Joy Based Living

If you could have it ALL your way, what would the world be like? What would YOUR world be like?

In my own attempts to answer these questions, I have been humbled by an extreme inability to reach for the lofty ideals that I constantly strive for. And yet, I’ve been completely and radically uplifted and inspired by the wondrous transformations in my own life and in the people around me.

4 years ago, when I kickstarted Joy-Based Living, I thought that EVERYONE would want JOY. I learned that most everyone WANTS it but most everyone DOESN’T want to take responsibility for creating their own. Many people want it handed to them on a platter. Instant gratification. Netflix-like.

But it doesn’t work that way. And I learned that the people who stand inside of a commitment to their own joy are people who I LOVE standing beside. I love rooting for them, believing in them and being inspired by them. People who are committed to their own JOY (not fleeting happiness, but true, deep JOY) are people who want more JOY in the world. When they find their own sense of stability in their own JOY, they are the most generous people in the world and they bring so much JOY to others. It’s a ripple effect, and just like every water ripple that goes out, it also comes back.

I’m starting to call this JOY KARMA.

What’s happening NOW, 4 years after kickstarting Joy-Based Living, is that those who’ve been diligently practicing self-acceptance, self-awareness and self-compassion are now beginning to show majorly awesome juicy FRUITS of their labor. The ripples that have gone out are coming back. And it is so exciting to see.

Not only that, but because we’ve been practicing together, honest-to-goodness JOYFUL relationships based on mutual trust and admiration have grown. This has positioned each of us to be in a place of greater clarity and JOY in the midst of the chaos that so many people are feeling. It’s helped us to feel connected and strong and resilient, moving through our own challenging moments more quickly, with the kind of love and support that most people only dream of.

In these last few years, I’ve been witnessing and helping to shape the lives of those around me by giving them wholehearted attention and truly caring about their well-being. Along the way, we’ve done a lot of flinging spaghetti on the wall to see what sticks. What works. What has the most power and impact. We have drawn from the works of other great teachers and we always look for those who can unify our relationships and strengthen our practices.

Along the way, I unexpectedly developed a group experience called Wholehearted Networking.

In its most direct form, Wholehearted Networking is a system and multilevel processes which help lead and guide women to feel comfortable in their own skin while networking and promoting themselves, being more visible.

Although the group I currently lead is for women only, the practices can be for everyone. And I want as many people as possible to enjoy the immense joy that is totally available RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW!

Men and women alike can benefit from all of our processes. And SO, I am attempting to make these available for whoever wants them. I’m building a cathedral. And I’m doing it at Patreon.

The next phase of growing is sharing LIVESTREAMS at Patreon. I will share everything I can with you to help you create your own wholehearted life experience, your own wholehearted relationships, your own wholehearted networking groups.

LIVESTREAMING is a little new for me. It’s a bit scary and a bit out of my comfort zone. So, in order to quicken the learning curve, I have challenged myself to present 90 days in a row of livestreaming at Patreon. This is the cathedral I’m building. If you feel called to join me, I hope you will.

Here’s the link. To participate, you’ll need to subscribe at $5 per month. You can opt out at any time.

https://www.patreon.com/joybasedliving

Reverend SASSY SHORTS is in the HOUSE!

So much love,

Happy D!

ps. I chose an image of the Bahai Temple in Chile because it is so beautiful to me and it is a metaphor of how I see YOU. Lit on the inside. Protected on the outside. Open, beautiful, safe, enclosed, inspiring. YOU are the temple. YOU are the light. Thank you for the magic you bring to my world.

Debbie Happy Cohen, author and coach, is the founder of Joy-Based Living. Her Master’s Degree is in counseling, specializing in family systems, healing emotional trauma, and practical spirituality. Also affectionately known as Happy D! and Reverend SASSY SHORTS!, she lives on Lookout Mountain in Alabama, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her books include Reach Your Stars!, SANCTUARY, It’s All About Kids: Every Child Deserves a Teacher of the Year, and I Don’t Think So! Her social media playgrounds as well as the SANCTUARY ebook can be found right here.