For your Joy!

Cultivating Joy:

A Journey to Hope

The Faces of Joy

Have you ever seen a child play with a balloon, marveling at how something so simple can spark endless delight?

Or felt the roar of the crowd the moment a football team scores, sending a collective surge of exhilaration through every fan?

Have you tasted blue crabs on a sun-warmed dock, cracking shells with family and laughing at your messy fingers?

Or witnessed that inner giggle when your children stop fighting and start playing together in harmony?

If you have experienced any of these moments, you know how joy feels and looks.

Why Joy Matters

We all need joy in our lives because it brings hope, peace, and strength.

Joy doesn’t happen automatically—it has to be cultivated and grown. Henri Nouwen reminds us that joy does not simply happen to us. We must choose joy and keep choosing it every day.

Cultivating Your Joy

You don’t have to wait for perfect circumstances to feel joy. You can call it forth, piece by piece, through intention and creativity.

A Personal Example: The Beach

For me, the beach is a profound source of joy. There is nothing like the smells of salt air, the sound of crashing waves, and the unparalleled moment when my feet touch the sand.

Since the nearest shoreline is miles away, I evoke that joy by playing ocean sounds during meditation or lighting candles that capture the scent of sea breeze. These simple rituals aren’t a magic bullet, but they spark joy and remind me of what’s possible.

Right now, think of three things in your life that bring you joy. Cultivate them and find small ways to engage with each one today.

Joy in the Darkest Moments

Joy is stable—constant and unchangeable—even when happiness, tied to circumstances, feels out of reach.

Three years ago, I lost my husband suddenly. The next day, I was just trying to catch my breath and stand upright. Friends arrived from all over, but one friend came alone, without their kids, who affectionately called me “granny.”

As our visit ended, I begged him to go home and bring the kids back. I was searching for joy, believing their laughter would bring strength as a byproduct. Spoiler alert: it worked. For a precious moment amid extraordinary pain, I felt a glimmer of joy.

Quick-Reference List: Daily Joy Habits

• Write:  Keep a gratitude journal.

• Boots on the Ground:  Move your body—dance if you can.

• Squad Goals:  Intentionally reach out for connection.

• Get on a News Diet:  Limit negative news and consume uplifting content.

• Be Present:  Pause to breathe and savor the moment.

• Give:  Practice small acts of kindness.

The key is intentionality. Joy grows when we choose it, water it, and return to it—even when discouraged.

Join Break F.R.E.E. Group Coaching

It’s lessons like these that form the heart of the Break F.R.E.E. Group coaching class. Each participant leaves with a personalized joy plan to infuse more hope, peace, and resilience into daily life, face difficult circumstances, and move closer to their purpose.

Schedule a free discovery call today and find out how Dr. Stacey can help you multiply the joy  and purpose in your life.