Choosing Joy

Finding resilience, meaning, and connection in times of change

True joy does not depend on the weather outside. It has more to do with the climate within, and it is something we can all cultivate.

Joy as a daily practice

In some of the darkest moments of my life, during my transition from Vietnam to France, I discovered that consciously focusing on joy, even in the smallest ways, gave me the strength to keep going. Grief, fear, and uncertainty were present. Yet choosing joy became an act of defiance, hope, and self-restoration.

Today, I return to joy as both a practice and a source of power. I gently invite the women I work with, especially those navigating leadership, transition, or healing journeys, to do the same.

Joy, the climate within

I live in Nice on the French Riviera, a place bathed in sun, sea, mountains, and art. External pleasures are everywhere.

What I have come to learn, and what I quietly encourage in my work, is this: true joy does not depend on the weather outside. It is about the climate within.

This is a kind of joy rooted in meaning and growth, not just fleeting pleasure. Even when life brings challenges or difficult emotions, this deeper joy, sometimes called eudaimonic happiness, allows us to accept, learn, and continue to flourish.

Research on eudaimonic wellbeing links this form of joy with better mental health, greater resilience, and a stronger sense of direction in life.

Weaving joy into everyday life

Cultivating joy is not only about doing joyful things. It is also about creating space for joy to emerge in daily life.

Sometimes joy begins with small acts of kindness, toward myself or others. A warm word, a thoughtful message, a moment of genuine presence.

Even on grey days, I find joy in lighting a candle, playing a favourite song, or pausing to watch the sky change over the sea. At other times, joy finds me while walking slowly along a hillside path, breathing in the scent of rosemary, letting the Mediterranean breeze meet me where I am- wandering, noticing, and allowing myself to be present.

I’ve written before about walking, wandering, and listening to what life reveals when we slow down — a reflection that many women resonated with inThe Happy Wanderer.

When life feels heavy, I often choose to walk up to the Colline du Château in Nice. There, overlooking the sea, I roll out my yoga mat and let my body move, stretch, and breathe.

Practising yoga above the Mediterranean, with the wind, the horizon, and the changing light, reminds me that joy can be physical, grounded, and quietly powerful. It lives not only in reflection but also in the body. In those moments, joy

becomes a form of self-care, resilience, and a gentle return to myself.

Noticing, instead of rushing, is also joy.

Joy as leadership

In my recent retreat and coaching spaces, I invite women to explore what lights them up and how that radiance supports both their work and their wellbeing. When women feel safe enough to open, share, and be held, joy naturally becomes a collective experience.

When joy is shared

When joy is shared, this reflection gently found its way into a small circle of women I recently gathered in my home in Nice.

What began as words on a page became a shared pause—filled with drawing, stories, laughter, and gentle presence. In that intimate space, joy was not something to achieve or perform. It emerged naturally through connection and creativity.

Sometimes joy does not need to be explained. It simply asks to be remembered and experienced together.

This is how “Joy with Viễn in Nice – A Women’s Creative Pause” was born: as a living experiment in shared joy for women navigating change. Life can feel uncertain and full of ups and downs, but we don’t need to go through it alone.

What research is saying about joy

Joy is more than a fleeting emotion. Research increasingly shows that joy, especially when rooted in meaning, connection, and kindness, is a powerful inner resource.

Studies on eudaimonic wellbeing link this kind of joy with greater creativity, stronger relationships, improved long-term health, and increased resilience at work and in life.

The World Happiness Report 2025 adds an important insight: caring, sharing, and everyday acts of kindness are among the strongest contributors to wellbeing for both the giver and the receiver. Trusting relationships, social support, and simple shared moments matter more than income or status alone.

Joy, in other words, is not a personal indulgence. It is a practical and transformative force that supports resilience, leadership, and a sense of fulfilment.

Choosing joy strengthens mind, body, and spirit, helping us navigate change with more clarity and compassion.

A gentle invitation:

Take a moment to reflect:
-  What brings you quiet joy these days?

-  How might you cultivate inner joy, not only external pleasures in 2026 and beyond?

-  How could you lead your life with joy, rather than waiting for it to arrive?

Joy is radical. It is not fluff. It is fuel. It is self-leadership — leadership from within.

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References (for those curious):

• World Happiness Report 2025 (2025). World Happiness Report.
•  Can Little Steps Lead to Big Joy? (2023). Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley.
•  The Science of Joy. Mission: JOY.