So, I saw Inside Out 2 today, which profoundly impacted me. There was a scene in the movie when the main character (Joy) said, "Maybe this is what happens when you grow up. You feel less joy." I literally wanted to burst into tears when I heard this because it made my heart sad to think about it. It made me ponder if I have given up joy in any way or traded joy for career success.
The truth is that as I have gotten older and advanced in my career, I have twice as much on my plate, greater responsibilities, and less time to just be. Today, I needed to reflect on times I felt less joy and how I could infuse more happiness into my life.
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and it's important to acknowledge how many high-achieving women of color deal with anxiety, imposter syndrome, depression, and other disorders that diminish our ability to feel joy. So today, I want you to reflect on the things that reduce your joy and how you can eliminate or decrease them to make room for the joy you deserve.
What steps will you take to experience more joy?
Today, the first step I will take is to give up the myth of being a superwoman to all – to leave room, space, and time for me to experience my joy, whether that is for a moment or a day. That means I may decide to spend fewer weekends or extra hours on things that can wait until tomorrow because spending time with my husband and son brings me joy.
Let’s experience more joy!
