activity Ideas: Daily Joy Rituals and Intentional Perspective Shifts

As the summer begins, what daily actions will you take to strengthen your joy practice? Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Joyful Start: Begin your day by placing one hand below your belly button and one hand at your heart and ask yourself “What would bring me joy today?”. Take one small action based on your answer.

• Savor Your Senses: Make a cup of your favorite tea or coffee and head outside. Slowly sip your beverage. Pay attention to the taste and temperature in your mouth. Take a slow breath in. What smells do you notice? Are there flowers blooming nearby? Listen intently. Do you hear birds chirping? Dogs barking? Children laughing? Look around. Notice how many different colors you see. Notice the different textures of nearby wood or plants.

• 5-Minute Movement: Put on an upbeat song and move around however your body wants. Feel like incorporating energy medicine? Do some figure 8s around your body. No need for this to be choreographed or “look right”. Just move!

• Joy Scavenger Hunt: Choose one day to intentionally look for things that delight, amuse, or inspire you. You might even consider writing each item down and doing this once a month. You will likely find that your list gets longer and longer each time.

• Permission Slip: Write yourself a permission slip. “Today, I give myself permission to [feel, do, be, etc.).”

Let’s Kick the Summer Off Right!

Want to take your joy to the next level? I’ve created a 21 Day Joy Challenge to support you. This challenge is not about perfection or doing every activity every single day. This is about intention—about noticing what lights you up, getting curious about what joy feels like in your body, and inviting more of it into your daily life in simple, sustainable ways. Download the challenge here.

Journal Prompt

What belief or thought is dimming my joy right now? What could I believe instead?

Using Energy Tools to Increase Joy

Sound and Energy Healing offer gentle yet powerful support for increasing feelings of joy by helping to release energetic imprints of stress, overwhelm, and emotional stagnation from the body's energy field. By using sound vibrations and intentional energy techniques, these practices bring the body back into a state of coherence—where emotions feel more balanced, and clarity and lightness can naturally return. It's not about forced positivity, but about clearing the static so your natural state of ease and joy can rise to the surface.

Ready for a one-on-one session? Book Today!