Why Your Brain Needs JOY
Have you ever noticed how alive you feel when you try something new? Not because you’re good at it or you’re trying to master it. But just because...For FUN.
Does that feel foreign to you? I know the feeling. Keep reading, friend.
About three years into my healing journey, I had to come to terms with my condition. Years of trying to walk again were beginning to feel like a cycle that wouldn't break—much less dance again.
Most of my days are spent in bed. As a life coach, I help people through these kinds of challenges...but this time, it was me.
So I decided to think outside the box. I started asking myself:
"What could fuel my joy?" Simple things I could do from rest that would bring joy back into everyday life.
Joy lettering.
Journaling.
Learning to sing.
Paging through a cookbook.
Picking up markers and doodling—even if nobody else ever sees it.
Somewhere along the way, I think many of us quietly stop learning and playing. We get busy. We become responsible. We focus on productivity and what needs to get done.
But what if God didn’t create us to simply check boxes all day? What if He also created us for delight? For curiosity. For creativity.
And here’s something really interesting...
When we learn something new, our brains begin creating and strengthening new pathways. It’s one of the beautiful ways God designed us.
Trying something different doesn’t just feel refreshing—it helps wake things up. Maybe that’s why joy often feels energizing. Not because life suddenly becomes easier...But because we become more present in it.
JOY-FUELED COACHING TIP
Grab a sheet of notebook paper—not your phone notes. Stay present.
At the top write:
"Things that sound fun" (Not things you should do or things you’re supposed to do).
FUN.
Then write:
One thing to learn
One thing to create
One thing to simply enjoy
One thing to create
One thing to simply enjoy
Remember...
Your brain notices and strengthens what you repeatedly practice.
Practice joy too.
SCRIPTURE TO HOLD FOR JOY
"For we are God's masterpiece..." — Ephesians 2:10
JOY FOR THE JOURNEY
Joy isn't extra. Sometimes it helps bring life back to weary places.
LET'S JOURNEY TOGETHER WITH JOY
If you've been living in survival mode for a while, you may discover that your brain needs joy more than you realize. Join me for weekly Tip Tuesdays and visit my Joy-Fueled Lifestyle Hub for simple encouragement, practical tools, and joy-filled ideas to help you embrace life in this season.
Let’s keep choosing joy together—one small delight at a time.
~Choose joy!
Dr. Joy oxox
Dr. Joy oxox
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