What if everything racing through your mind right now – your endless to-do list, that low hum of urgency – doesn't actually matter as much as you think? Research shows that our dopamine-driven, checkbox mentality can become as addictive as a slot machine, keeping us productive but rarely fulfilled.

Arthur Brooks' groundbreaking happiness research reveals three pillars that create genuine meaning: coherence (why life unfolds as it does), purpose (why you're here), and significance (how you want to make a difference). When we shift from survival mode to intentional living, we discover that joy becomes both our North Star and compass.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:38) Why your current mental chatter might not matter as much as you think

(01:35) How our brains become addicted to the dopamine hit of to-do lists

(03:39) The life-changing shift from "to-do" to "to-be" thinking

(06:20) Arthur Brooks' three pillars of meaningful living

(07:58) Why having a framework for life's challenges protects mental health

(09:24) How joy becomes both your North Star and compass for authentic living

(12:17) Powerful questions to uncover your coherence, purpose, and significance

(13:52) The legacy-defining exercise of identifying your two core values

The JOY Journey

The JOY Journey is an online space for women ready to reconnect, reset, and grow – at your own pace or alongside a supportive community.

What you get:

• 10 emails each month with simple, research-backed tools
• Guided meditations, journalling prompts, and practical techniques
• Ongoing support designed to help changes actually stick
• Access to a dedicated app with all content anytime

Community option:

• Live sessions twice a month (1 hour)
• Reflect, write, and connect with others on the same path
• Fridays at 11:30 MT

If something in this episode resonated, this is your next step.

Get 30% off as a Finding Joy listener:

https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page

Connect with Finding Joy:

Website: https://www.leonadevinne.com and https://devillepartners.com

Subscribe for weekly emails: https://ghl.devillepartners.com/widget/form/Dvb9FUenar3xybDTFeww

The JOY Journey https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyspot

Finding Your Joy Spot Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991707583

What happens when life forces you to completely reinvent yourself in your thirties? Leadership coach and former principal ballerina Kerrie Alanen discovered that losing everything she thought defined her was actually the key to finding who she really was.

In this thoughtful conversation, Kerrie shares her journey from the stage to the boardroom, revealing the research-backed practices that helped her transform a devastating career loss into authentic living. You’ll discover why being “unapologetically you” isn’t just feel-good advice; it’s supported by science at a cellular level, helping rewire your brain for long-term well-being.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Why losing your identity can become your greatest gift

(04:10) How success as a high performer nearly cost everything that mattered

(07:31) When a hip replacement becomes the doorway to authentic living

(11:40) Why the most resilient people ask this one powerful question about breaking points

(15:21) How to embrace being weird and wonderful without losing connection

(19:05) The “hot stove” moment: recognizing when your values are violated

(22:34) Simple practices that support rewiring your brain for joy (hint: it’s not complicated)

(26:21) What hugging teenage boys teaches us about savouring the good

(27:39) The cellular science behind being unapologetically you

Links mentioned in this episode:

Kerrie Alanen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrie-alanen-27607417/

The JOY Journey

The JOY Journey is an online space for women ready to reconnect, reset, and grow – at your own pace or alongside a supportive community.

What you get:

• 10 emails each month with simple, research-backed tools
• Guided meditations, journalling prompts, and practical techniques
• Ongoing support designed to help changes actually stick
• Access to a dedicated app with all content anytime

Community option:

• Live sessions twice a month (1 hour)
• Reflect, write, and connect with others on the same path
• Fridays at 11:30 MT

If something in this episode resonated, this is your next step.

Get 30% off as a Finding Joy listener:

https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page

Connect with Finding Joy:

Website: https://www.leonadevinne.com and https://devillepartners.com

Subscribe for weekly emails: https://ghl.devillepartners.com/widget/form/Dvb9FUenar3xybDTFeww

The JOY Journey https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyspot

Finding Your Joy Spot Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991707583

Why do so many of us struggle to live authentically, even when we know who we are deep down? Leona deVinne reveals that finding joy isn't about positive thinking or life hacks – it's about doing the brave work of owning who you really are.

Through the JOY framework and three powerful personas, this episode provides a research-backed roadmap from clarity to confidence to courage. You'll discover why we choose belonging over authenticity and learn practical ways to stop living as "adult software running on childhood algorithms."

In this episode, we explore:

(00:38) Why authenticity is the bravest work we'll ever do

(01:23) How childhood attachment needs shape adult behavior

(03:05) Why we choose belonging over being real

(05:33) Grace as the pathway to true self-clarity

(08:04) The five-minute writing practice for self-discovery

(10:23) How to practice self-compassion like a loving friend

(12:15) Why joy requires courage over comfort

(14:38) The 5% braver question that changes everything

The JOY Journey

The JOY Journey is an online space for women ready to reconnect, reset, and grow – at your own pace or alongside a supportive community.

What you get:

• 10 emails each month with simple, research-backed tools
• Guided meditations, journalling prompts, and practical techniques
• Ongoing support designed to help changes actually stick
• Access to a dedicated app with all content anytime

Community option:

• Live sessions twice a month (1 hour)
• Reflect, write, and connect with others on the same path
• Fridays at 11:30 MT

If something in this episode resonated, this is your next step.

Get 30% off as a Finding Joy listener:

https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page

Connect with Finding Joy:

Website: https://www.leonadevinne.com and https://devillepartners.com

Subscribe for weekly emails: https://ghl.devillepartners.com/widget/form/Dvb9FUenar3xybDTFeww

The JOY Journey https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyspot

Finding Your Joy Spot Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991707583