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Activating Your Joy Plan in Challenging Times

A reminder that joy is not a luxury but a lifeline—especially in heavy times. Drawing inspiration from Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory, this post encourages embracing joy even when it feels awkward or counterintuitive.

DATE
January 11, 2025
AUTHOR
Desmond Upton Patton, PhD
READ
3
 min

I don’t know about y’all, but something feels off. Everywhere I turn—media stations, social media posts, even text messages—the world feels, and is, on fire. And let’s be real: you can have all the support, resources, books, and podcasts on how to cope and still feel like things are just terrible.

In these moments, joy can feel a little… silly. Like why am I even talking about joy when life feels this heavy? Maybe you’re thinking, I don’t have the energy for that or there are more urgent things to deal with right now. And trust me, I’ve been there too.

But I’m learning (and re-learning) that this is exactly when activating your joy plan matters most.

I’ve been listening to Mel Robbins’ latest book, The Let Them Theory, and let me tell you—it’s life-changing. One of the biggest takeaways for me has been feeling okay about embracing joy, even when it feels a little strange or counterintuitive. If people think it’s silly? Let them. If it feels awkward? Let it.

Because here’s the truth: joy is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline.

When the world feels heavy, joy helps lighten the load just enough to keep going. It doesn’t fix everything, but it gives us a little breathing room to face what’s next.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to grab the book or listen to it on Audible—it’s worth it. And don’t wait for “the right time” to activate your joy. Start now, even if it feels a little weird.

What’s one thing you’re doing this week to activate your joy? Let’s share and inspire each other. 🌟

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