How To Find Joy In Daily Life

Melissa's Website: www.thebrightsideoflifepodcas...
This exercise helps you bring joy into your daily life.
RESOURCES FOR MY VIEWERS
_____________
Free Quiz: Your Boundary Personality Type: www.boundarypersonalityquiz.com
The Ultimate Boundary Course: www.awakenjoy.life/boundary
Free Webinar: Rewiring Your Brain for Joy and Confidence: www.awakenjoy.life/rewire-you...
Free PDF: Transform your Negative Core Beliefs: awakenjoy.lpages.co/negative-...
Transformational Program: Roadmap to Joy and Authentic Confidence: www.awakenjoy.life/roadmap
Sign up for a Free Trial on Virtual EMDR - bit.ly/bhvirtualemdr
Use Promo Code: AWAKENJOY20 for 20% off. The program code must be put into the promo code box when you checkout for the discount! This is an online service I have used and I support!
BetterHelp 1:1 Counseling: betterhelp.com/awakenjoy
I have personally used their services and have recently become an affiliate. Using this link enables you to a discount of 10% off the first month. Betterhelp sponsors some of my videos, which does help to support this channel.
Say hi on social:
Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok: @awakenjoy.life
My website: www.awakenjoy.life
NOTE: This description contains affiliate links for the Virtual EMDR site and for betterhelp.com. While this channel may earn a minimal sum when the viewer uses these affiliate links, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links; the viewer is not charged extra for these links and, in fact, receives a discount over the regular pricing of these programs. I have used both Virtual EMDR and betterhelp.com.
Disclaimer:
This video was created by Barbara Heffernan, LCSW for educational purposes only. These videos are not diagnostic and provide no individual consultation. Consumption of these materials is for your own education and any medical, psychological, or professional care decisions should be made between you and your primary care doctor or another provider that you are engaged with. Barbara Heffernan is not available for individual consultation via UA-cam, social media, or email, and provides services only in the manner mentioned above.
☀️☀️CHAPTERS☀️☀️
0:00

[@carlmullerlane]

Walking my dog was the 1st thing that instantly came to my mind. This is such a universal thing. They bring us so much joy. They are furry therapists. 😍🐶❤

[@BarbaraHeffernan]

Totally agree!!

[@Kloops]

I haven’t felt joy in such a long time. I don’t have a place to go.

[@carlmullerlane]

Just finished reading your other comment on this channel to try & gain a better understanding of your situation & whatever trauma you may have experienced. And I'm so very glad that I did. Firstly, I'm so very sorry for the horribly unfair hand that you were dealt & all that you have endured. And secondly, I want you to know that you are not alone, even though narcissistic abuse can definitely make you feel that way, as well as incredibly confused about yourself & people in general. I have no doubt that your history has been both highly traumatic & incredibly complex. I truly get it - believe me. And you'll find that there are others too - but certainly not everyone - who also get it.
My mum left my dad when I was 6, which led to a very bitter divorce involving 6 custody battles (all of which she lost). My 11 yo sister then spun out of control & was a hardcore criminal & heroin addict by her late teens, who would then later in life go on to fit a malignant narcissist (maybe even sociopath) diagnosis imo. So too would her youngest son I believe, but that's a whole other painful story. I was initially raised by my dad till age 12.5, when he subsequently threw me out of the house & said that he NEVER wanted to see me again, b/c I bought up the idea of living with my mum after my stepmum started to become unusually aggressive (which I concluded, decades later, may have possibly been menopausal rage).
I was then raised by my mother, who has undiagnosed OCPD with comorbid moderate grandiose narcissistic traits who remarried a HSP codependent enabler with a fawning trauma response (my stepfather). Given this, I have experienced over 4.5 decades of complex trauma on top of half-a-dozen or so intensely stressful life-changing events, incl. meeting the formal criteria of several ACEs (Adverse Childood Experiences). Perhaps not-surprisingly, I when on to complete a Behavioural Science (Psychology) degree & subsequently do a VERY deep dive (over 4 decades & counting) into a number of psychological topics, incl. trauma, anxiety, depression, OCPD, OCD, narcissism, attachment theory, parental styles, etc. And yet, my life is a complete mess.
Despite typically being regarded by my peers & superiors as being highly intelligent with a very strong work ethic, EXTREME pathological perfectionism has completely derailed my life as I overcompensate for an incredibly poor self-image. It's very possible I am perhaps a HSP with CPTSD; & most definitely suffer from OCPD, social anxiety, depression with suicidal ideation, & severe burn out. Sometimes, I even wonder (& worry) that perhaps I may be a mild vulnerable narcissist b/c I blame my situation on toxic parenting & an incredibly long list of traumatic events (it's actually MUCH worse than I have listed here). I do hope this is not the case b/c I genuinely do care about people, but haven't ruled it out entirely. I am very sensitive to the pain of others (esp. animals & the vulnerable, but perhaps not as much to my parents given the complex history). Anyway, sorry about the very long rant, but I do hope it helps you feel heard & understood somewhat. Best of luck to you & your daughter.

[@Kloops]

@@carlmullerlane thank you. I appreciate you sharing your story. I am sorry that you went through that and still going through that. It’s hard to manage and maneuver life with trauma.
I just signed final divorce papers today. The judge will sign them Thursday.
My life is in my control now. Until today he had control on many things.