5 Strategies for Joy

Ever since he was a kid, Comedian Jerry Caruso has always loved making people laugh....and still does. He performs for a variety of groups, including people going through difficult times; many are fighting cancer or some other illness or challenge. They tell him that even if they’re not laughing out loud they are cracking up on the inside, and that joy makes their difficult days a little bit brighter.  Jerry's story reminds us that we all have ways we can make an impact in someone's day....we just have to be intentional about it. He also teaches comedy to college students, so if you don’t think you’re very funny Jerry offers some tips for improving your comedic skills. You're funnier than you think!

If the idea of being your own boss brings you joy, or you currently have your own business, you'll definitely want to check this episode out. You'll meet Laura Sinclair; a serial entrepreneur, marketing expert, and mom who loves talking about raising babies and building businesses. She's also the host of the This Mother Means Business podcast. Be warned: This episode may inspire you to dip your toe into entrepreneurship, because we believe that everyone has a skill or talent that is marketable. (Wait until you hear what the highest selling digital course was back in 2019!) Even if you're not interested in starting your own businesses, the tips she shares are also great strategies to succeed at life, too.  Connect with Laura at www.laura-sinclair.com  

If you love traveling....and even if you don't...this episode is one you definitely want to listen to! Amber Haggerty (aka "Amber Everywhere") dives into why she gets joy from traveling...and her reasons may not be what you'd expect. We talk about the joy she gets from connecting with strangers, how she she navigates situations when they don't go as planned, traveling on a budget, and managing risk. She also offers simple strategies for anyone wanting to dip a toe into travel, whether locally or internationally. Get ready to pack your bags...our conversation may inspire you to push yourself out of your comfort zone a bit....and find bursts of joy that you never even knew existed! Learn more at www.ambereverywhere.com

Kathy Izard is an award-winning author and speaker who has helped bring transformation to Charlotte, NC in homelessness, housing, and mental health. How did she do it? By "trusting the whisper," and she encourages all of us to do it too. Whatever idea we have that is quietly, persistently, relentlessly calling to us. That's the one we're meant to listen to. Her memoir, The Hundred Story Home, has been featured on NPR as well as The Today Show, inspiring people to be change-makers in their own communities. In 2019, she released A Good Night for Mr. Coleman, a children’s book written to encourage kids to dream big and Do Good.  Learn more at www.kathyizard.com

It's easy to find joy in life when things are going well and everyone is happy and healthy, but how do we do it when someone we love gets a life-threatening diagnosis? Charissa Bates, a mom to three beautiful children, knows how. After being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer a few years ago she decided to be intentional about seeking out joy. She leaned into the small things that made her happy, and learned some valuable lessons about perspective during her journey. In fact, to pass on that insight and help other families going through similar situations, she and her husband, along with their young children, wrote a book to help other families gain control and find  joy during tough times. Get her book here: https://www.amazon.com/We-Find-Joy-Cancer-Messed/dp/B0BBJH43JT

So many of us are "people pleasers" without even thinking about it. In this episode Mindset and Success Coach Rebekah Slider shares a unique perspective on people pleasing. She talks about how we end up feeling when we constantly say yes to people even when we really don't want to. We discuss why we do it (personally and professionally) and strategies for finally standing in our own power and learning to establish and maintain boundaries. You'll also learn a phrase that will change your life.  Get the "Ditch the People Pleasing" ebook that Rebekah talks about at www.rebekahslider.com/page/ditch-the-people-pleasing  

In this episode you'll meet Mike Rathbun, a super cool guy and fellow podcast host and motivational speaker. We share an insightful conversation around joy, happiness, why it's important to seek out joy even when we're surrounded by negativity, and how sometimes it's seen as being rebellious to actual seek out the positivity in life, rather than wallowing in negativity. Thus, we believe in being "joy rebels!" We also talk about the importance of kindness, and how implementing small doses of it every single day is a lot easier than we may think! (When recording this episode Mike was writing his book, "Big Skies and Big Dreams: A Practical Guide to Living Your Happiest Life." Since then it's been released and can be found here.)

What happens when two life coaches who are committed to helping people find more joy in their lives share a conversation? You get this amazing episode of the Bursting with Happiness podcast! Listen in as I chat with Certified Life and Health Coach, Reiki Master, and Intuitive Meg Davis as she reveals five super simple and super effective strategies for joy. These tools will help us shift our mindset, give us some space to reflect in a way that perhaps we're not currently doing, and recognize our impact on the world. Give them a try and let us know how they work for you! Connect with Meg at www.mdavishealing.com.

I finally take a few minutes to share the latest happenings with me and my family. It's been a hectic couple of months for sure...listen in for an update that includes an ear surgery, a McDonald's McFlurry, and something to think about when you have a challenging decision to make and just aren't sure what to do.  

In this episode I chat with Nadine “Gam Gam” Larder on how she went from surviving her days to now living her days. Ironically, once she decided to love herself as an obese woman did she finally stop hating herself and started to make better choices that ultimately led her to losing the weight for good. Check out her story on how she did it and how she now dedicates her life to teaching others how to do the same. https://www.tiktok.com/@gamgams.kitchen https://www.instagram.com/gamgams.kitchen Grab A Pen Instead free Wellness and Weight loss Master Class: https://www.facebook.com/groups/909959833040651 It’s Not You, It’s The DIEt” free Masterclass: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1256947201397387 Gam Gam’s Kitchen: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ketobootcampforbeginners