How I Found Joy by Finding My Life's Purpose What You Will Learn in This Episode: What is the Meaning of Joy? Joy vs. Gratitude Why is Joy Important? How I Found Joy By Finding My Life’s Purpose 7 Steps to Find Your Life’s Purpose What to Do When Joy Feels Far Away What is the Meaning of Joy? Joy is a feeling of deep happiness and contentment. It’s more than just laughing at a funny joke or smiling when something nice happens. Joy is a warm, uplifting emotion from within, no matter what’s happening around you. It’s a spark in your soul that keeps glowing, even when life gets tough. Joy is a deep emotion that often arises naturally and unexpectedly. For example, you might feel joy seeing a loved one after a long time, hearing your favourite song, or achieving something meaningful. This kind of joy is something you feel in the moment, often without any effort. Joy can also be something you choose to cultivate. It becomes an action when you intentionally focus on finding joy—through gratitude, kindness, or pursuing activities that make you happy. Sharing joy with others, like spreading laughter, helping someone in need, or creating a positive environment, is another way to make joy an active part of your life. So, joy is both a state of being (feeling) and a way of living (action). When we treat it as both, we can experience it more fully and share it meaningfully. Joy vs. Gratitude Joy and gratitude often go hand in hand, but they’re not the same. Gratitude is feeling thankful for something specific, like a kind word from a friend or a beautiful sunset. Joy, on the other hand, is more significant and broader. Joy is the sense of being happy just to be alive, even if nothing important has happened. Gratitude can lead to joy, but joy is about your whole outlook on life. Why is Joy Important? Feeling joy isn’t just a nice feeling —it’s healthy, too! Joy can: Boosts Energy: Joyful people often feel more active and excited about life.Improves Relationships: When you share joy, it brings people closer together.Helps You Stay Strong: Joy can help you handle tough times better. How I Found Joy By Finding My Life’s Purpose Joy and purpose are deeply connected. Living purposefully means doing meaningful things that align with your values. Living with purpose creates a foundation for lasting joy because you’re not just chasing fleeting moments of happiness—you’re building a life that feels fulfilling. Finding purpose often means discovering what truly matters to you, whether helping others, creating something beautiful, or simply making the world a little brighter. When you act purposefully, joy follows naturally, like a spark igniting a flame. Purpose isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. When you live with intention, joy becomes a constant companion, reminding you that life is not just about what you achieve but how you grow along the way. Here is an example from my personal life. I signed up for coaching with a business coach a couple of years ago. It was the last session, and we discussed my next steps. As I started talking to share my deepest desire, uncontrollable tears welled in my eyes as I tried to get out the words: “I want to write my children’s books.” For ten years, this was a yearning deep within my soul. I wanted to write books to help children with low self-esteem issues because my emotionally abusive mother destroyed mine. It was a pivotal moment for me and my coach. I had this yearning but didn’t act on it because I believed I didn’t have the financial resources. How do you write a children’s book and find an illustrator? But I truly believed my children’s books were my purpose in life. I didn’t let fear get in my way and began the process. Finding an illustrator was the most challenging and costly aspect of publishing my books. But I persevered, knowing that all these challenges were leading me to my goal of being a published author.I am excited to share that I now have four children’s books in my series, Lessons for Life With Gramma Kate, listed on my website, parentingyoungsters.com. They sell on Amazon, or you can have your local bookstore order them through Ingramsparks. Each book is a life lesson for children aged 6 to 12. When discussing my children's books, people tell me my face changes and brightens with excitement. That is joy filling my body. But what if you haven’t found your purpose yet? 7 Steps to Find Your Life’s Purpose Finding your purpose in life can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to start. Purpose isn’t always obvious—it’s often uncovered through reflection, experimentation, and growth. If you haven’t discovered what drives you yet, don’t worry. Here are seven steps to help guide you on the journey to finding your purpose: 1. Reflect on What Brings You Joy Start by asking yourself what makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Think about moments when you’ve ...
