Welcome to Leveling Up with Lindsay, the podcast
where we dive into leadership, small business,
and everything in between. I'm Lindsay, your
host and the proud owner of White Puny Boutique,
a space created to empower women, build confidence,
and foster meaningful connections. Whether you're
an entrepreneur, a mom, a friend, or someone
just looking for a little inspiration. This is
your space to feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Join me as we share stories, strategies, and
a little bit of life's chaos while navigating
what it truly means to level up in starting a
business, relationship, and personal growth.
So grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let's
level up together. Hey friends. Welcome back
to Leveling Up with Lindsay. Today we're talking
about something that sounds simple, but honestly
takes more intention than we give it credit for.
Choosing joy on purpose, not in a Pinterest quote
kind of way, not in an everything is perfect
way, but in a real life, middle of chaos, running
a business, raising kids, trying to do it all
kind of way. Because joy isn't something we stumble
into. It's something we protect, create, and
weave into our actual busy lives. During the
holidays, it's easy for joy to get pushed to
the side. You're running a business at full speed.
trying to be present for your family, keeping
up with events, plans, gifts, and deadlines,
all while holding space for everyone around you.
And we sometimes wait for the joy just to happen,
thinking it'll show up when everything else is
finally calm or what we think organized. But
here's the truth. Joy isn't random. It's intentional.
Joy is built. And once I learned that, everything
shifted. Joy shows up in the small moments. The
ones you might miss unless you're paying attention.
Your first quiet minute in the morning. A coffee
that tastes exactly right. Seeing the team find
their rhythm. The customer who lights up in the
mirror. A playlist that lifts your mood. Your
kids laughing. sitting in the car for one peaceful
minute before walking inside or even turning
on your tree, even if the house isn't perfect.
Joy doesn't require perfection. Joy just requires
awareness. Let's be honest, the holidays come
with high expectations from others and especially
from ourselves. We want to create memories, run
at full speed, keep everything together and somehow
still hold emotional tone for everyone. It's
no wonder joy slips away. One of the most freeing
things you can do is release the idea that joy
only comes from these big moments. Sometimes
the simplest moments end up being the ones you
remember. Choose the joyful moment, not the perfect
one. Alright, I'm going to give you four simple
joy practices. It sounds a little cheesy, but
just hear me out. Number one, the two minute
reset. When the stress hits, step away for two
minutes, breathe, and ask yourself what would
make the next hour feel a little lighter. It's
usually something so simple. And trust me, we
all do this at White Peony. When we're busy,
we're in the middle of the holiday season. I
remember there was a gloomy day and we're all
yawning like crazy. And I ordered Emily. I'm
like, the sun came out finally. for whatever
reason it warmed up. And I said, Em, you gotta
go outside, just go for a walk and trust me.
And it was like a deal breaker. The two minute
reset is good for anyone, anywhere. at any time.
Number two, a joy anchor. One thing that brings
you back to yourself quickly. What is that one
thing? This might be a cozy sweatshirt, lighting
your tree, your favorite holiday scent, a quick
prayer, a song that shifts you in a whole entire
mood, sending a voice message to someone you
love. One small thing, one big shift, your joy
anchor. Number three, protect one moment a day.
This one's a good one. Just one moment. Not a
perfect routine, just a pocket of time that grounds
you. A drive, a stretch, a minute with your coffee,
or 10 minutes of a show that you love. This habit
alone can change your whole entire season. Give
yourself this 10 minutes, put down your phone,
just be in the moment, there's zero expectations.
For me in the morning, I get up, I'm there for
my children, but I instantly go to my computer
and start working. Even when my hair's on top
of my head, I have no makeup on. But listen to
me, even sitting for a moment with my kids with
coffee, leaving my phone in the bathroom before
chaos starts is what I need. Or at the end of
the day, just to decompress. Give yourself the
10 minutes you deserve. No distractions, no judgment,
no nothing. Tip number four, bring joy to someone
else. Nothing shifts your own energy faster,
and I mean nothing. A simple text, a little compliment,
checking in with someone, a small act of kindness.
Joy grows when you give it away. Not in a quote
kind of way, but in a real practical way. Listen,
leading a team during the busiest season of the
year has taught me this. Energy definitely sets
the tone. Your steadiness, your presence, your
joy, even in the small doses, changes how the
day feels for everyone around you. Joy is not
about pretending things are easy. It's about
choosing how you show up even when they aren't.
It's one of the most underrated leadership skills
actually. People often think you have to pick
just one, the busy or the joy, but you don't.
You can be busy and joyful at the same time.
You can have a full life and find simple moments
that fill you up. Joy doesn't require a slow
season. It requires awareness. Sometimes the
busiest seasons are where joy matters honestly
the most. As we move through this holiday season,
I hope this reminds you that joy is available,
not when everything is done or perfect, but in
the middle of your real life. Protect your moments.
choose joy on purpose, and watch how your whole
season feels different. Thanks for being here
and I'll see you next week on Leveling Up with
Lindsay. Thank you for listening. If you found
this information helpful, please share it with
a friend. If you're looking for more information
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Let's make today and every day an opportunity
to level up. Until next time, keep dreaming,
keep striving, and keep making a difference.