Hello my beauty. How has your week been? Can you sum it up in one word? Mine has been joyful! This is because I have been searching out the joy ever since listening to a great podcast by Ingrid Fetell Lee. She describes how as babies and children, we get to experience joy regularly, but as we age, expressing joy opens us up to judgement. We may be told we are too self-indulgent, or childish or unserious. So we hold ourselves back from joy and end up living in a mundane space with mundane objects that we interact with every day.
Is there a reason that people — regardless of gender, age, culture, or ethnicity — are mesmerized by babies, and can’t help but smile when they see a burst of confetti or a cluster of colourful balloons?
We are often taught that our external environment has little or no impact on our inner joy. Increasingly, experts urge us to find balance and calm by looking inward — through mindfulness or meditation — and muting the outside world. But what if the natural vibrancy of our surroundings is actually our most renewable and easily accessible joy?
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology, Ingrid explains why one place makes us feel anxious or competitive, while another fosters delight and sharing — and, most importantly, she reveals how we can harness the power of our surroundings to live fuller, healthier, and truly joyful lives.
“Through my years of studying joy, I’ve noticed that people seem to have a natural attraction to things that float and fly. Most insects attract little interest, but when a butterfly appears and flits around the garden, it becomes a cherished visitor. “
“Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the orange glow that arrives before sunset? Or why we flock to see cherry blossoms bloom in spring?”
The Key Lessons Ingrid describes in her book “Joyful” are:
1. Get out of your bed and seize the day
Sometimes, we don’t have the courage nor do we venture to take risks that could incite change and joyfulness.
However, that’s not a valid excuse for you to remain stuck in the endless stream of destructive thoughts and patterns. Get back on your feet, and make your way through life.
2. Bring more colour into your life
This lesson can be interpreted both symbolically and literally, whichever way you see fit will serve an equal purpose.
You feel embarrassed to make your life more colourful? Snap out of it!
Energise your life by adding different hues and shades that can rejuvenate any place, including the ones you deem unworthy.
3. Don’t be afraid to question the societal norms
Well, it is not as easy as it sounds, because sometimes we are sucked into the system without even knowing it.
Take for example, tradition. Probably, you like most people incline towards preserving certain cultural norms and do things a certain way, like wearing black to a funeral, or eating a roast dinner at Christmas.
Ask yourself – have you ever tried to step out of it, and perhaps make your own judgments? – As you can see, it’s not as straightforward as it appears to be.
Please check out Ingrids podcast HERE. It’s only 13 minutes, but I’m sure it will change your perspective, and help you in these times where we are less able to see people and do things.
I hope you can find joy in every day. Maybe writing down 3 things that brought you joy, is a good way to bring positivity and lightness to your days. I noticed today that wearing red lipstick brings me joy, and this brightened my mood even more when I realised this. Such a small thing, but it really made a difference to me. Love Nina x
