Choosing Joy & Living Authentically Every Day
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Joy Isn’t a Destination—It’s a Choice
For the longest time, I thought joy was something I had to earn. I believed I could only feel truly happy after I reached a certain goal, became a certain version of myself, or finally got everything on my manifestation list.
But the real aha moment came when I realized: Joy isn’t a reward. It’s a vibration you can step into right now.
And honestly? It had nothing to do with external achievements. It had everything to do with me finally getting out of my own way.
Step 1: Lay Down the Ego & Unlearn the Lies
Ego isn’t just about arrogance—it’s also that voice in your head that tells you:
❌ “You’re not good enough yet.”
❌ “You need to be perfect before you can be happy.”
❌ “Once you prove yourself, then you’ll feel fulfilled.”
I had to unlearn these stories. The ones I subconsciously picked up from society, past experiences, and my own fears. The moment I stopped trying to curate my life into some ideal version, I started feeling free in the real version.
Step 2: Be Present (Like, Actually Present)
You know that feeling when you’re hanging out with people but your mind is somewhere else? That was me, constantly thinking about what’s next, worrying about what’s missing, or overanalyzing things that didn’t even happen yet.
The biggest shift? Slowing down.
- Noticing how the sun feels on my skin.
- Fully tasting my food instead of rushing through meals.
- Laughing without overthinking how I looked.
- Letting a song play all the way through instead of skipping to the next.
Small things, but they made a huge difference.
Step 3: Rewrite Your Definition of Success
If joy only comes after success, you’ll never actually be happy—because you’ll always be chasing the next thing. I had to ask myself:
- What does success actually feel like to me?
- If I already had everything I wanted, how would I be living?
- What stops me from doing that right now?
And the answer was always the same: Nothing but my own mindset.
So I stopped waiting. I started treating my right now like something worth celebrating.
Step 4: Romanticize Your Own Life (Cringe, But It Works)
I used to roll my eyes at the “romanticize your life” movement… until I actually tried it.
✨ Buying flowers for no reason? Loved it.
✨ Taking myself out on solo dates? 10/10.
✨ Playing music while cleaning so it felt like a movie montage? Instant mood boost.
Joy is in the details. In the way you treat yourself. In how much effort you put into enjoying your own company.
Step 5: Give Yourself Permission to Just Be
No one tells you this, but: You don’t need to be improving all the time.
You don’t need to be grinding 24/7.
You don’t need to be healed to feel happy.
You don’t need to have it all together to be worthy of joy.
You just need to be present, open, and willing to let the moment be enough.
So if you’ve been waiting for a sign to let go of perfection, start choosing yourself, and actually enjoy your life as it is—this is it.
Go be happy. Right now. In whatever way feels good to you.
Final Thought: Joy Is a Habit, Not an Accident
Happiness isn’t just something that happens to you—it’s something you practice. The more you choose it, the more natural it becomes.
And the best part? Once you stop chasing joy and start choosing it, it starts chasing you.