🌍 Science-Based Joy Planning: A Strategy for Resisting Chaos

I understand that the goal is to overwhelm us. And to be honest? It’s working.

I’m human.

I can’t help but feel the deep impact of the relentless attempts to erase the lives of trans folx and countless other marginalized groups. I can’t help but feel the pain when groundbreaking research—research that could change lives—is being erased. I can’t help but look at the faces of my family, friends, and colleagues when yet another directive, another urgent message, comes crashing across the screen.

It’s exhausting. Y’all, I’m exhausted today.

So I’m writing this post for me. And for you.

🔑 Joy is not just an emotion—it’s a strategy.

Western psychology often frames joy as an individual pursuit, but many non-Western traditions remind us that joy is relational, spiritual, and intentional. From African Ubuntu philosophy ("I am because we are") to Buddhist metta (loving-kindness) practices, joy is cultivated through connection, reciprocity, and care.

Here’s how I’m planning my joy today—and how you might, too:

💡 1. Map Your Joy Ecosystem

Who and what bring you joy? Identify people, places, and practices that sustain you. Today, I’m reaching out to a friend who makes me laugh without trying, listening to music that lifts my spirit, and stepping outside—because the world is still here, and so am I.

💡 2. Protect Your Energy Like a Sacred Space

Many Indigenous and Eastern traditions emphasize energy hygiene—actively guarding against forces that drain us. That means setting boundaries. Taking breaks. Unfollowing toxicity. Today, I’m choosing where my energy goes with intention.

💡 3. Transform Chaos into Ritual

Instead of letting stress control me, I’m anchoring myself in ritual. Maybe that’s a deep breath before reacting. Maybe it’s cooking with care, letting movement shake off what words can’t. In Sufi and Yoruba traditions, dance and music transmute pain into power. What’s your version of that?

💡 4. Find Joy in Resistance

Joy is an act of defiance. Black feminist and Indigenous activists have long taught that resisting chaos isn’t just about avoidance—it’s about creating something better. Even in the midst of all this, I’m making space for laughter, for small victories, for the people I love. Because we deserve that.

💡 5. Remember: Joy is a Practice, Not a Reward

You don’t need permission to experience joy. It’s not something to be earned after the work is done—it’s part of the work. So today, I’m choosing it. Not because everything is okay, but because joy itself is resistance.

If you’re feeling this, I see you. Let’s build a collective blueprint for thriving. Drop a joy practice in the comments—I need the inspiration.