The Tortoise with Brooke McAlary

Joyful Living: Episode 11

Feb 14, 2024

In this episode, Brooke and Ben explore the definition of joy and how it differs from happiness. They discuss the impact of alcohol on experiencing joy, choosing joy as a revolutionary act, and ways to add more joy to our lives. The conversation also touches on toxic positivity, navigating frustrations, and the power of humor in diffusing tension.

58:05

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Quick takeaways

Finding joy involves understanding its diverse meanings and separating it from happiness.

Acts of service towards others are key in cultivating personal joy and purpose.

Deep dives

Overview of the Podcast Episode

The podcast episode kicks off with a discussion about the hosts' new year experiences and the theme of joy for the year. Hosts share personal insights into why joy became a guiding principle for one of them based on conversations about the lack of joy in the world. They delve into exploring the concepts of joy versus happiness, reflecting on how they can be separate entities and the relevance of finding joy in various aspects of life.

Introduction

2min

Exploring the Depths of Joy vs. Happiness

14min

Choosing Joy in Troubling Times and Finding Purpose

2min

Navigating Joy and Facing Frustrations

7min

Exploring Joy and Happiness in Society

15min

The Power of Humor in Diffusing Tension

10min

The Evolution of Work Schedules

5min

Exploring Yukon and Alaska Lifestyle and Reflecting on Joy and Happiness

4min

Today’s episode is all about joyful living. What it is, what it isn’t, how to get more of it and how it differs from happiness.

Stemming from Brooke's intention to try and find more joy in 2024, this conversation is delightfully and unexpectedly wide-ranging, and in it Ben and Brooke explore:

the definition of joy, and why it means so many different things to so many different people
why much of the literature around joy is religious or spiritual
how joy differs from happiness and how it is similar
the role that alcohol has on our ability to experience happiness and joy (and how Brooke's experience has changed since she stopped drinking)
how to adopt a lens of joy and happiness to life when you’re not a joyful person by default
why choosing joy is a revolutionary act
what the difference is between choosing joy and toxic positivity
how we can add more joy to our lives

Head over to The Tortoise for the full show notes, including links to the articles mentioned in today's episode, and if you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter while you're there.

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