Day 18: Joy Is Strategic, Not Selfish
September Rentrée Series
🍂 Welcome to the September Rentrée! Every weekday this month, you'll get one bold, bite-sized piece to spark reflection, shift your habits, and help you design a life that feels good in real life. 1 month. 20 bold truths. A life-changing September. In France, la rentrée (the return) is a national event. It's about fresh routines, new ideas, and intentional renewal. And that's exactly the energy we're bringing here!
We often forget about joy. We treat it as a weekend luxury or an afterthought.
Here’s what research reveals: joy isn’t a bonus. It’s fuel.
Think about it. When was the last time you felt genuinely joyful? Not just happy or content, but that spark of pure delight that makes you forget to check your phone?
If you can’t remember, you’re not alone. Most of us have been conditioned to believe that joy is frivolous. Something to earn after we’ve ticked everything off our endless to-do lists.
But here’s the truth: joy is what gives you the energy to tackle that list in the first place.
You can design joy into your life
Your brain responds to visual cues in ways you might not expect.
Bright colours trigger dopamine. Round shapes feel safe and pleasant. Natural light regulates your circadian rhythms.
When you swap that black coffee mug for a cheerful yellow one or add some plants to your workspace, you’re not being shallow. You’re working with your biology.
The same principle applies to how you spend your time.
That impromptu dance party in your kitchen? That silly conversation with a friend? These aren’t distractions from productivity.
They’re what make productivity possible.
Joy sharpens your focus, boosts creativity, and builds resilience.
Here’s the shift that changes everything:
Instead of waiting for joy to find you, start noticing where your attention goes.
You become what you focus on.
If you’re constantly scanning for problems, stress, and what’s going wrong, that’s what you’ll find.
But when you deliberately seek out moments of pleasure and beauty, even tiny ones, your entire experience shifts.
Joy isn’t selfish. It’s strategic. And it’s available to you right now.
With love,
Noemie x
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