Your Joy Is Not Optional: Finding Pleasure in Daily Life

We're often told to prioritize self-care, but what if simply meeting basic needs isn't enough? What if we deserve not just sustainability, but actual joy and pleasure in our daily lives? In this soul-nourishing conversation, intuitive guide Julie Hilson shares wisdom from her book "Life of Love: A Joyful Guide to Self and Sensuality" that will transform how you approach wellbeing.

Julie introduces the powerful concept of creating a "container for wellbeing" rather than waiting until we're depleted to address our needs. She suggests developing a personal checklist of activities that bring us joy and ground us – whether it's music, connecting with nature, or calling a friend – so we have resources ready when life gets challenging. As she beautifully puts it, "It's not reaching the bottom of your barrel and figuring out how to climb out. It's keeping your level at sustainability."

For parents especially, this conversation offers liberation from the cycle of endless giving without replenishment. While acknowledging that parenting has seasons requiring immense sacrifice, Julie reminds us that sustainable parenting requires boundaries and self-care. The most striking revelation? When we invest in our own joy and pleasure, we multiply what we can offer others. "Asking for help" becomes not a sign of weakness but a recognition of our humanity and needs.

Perhaps most transformative is Julie's perspective on stress itself. Rather than viewing it as an enemy, she suggests "making friends with stress" and using it constructively. By examining what triggers our stress responses, we can identify deeper patterns needing healing. Stress becomes not a burden but a messenger guiding us toward greater self-awareness. Julie also shares practical energy management techniques – from visualizing protective light to "shaking off" negativity – that help us navigate difficult moments with grace.

Ready to experience more magic and joy in your everyday life? Listen now, and discover how to find pleasure even amidst life's challenges. Connect with Julie at www.youneedapeptalk.com or find her book on Amazon.

Lindsay Miller is a distinguished kids mindfulness coach, mindfulness educator and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast. She is known for her suitcase tricks and playful laugh. When she's not cheering on her daughter or rollerblading on local trails with her husband, you can find her using her 20+ years of child development study and mindfulness certification to dream up new ways to get kids excited about deep breathing. Having been featured on numerous podcasts, platforms and publications, Lindsay’s words of wisdom are high impact and leave a lasting impression wherever she goes.

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