Explore, Engage, Empower

Dive deeper into the intersection of joyful living, social justice, and the powerful blend of science and storytelling. Explore resources designed to educate, inspire, and provoke meaningful change.

Blogs

Insights for Joyful Living and Social Justice

Get a glimpse into my ongoing reflections, stories, and research as I explore the science of joy, the realities of racial justice, and how our digital world shapes both.

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The Power of Friendship & Connection: A Key to Joy ✨

A celebration of friendship as a source of joy, resilience, and resistance—sharing how intentional time with close friends fuels both personal growth and collective well-being.

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🚨 CHECK-IN ALERT! 🚨

A reminder that simple check-ins—texts, calls, FaceTime—can bring joy, support, and healing. Featuring insights from counselor Erica Taylor on how to check in with compassion and care.

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

A reflection on how joy is more than an emotion—it’s a science-backed strategy for resisting chaos, drawing from global traditions and offering practical steps to cultivate joy as resistance.

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🚀 Scripting Your JoyPlan: A Science-Backed Guide to Manifestation & Joy ✨

A science-backed guide to scripting your JoyPlan—combining manifestation, neuroscience, and intentional practices to visualize, align, and cultivate joy as a daily reality.

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We’ve gotten Valentine’s Day all wrong.

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🚀 A Joyful Internet is a Safer Internet 🌍💛

A reflection for Safer Internet Day on how centering joy, belonging, and care in digital design can transform online spaces into safer, more empowering environments for youth and communities.

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✨ Anticipatory Joy: A Superpower for the Soul ✨

A reflection on anticipatory joy—the science of looking forward with excitement—as a way to shift our mindset, release stress, and cultivate peace and possibility in daily life.

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Step 1 of the hashtag#JoyPlan: Intentionality 🎯

An exploration of intentionality as the foundation of a Joy Plan—making deliberate choices to prioritize joy through daily intentions, rituals, reframing challenges, and consistent reflection.

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How AI Can Help You Build Your Joy Plan

A guide to using AI as a tool for joy planning—from planning adventures with ChatGPT, to designing gratitude journals with Canva, to letting Spotify’s AI DJ soundtrack your happiness.

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Desmond Upton Patton outdoors in burgundy coat, advancing trauma-informed research and digital empathy.