Episode 32

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Published on:

11th Nov 2025

Becoming Stubbornly Joyful: A Pep Talk on Joy, Resilience, and Emotional Strength

“Joy feels like a wink from the universe that says, ‘You’re on the right path.’”

I don’t know about you, but I wrestle with feeling my joy when I know others in the world are living lives that are anything but joyful. I reflect on this often and recently spent an entire therapy appointment delving into this topic. When I got down the heart of the matter I realized I was feeling that the louder the bad news…whether it’s global or local…the louder my commitment grows to being stubbornly joyful…even when it’s uncomfortable.

Ultimately, I always come back to this truth: joy doesn’t exist if we don’t have it in our lives. And keeping joy alive within ourselves keeps it alive for others.

“Your joy lifts others. It’s not selfish…it’s essential.”

When we sit in our joy, we become light bearers for those who may have lost hope. Our joy is proof that life is real and worth living for. This doesn’t mean we stop advocating for others or paying attention to the world…it means we allow ourselves to fully experience joy alongside our work.

In this short, little boop of an episode, I discuss:

  • How to soak up your joy
  • Ways to increase it in everyday life
  • Why keeping it alive is the greatest hope for a brighter future
“Joy is a sacred energy…it gives life meaning and it transcends the highs and lows.”

I hope this message finds you with joy in your heart. I’d love to hear what’s bringing you joy right now—whether it’s big, small, or even seemingly mundane moments.

From my heart to yours,

Greta

For Mini Meditations please visit my sister, Dr. Hotmer’s, YouTube channel.

Mentioned in this episode:

Terrapin Ridge Farms

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About the Podcast

Thought Experiment Called Life
A podcast for multi-passionate creatives forging nontraditional life paths.
This is a podcast for multi-passionate creatives forging nontraditional life paths.
I’ve never neatly fit into any niche, neither do many people, and neither does this podcast. This is a space for the multi-passionate person—the individual who looks at the world with glittering eyes despite the challenges of a multifaceted life. It’s for those seeking inspiration from positive, unconventional lives and hoping to glean lessons to guide their own path. It’s for those who trust that the right message will find them at the right time, no matter how unrelated it may seem.
This is a space for the existential mind and the open heart—those who understand the power of sharing stories to remind others they’re not alone.

I’ve lived many lives in my time here on Earth, and this podcast dives into a plethora of topics, including (but not limited to):
- Living and thriving with Lyme disease (and autoimmune disease).
- Pursuing your purpose in a world that celebrates conformity.
- Staying mentally healthy as a neurodivergent person in an insane world.
- The power and beauty of plant medicine and nourishing nutrition.
- Why learning self-defense is the ultimate self-care (especially for women)
- The magic of jiu-jitsu: a roadmap to growth and success in every area of life.
- Building healthy relationships—romantic and platonic.
- And perhaps most exciting of all, hearing real stories from multi-passionate individuals living fulfilling, unconventional lives.

This space exists to bring you inspiration, tools, resources, and proof that the call in your heart is there for a reason. I’m excited to walk this path with you.

The wild heart in me bows to the wild heart in you.

About your host

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Greta Hotmer