Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Joy. (Especially in a World That Feels Unstable)

joyful woman holding bright balloons running through a field. — A woman joyfully jumps in a field, clutching balloons, symbolizing empowerment and the essence of celebrating life ... probably because she doesn't believe everything she sees on social media.

I remember back when I was a brand new teacher attending one of those training sessions where they inevitably figured that if you're a teacher you must like doing skits and singing songs. (They were wrong on both accounts for me.) Sitting uncomfortably in that big cafeteria full of teachers, from the experienced to the greenest of the green, the only thing I remember is the speaker picking up a bottle of dish soap and reminding each one of us, don't let anyone steal your joy!

Obviously, he wasn’t talking about the dish soap. He meant the people around us who have a knack for sucking the joy, peace, and meaning out of our lives. That phrase has stuck with me for 25 years, and today, I want to talk about how you can hold onto your joy, even when everything around you from the economy to the political climate, to your relationships feels uncertain.

a bottle of Joy dish soap — Do they even make Joy Dish soap anymore?

Pick up your phone: what is your go to app? Is it Instagram? LinkedIn? Facebook? Threads? Pinterest? Do you love and also hate every single one of them?

Maybe you popped on just to check something simple, like weekend plans or to see what in the world was going on with Taylor Swift. But before you know it, you're drowning in posts that make you feel like the world is coming to an end and there's nothing you can do about it. Before you know it, you're anxious, overwhelmed, and worrying about things are out of your control.

When the World Feels Heavy, Joy Matters More Than Ever

If you’re anything like the women I work with, you’ve been feeling it; the stress, the uncertainty, the frustration of trying to keep everything together while the world (and maybe your personal life) feels like a five-alarm fire. From politics, wars, financial instability, and the climate crisis, there are plenty of scary things out there to freak out about.

Or maybe you’re scrolling through social media, watching other people's lives.

People vacationing where you want to go,

Thriving in their careers and loving what they do while you complain about the 'third Monday' of the week, or

Posting pictures of their perfect families.

But there you are, sitting on your bed, scrolling, and wondering if you should update your resume, refinance your house, or just crawl under a weighted blanket and wait for life to calm down so you can feel better.

I get it, but honestly, you're letting them steal your joy.

Joy doesn't come from your job, a great vacation, or even political and economic stability.

It comes from inside of you!

Joy Comes from Within

Happiness is often tied to what's going on around you. Spring break on a beach, a compliment from a stranger, a good day at work can all make you feel happy. But joy? Joy is different. It’s deeper. Joy comes from within. It's built on a foundation of gratitude, purpose, and inner peace. While happiness easily comes and goes, joy is something you can cultivate and protect, no matter what’s happening around you. You can feel joyful and anxious, joyful and sad, and joyful and happy.

How to Find Joy in the Middle of Chaos

Scroll less – You've heard it 1000 times but somehow that phone still ends up in your hands whenever you're bored, anxious, or stressed. Set time boundaries, turn off the notifications, and focus on what you want to create and see in your own life.
Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down – You don’t have to push through exhaustion. Rest, reflect, and make space for what aligns with your personal values. Take time to read, create, stare at the clouds or the stars, and simply "be."
Focus on What’s In Your Control – The job market, the economy, other people’s opinions are not your problems to fix. But you can control how you show up, what you believe about yourself, and the steps you take toward what you want.
Find Gratitude in Small Moments – A warm cup of coffee, a deep breath, a good song; these small joys are just as important as the BIG events. Get grateful on purpose.
Get Support To Stop Overthinking – You don’t have to figure this out by yourself. Working with a coach gives you clarity, confidence, and the mindset shift to stop surviving and start actually living.