Joy In Progress

We’ve hit the halfway point of 2025 (already?!), and I decided to pause and check in on the theme I set for the year: to create more joy in my life.

Back in January, I wrote about three simple ways I was trying to build joy. (Here’s the post if you missed it →Create Joy: A Simple Theme…)

So... how’s it going? Here’s what’s happened since—and a few unexpected things I’ve learned along the way.

Smiling intentionally lifts my mood. It’s now becoming a habit, and it actually works. I’m not saying it solves everything, but it shifts something in me. Even better, it’s opened up brief, lovely exchanges with strangers.

The secret? A sincere smile, eye contact, and maybe a “hope your day’s going well.” That moment of connection lifts us both.

Bonus: Future me will hopefully appreciate smile lines more than frown lines.

Laughter Yoga lit up my creative side. Starting to lead a Laughter Yoga class turned out to be a joyful surprise. It let me be playful and present—no agenda, no need to impress, just laughter and lightness.

That sense of permission to play has spilled into other parts of life. I get ideas more easily. I try things without overthinking. And yes, I really miss it when I skip a class.

Prioritizing myself… is still a work in progress. Yep, me. Above the laundry, emails, and the ever-multiplying to-do list that comes with running a coaching business.

Now, when I choose something fun or restorative over something “productive,” I feel less conflicted. It’s a work in progress—and one I’m proud of. I’m celebrating the baby steps. Sometimes literally, with a happy dance in the kitchen.

In full honesty? I still have moments when I feel guilty for resting or wonder if I’m being “productive enough.” It’s getting better. But it doesn’t always come easy when you’ve spent years wired for hustle.

So, this one’s in the some days yes, some days not yet category.

Small joys feel easier to notice. I’m sleeping better. I’ve slowed down a little. And that’s helped me notice small, quiet joys I used to rush past: a breeze through the window, a song on a playlist, the way steam rising from my tea curls in the morning light.

Some days I forget to look—but more often than not, I remember.

Joy often lives in those pauses.

If you’ve been exploring your own joy this year, maybe take a moment to notice what’s shifting for you—what’s easier, what feels challenging, and where you might want to try something new.

There’s still plenty of the year left, and I’m excited to keep experimenting.

If you think joy is all sunshine and smiles, think again. In my next post, I’ll share what I’m learning about the more layered side of joy—the kind that holds gratitude, tenderness, and even a little heartache. Stay tuned!