Day 26: Returning to Joy Slowly – Learning to Feel Safe in Goodness Again
Returning to joy slowly isn’t about chasing happiness.
It’s about letting it sit beside you—awkwardly, gently—after a long time away.
Because when you’ve lived in survival mode, joy can feel foreign.
💬 “Joy isn’t loud. Sometimes it tiptoes back in.”
When Joy Feels Unsafe
There were times I felt guilty for laughing.
When things got better, I waited for the crash.
Joy didn’t feel like comfort. It felt like a setup.
For so long, my nervous system had been wired for disappointment.
Even goodness felt suspicious.
I had to unlearn the belief that peace was a warning sign.
Slowly, I’m learning that joy doesn’t need to be earned.
It doesn’t mean the hard times are over.
It just means your heart found space to breathe again.
Letting the Light Back In
Now, I let joy come in small ways.
A warm drink. A text from a friend. A moment of quiet without panic.
I don’t chase it—I notice it.
I whisper, “It’s okay to feel this.”
And if it goes away, I remind myself: it’s allowed to return again.
Joy isn’t proof that everything is perfect.
It’s a sign that you’re healing.
🌿 A Grounding Tip
Look around and name one thing that makes you feel even 1% lighter.
Let that be enough for today.
✍️ Let’s Journal Together
When was the last time I felt joy—and did I allow it?
What emotions show up when good things happen to me?
How can I make room for joy without expecting it to last forever?
🕊 A Line to Remember
Joy isn’t something you earn. It’s something you remember.
🔗 Internal Link:
👈 If you missed Day 25, read “Healing Your Inner Voice”
👉Continue with Day 27 read “Being Here, Even If You’re Uncertain”