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The Joy Reset Series was born from the truth that joy doesn't always come naturally, especially when life is loud. We often chase joy, don't we, thinking it's something to be found later, once life calms down? But what if joy isn't something you wait for? What if it's a choice you make right in the middle of the mess? In this series, we'll explore how to choose joy, even when life feels anything but joyful. So if you've ever looked at your calendar, your inbox, and your never-ending list of responsibilities and thought, when do I get to breathe again? Then this series is for you, because starting today, we're going to change that.
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Welcome to Goals in Grace, the podcast for accomplished women who are ready to align their ambition with faith and step into their highest potential. I'm Rev. Juliet Spencer, a certified high-performance coach and former pastor, and I'm here to help you break free from imposter syndrome, embrace gratitude, and lead with clarity, purpose, and peace. Each week, I'll share faith-filled encouragement, personal stories, and proven strategies from books like High-Performance Habit, as well as from my coaching program, The Purpose and Peace Pathway, to help you achieve success without apology.
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You'll walk away with tools to lead boldly, live intentionally, and honor the calling on your life. Let's step into our calling together. Don't forget to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who's ready to grow.
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There was a season years back when everything in my life looked completely fine from the outside. You know those seasons when you're still showing up, still doing what needs to be done, still carrying everyone else's expectations with a smile. I was doing all of those things, but on the inside, I was just tired.
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Not just, I need a nap tired, but soul tired, bone-weary tired. The kind of tired where you wonder, what's my name and what have you done with my joy? I remember one morning, nothing dramatic happened. There was no major crisis.
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It was just a moment. I was sitting in my favorite chair, sipping coffee that had long gone cold, staring off into space while the house buzzed with all manner of activity around me. My thoughts were racing through everything ahead of me that day, appointments, conversations I didn't have the energy to hold, and expectations that I knew I wasn't going to meet.
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You get the idea. And I remember thinking, joy? Who has the bandwidth for joy right now? Joy felt like something for people who were caught up, rested, organized, or maybe retired? Certainly not for me. Not in that season.
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But here's the thing. I wasn't mad at God, my husband, the kids, or the congregation. I wasn't hopeless or particularly depressed.
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I was just too tired for all of that. Instead, I felt numb. I was disconnected from the very thing that scripture says is our strength.
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But then a quiet thought rose from my spirit. You keep waiting for joy to arrive, but joy is waiting for you to make room. Well, that line unclenched something inside of me.
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I realized I wasn't missing joy because life was too chaotic. I was missing joy because I was too full, too mentally, emotionally, spiritually full of everything except the things that brought me life. Joy wasn't absent.
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I had become unavailable. That moment changed something in me. Joy isn't the outcome of a calm life.
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Joy is what carries you through the chaos. In other words, joy isn't the bonus for a well-ordered, productive, successful, calm, peaceful life. It's the fuel for your life.
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What I learned is that joy isn't fragile. Joy is resilient. It shows up in the cracks of an ordinary day and says, hey, you, I'm here if you want me.
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I'm ready whenever you are. Without even realizing it, I had treated joy like a finish line. But God invited me to treat it like a lifeline.
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This shift transformed my perspective and I began truly to notice joy in the small, unexpected moments, like a child's laughter or a quiet sunrise, the warmth of a really great hug. These moments became my anchors reminding me that joy is always within reach, waiting to be embraced. And once you have eyes to see them, you can find these anchors everywhere.
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Jesus says in John chapter 14, verse 27, peace, I leave with you. My peace, I give to you. I do not give as the world gives.
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Translation, the world says when everything is calm, then you'll have peace. But Jesus says, I give you peace that works even when nothing is calm. And if peace is available in the storm, then joy is too.
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Joy isn't the result of circumstances. Joy is the result of presence, God's presence and your own. Reflecting on this, I invite you to consider where in your life can you invite this peace and joy even amidst the chaos? How might recognizing God's presence change your experience of the challenges you face today? Imagine waking up each morning with a sense of calm and purpose rather than being swept away by the chaos of the day.
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What if joy wasn't just a fleeting emotion, but a steady companion throughout life's ups and downs? This is where the journey of choosing joy begins, not as a distant dream, but as a practical, spiritual and emotional practice. So let's explore the three mindset shifts that can transform your experience of joy. And it can transform it from reaction to intention.
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Joy isn't something that happens to you. It's something you practice on purpose. Before your day sweeps you away, ask, God, how do you want me to show up today? Not, how much can I get done? But how do you want me to be? Joy follows intention.
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Another mindset shift that can transform your experience of joy is from scarcity to sufficiency. Scarcity says, I don't get enough time. I don't have enough energy and I'm barely hanging on.
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But sufficiency says, God gives me enough for the step I need to take today. Not for all of it, just for today. And when you stop demanding more of yourself than God is asking, then joy quietly returns.
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And finally, this shift from perfection to progress truly does transform your experience of joy. Because joy evaporates under perfection. Perfection's loud, it's exhausting, and well, perfection's a bully.
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But progress, however, progress is kind and it whispers, you moved forward today. That's enough. Joy grows where progress is celebrated.
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So let's bring this down to earth. Joy isn't just a concept, it's a practice. More specifically, joy shows up in moments.
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And here are a few practices that you can easily add throughout your day that have the potential to have major impact. Number one, the 30-second joy reset. Once a day, just pause, breathe deeply, open your hands and pray, God, reset my joy.
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It's amazing how 30 seconds really can shift an entire heart. God, reset my joy. Practice number two, one joy intention question.
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Every morning, ask before you get out of bed, what would choosing joy look like for me today? Maybe it looks like slowing your pace down or letting something be good enough, giving yourself grace and smiling at someone, not rushing your morning, or just choosing gentleness towards yourself. Joy lives even in small choices, maybe especially there. Practice three, gratitude that costs nothing.
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Name one thing, just one thing, something that brings joy and costs nothing. Maybe it's the light coming through your window or a warm cup in your hands, a child's laughter, the way quiet feels before the day starts, whatever it is. In fact, what I've discovered is that joy often hides in simplicity.
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Practice number four, identify one joy blocker. Ask yourself, what consistently steals my joy? You don't have to fix everything, just see if you can remove one joy blocker. Joy doesn't need perfect conditions, but it does need a little room.
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So what is one thing that you can remove today that blocks your joy? Now here is why joy is so crucial. It touches every part of your life, it shapes your leadership, it deepens your relationship, and fuels your resolve to set healthy boundaries. Joy influences how you present yourself and enhances your patience with the people you love.
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It keeps you steady at work and it sparks creativity and fortifies resilience. A life without joy is a life drained of energy. When our joy hinges on circumstances, it's unpredictable and deprives you of the life God envisions for you and for those around you.
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But a life brimming with joy, that's a life in harmony with God. It empowers you to be your best self. And it equips you to navigate life with grace instead of pressure.
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Joy isn't distant, it's not elusive, nor is it reserved for the easy times. It's here, ready for you anytime. Joy is waiting.
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Imagine starting your day with this belief, God, I believe joy is possible for me, even here, even now, even today. That, my friend, is where the reset begins. May I pray for you? God, thank you for the gift of joy, steady, strong and present, even when life feels overwhelming.
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For everyone listening today who is weary or distracted or pulled in too many different directions, I ask for a fresh reset. Quiet their minds and center their hearts. Help them to make room for the joy that you're already offering.
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Let today be the beginning of a new, consistent joy, no matter life circumstances. Thank you, loving and merciful God, for wanting their lives to be filled with joy. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
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In the next episode of the Joy Reset Series, I'll dive into Simplify to Amplify, how streamlining your schedule, expectations, and even your inner life creates more space for joy. You don't have to wait for this one, it's available right now. If you haven't already subscribed to Goals in Grace, I hope you'll do so.
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And if this episode has touched your heart, share it with a friend. I want Goals in Grace to bless as many people as possible. Sharing and subscribing will help others to find it.
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And if you're seeking more calm, take advantage of my free gift, Stop the Overwhelm! From chaos to clarity in just 15 minutes a day. Find the link in the show notes or visit my website, RevJulietSpencer.com. And remember, joy is possible today. And until next time, God bless.
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.)
