She Finds Joy

Hey Joy Seekers! Welcome to the She Finds Joy Podcast! Today’s episode serves up exactly what you crave: actionable insight, real-life examples, and life/love leadership wisdom from Frederick Buskey! With a rich background, 17 years in K-12 teaching and leadership, international experience, and whole-program redesigns under his belt, Frederick Buskey delivers practical frameworks that make motivation not just understandable but DO-ABLE. If you’ve ever felt stuck, judged yourself harshly for “failing” to change a habit, or wondered why some goals just don’t stick, this episode will flip your whole approach.   Ready to rewire motivation in your work, parenting, or health? Hit play, take notes, and get curious because a more compassionate, empowered you STARTS HERE! In This Episode: Motivation, Demystified:  What IS motivation, really? Frederick Buskey guides us to a clear, actionable definition. Motivation as your willingness and ability to do the thing you want (or need) to do. No more fluffy buzzwords, just a clean way to analyze what’s blocking your goals.   The Three Faces of Motivation    – Task Face: Will you do the one-off, specific task (like making a healthy dinner tonight)?     – Skill Face: Can you implement something new you’ve learned (like a new teaching practice or recipe)?     – Behavior Face: The toughest will you sustain the change and embed a new behavior into your life? (Frederick Buskey says this is where most of us trip up!)   The Motivation Equation:  Motivation = Value ÷ Effort  (How much do you value the outcome, and how hard does it feel right now?)   Make It Work for You:  Use the equation to figure out WHY you or someone else are stuck. Are you overestimating effort? Underestimating immediate value? Or caught by competing values (hello, ‘supermom’ guilt vs. self-care!)? This approach swaps JUDGMENT for CURIOSITY, setting you up for progress, not shame-dumping.    Why Context Matters: Your motivation is unique not a character flaw! Frederick Buskey discusses how social context, personal narratives (“I should take care of everyone else first”), and even biology (hello, brains addicted to instant feedback!) all shape what works. Power Moves:   Trade Judgment for Curiosity: Instead of berating yourself for missing the gym, ask: “Where’s the friction? How can I lower it?” Engineer Your Environment: Remove temptations, add easy cues. (Put the phone in another room! Prep the meals on Sunday! Pack your backpack in advance!  Gamify Your Day: Like Frederick Buskey, set a winnable bar ten minutes of yoga, or just drive to the gym. Tiny wins build momentum!  Get Clear on Priorities: Every yes is a no to something else. Distinguish between urgent tasks and lasting priorities (especially for school leaders and busy parents!). Mic-Drop Quotes:   “We put a lot of judgment when we don’t do the thing. The motivation equation helps us stop judging and get curious.”  “A little bit of success builds momentum. Set the bar low, win, and it will grow from there.” “If I don’t buy the Froot Loops in the store, I only have to say no once. But if I bring them home, I have to say no every day.” “Judgment leads to conflict. Curiosity leads to collaboration.”  Listener Challenge:   👉 Pick one area (health, family, work) and ask yourself:   What’s more valuable to me than this old habit?   Where can I reduce friction to make the right choice easier?   👉 Take one “tiny win” action THIS WEEK can you meal-prep, put your phone out of sight at night, or pre-pack for tomorrow’s workout? Share & Connect:   Screenshot your favorite takeaway, tag @KimStrobelJoy, and let us know how you’re lowering friction or trading judgment for curiosity!  Hungry for more from Frederick Buskey?   Grab his book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose:  Sign up for his powerful daily leadership email Listen to The Assistant Principal Podcast:   Drop a review, pass this gem to a friend, and remember: Change

Hey Joy Seekers! Welcome to another episode of the She Finds Joy Podcast, a sacred space where we get real about living joyful, purpose-filled lives, even in the middle of chaos. Today, I have an absolute soul-fire guest joining me: Hannah Gellar, a 25-year-old first grade teacher who’s flipping the script on teaching, mindset, and the power of affirmations. Ever feel bombarded by stories of teacher burnout, pressure, and negativity around education? Or maybe you just wonder “Can joy still exist in these classrooms, with all the challenges teachers face?” Listen in because Hannah is living proof that it absolutely CAN, and she's making magic happen every single day with her students. This fresh, uplifting episode will crack open your view of what’s possible in tough environments, whether you’re a teacher, parent, or anyone rewriting your own narrative with joy at the center. In This Episode: Following the Call: Hear how Hannah navigated doubts, noise, and outside pressures to rediscover her earliest calling to teach and why purpose trumps negativity, every single time. Power of Affirmations: Go behind the scenes of Hannah's daily affirmation rituals with her first graders, learn the exact affirmations she chants (“I’m awesome. I’m smart. I can do hard things!”), and hear how these simple words sparked a ripple effect of confidence, kindness, and classroom community. Kids That Uplift Each Other: Real stories of tiny humans lifting struggling classmates up with affirmation power (“It’s okay to make mistakes. You can do hard things.”). If you need a goosebumps moment, THIS is it Joy As an Act of Rebellion: Why choosing joy in teaching, again and again, is a radical act, and how Hannah navigates social media’s burnout narratives by intentionally writing her OWN story. Growth Mindset in Action: How believing in kids’ potential (and seeing them as leaders, now, not “someday”) transforms what’s possible for every learner. Building Family Joy: My own practice of posting affirmations for my son as a daily dose of self-belief (yes, even behind the toilet!) and why every family, classroom, or individual can personalize this practice. Power Moves: Write Your Own Story: Whether you’re teaching, parenting, or changing careers, ask, “What story do I want to tell about my journey?” and choose your narrative daily. Morning Affirmations: Try Hannah's affirmation ritual alone or with your kids: “I’m awesome. I’m loved. I can do hard things.” Spread It Forward: Next time you see someone struggling, remind them with a loving affirmation (kids, partners, friends, it’s contagious!). Celebrate Progress: Remember, you’re not something “yet” add “yet” to every limitation in your head. Flip “I can’t” to “I can’t YET.” Get Honest About Mindset: Notice are you letting old negativity dictate your experience, or will you try on a new lens of joy and possibility?   Mic-Drop Quotes: “We’re not just instilling confidence in ourselves, but in each other. That’s when the domino effect begins.”  “You get to write your teaching story. Everyone’s opinion of education is their truth, but it doesn’t have to be yours.”  “Before a child can learn, they must feel safe and loved. Affirmation is how we download new belief systems for kids AND adults.”   Listener Challenge: 👉 Whether you parent, teach, or simply live with intention: pick one affirmation from today’s show and say it out loud every morning for a week.  👉 Share the practice with a child, partner, or friend and notice the ripple!   Share & Connect: Take a screenshot of your favorite quote or ah-ha moment, and tag @KimStrobelJoy and @MsGellarTeachesLittles on Instagram! Let’s show the world what happens when we choose joy, affirmation, and belief no matter what’s swirling around us. Drop a review at kimstrobel.com/review and don’t forget to subscribe the next episode is all about more hands-on tools to recharge your purpose and positivity! You deserve a life filled with real, soul-filling JO

Hey Joy Seekers! Welcome to another zest-brimming episode of the She Finds Joy Podcast, your personal invitation to put play, adventure, and laughter back on your life’s agenda. This week, I threw my “one-woman show” rule out the window (because sometimes you meet someone who makes rule-breaking wildly worth it). Enter the radiant Treena Innes, “Life Fun Expert,” world traveler, and unapologetic joy seeker, whose energy is downright contagious!   If you’ve ever felt like the spark’s gone out, you don’t even know how to have fun anymore or you’re “judged” for prioritizing joy (hello, #momguilt), this episode is for you. We’re talking about breaking out of ruts, busting through guilt, and why actually writing down your FUN goals can flip your day-to-day upside down (in the best way).   In This Episode:   - The Lost Art of Fun: Are you living life on autopilot, or actually enjoying it? We dig into why so many women, especially high achievers and supermoms, have lost touch with their playful side, and how that can change, starting now. - Travel as a Fun Formula: Hear Treena Innes’s wild adventures across 55+ countries, the magic of dirty backpacks, and how travel, even the “off-the-beaten-path” kind can supercharge your life and relationships - Why Guilt, Judgment, & Fear Steal Our Joy: From “I don’t know how to have fun anymore” to worrying what people will think if you wear a moomoo to a Mrs. Roper party, discover the emotional blockers keeping you stuck - Real Life, Real Strategies: From “fun lists” to micro-bucket lists, Treena Innes shares how making FUN a tangible goal transformed her life (and why having it on a sticky note is a power move) - How to Re-Train For Fun (Seriously!): Listen in as we break down why “the fun habit” is RELEARNABLE at any age, and three simple ways to jumpstart your playful side right now.   Power Moves:   - Write a “fun list” or micro-bucket list: Stick it on your fridge, inside your closet, or next to your coffee pot. If you write it, you’re 40% more likely to actually DO it! - Swap “Why?” for “Why not?”: If your inner critic starts arguing, just say YES before your brain talks you out of fun. - End the day with a “Fire in the Belly” check: Replay your day and ask, “What lit me up? What drained me?” Do more of the former, ruthlessly ditch the latter. - Break the guilt-cycle: Remember, prioritizing your joy is leadership. Model it for your kids, your partner, your friends. - Push past judgment: Try the moomoo, the mystery party, the trip you “don’t know how to plan.” (And if you need a travel buddy, let’s make a She Finds Joy global adventure happen!)   Mic-Drop Quotes:   “Fun is retrainable. It’s just a habit you need to practice again!”   “Why not? Don’t give yourself more than two seconds to talk yourself out of it.”   “It doesn’t have to cost a ton, look perfect, or feel comfortable. Try it ON anyway.”   Listener Challenge:   👉 Who are you letting call the shots? Guilt, fear, or joy?   👉 This week, pick *one* thing from your fun list (big or small) and say YES, before your brain says, “Why?”   Connect with Trina Ennis + Resources Mentioned:   Website: minddoodles.ca Instagram: @treena_minddoodles Facebook: facebook.com/minddoodles.ca LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/treenainnes Take the Mind Doodles “How Lively are You?” Quiz: Take the Quiz! Finding Fun Experiment Podcast: Listen Here: Science-backed strategies and bi-weekly conversations on unlocking more play, adventure, and health in your life! Share & Connect:   Screenshot this episode and share what you’re adding to your fun list and tag @KimStrobelJoy! Forward this to a friend who needs a reminder that fun isn’t just for kids. Leave a review at kimstrobel.com/review and subscribe, so you never miss your weekly permission slip for joy. Fun and adventure aren’t luxuries. They’re survival skills (and your birthright). Break the rules. Pack the bag. Host the Mrs. Roper party. Your joy sets the tone for everyone around you. Wit

Hey Joy Seekers! Welcome to Episode 103 of the She Finds Joy Podcast, your go-to space for empowering transformation, soul-deep inspiration, and actionable wisdom. This week, Kim Strobel dives headfirst into groundbreaking happiness research, exposing the myths behind what REALLY boosts our well-being. If you’re tired of letting circumstances, genetics, or old hurts dictate your joy, this episode will flip your mindset and spark a new level of personal responsibility.   Ever wondered why your happiness seems to bounce back after ups and downs? Or why some people are naturally more joyful, while others struggle to find joy, no matter their situation? Kim Strobel breaks down the science, shares vulnerable truths, and lights a fire under your agency to rewrite your happiness story IN YOUR FAVOR.   In This Episode:   - The Happiness Baseline: Discover why your joy (and dips!) always seem to return to a set point, and what psychology reveals about resilience. - Viktor Frankl’s Unbreakable Hope: Learn from the powerful tale of Viktor Frankl’s survival and meaning-making, how hope and mental agency can be your lifelines during struggle. - The Big Pie Chart of Happiness: Genetics, circumstances, personal choices, Kim Strobel shows you which piece of your happiness pie you control (spoiler: 40% is up for grabs!). - What Actually Steals Your Joy? Are you letting people, old wounds, or external events take more than their fair share? Kim Strobel invites you to reclaim your percent! - Personal Responsibility: Why blaming the past blocks your happiness, and how shifting your focus changes every domain of your life. - Three Drivers of Real Happiness: Thoughts, actions, and habits, how these shape your emotional baseline and what you can do to fuel transformation. - Teach Happy: Kim Strobel’s happiness habits that make real, lasting joy possible, no matter your genetic wiring or circumstances.   Power Moves:   - Audit your happiness pie: Are you giving too much power to circumstances or others? Pinpoint where you’re leaking joy. - Identify one negative thought or old story you keep replaying: choose a new empowering narrative. - Practice a happiness habit daily: Small steps (from Kim Strobel’s “Teach Happy”) add up to big joy increases! - Send this episode to a friend, sister, or parent who needs a happiness reset: share the science of possibility! - Take radical responsibility: Every day, ask “What can I choose, think, or do to raise my happiness?”   Mic-Drop Quotes:   “We and only we are 100% responsible for our life, regardless of the past. It’s up to us, right?” “You can raise your happiness levels by up to 40%, and when you do, you change every single area of your life that’s important to you.” “Life is unfair… but we have the ability to take more power and personal agency back when we learn how to cultivate happiness habits.”   Listener Challenge:   👉 Pause and reflect: Are you letting an old event or person steal your joy today?   👉 Take one action: Shift a thought, build a habit, or reclaim your percent, starting NOW.   Share & Connect: Screenshot this episode and share your breakthrough on Instagram, tag @KimStrobelJoy! Invite someone who needs more happiness science in their life. Drop a review at kimstrobel.com/review, and subscribe, next week is all about the habits themselves!   You are worthy of authentic joy, empowered by science and YOUR choices.   Let’s raise our set point, rewrite our story, and watch joy ripple through every part of life.   With big love and bold joy,   Kim   Tune in, take action, and let happiness become your new baseline!

Hey Joy-Seekers! Welcome to Episode 102 of the She Finds Joy Podcast, your space for radical insight, real talk, and the science (and soul) of true happiness. Today, Kim Strobel uncovers the sneaky “what if” game that keeps us forever chasing joy in the next job, the next house, the next goal… and why that happiness finish line always moves just out of reach.   If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I’ll finally be happy when I get the promotion/lose the weight/buy the dream house,” this episode is your invitation to stop the cycle. Kim Strobel brings research, personal stories, and a hefty dose of compassion to help you see why more money, a different body, or the latest upgrade isn’t the happiness answer—and what actually is.   In This Episode:   The “What If” Trap: Why tying happiness to future achievements never satisfies—and how your brain is wired to always want more.   Hedonic Adaptation, Explained: Discover the science behind why salary increases, bigger homes, and new cars only bring fleeting joy.   Money and Happiness: Yes, financial security matters—but once your basic needs are met, more zeros don’t equal more happiness, even if your mind tells you otherwise.   The Weight Loss Paradox: What a major four-year study of nearly 2,000 people really taught us about weight loss, dieting, and long-term mood.   Chasing Perfection (Botox Version!): Kim Strobel shares her own story about playing catch-up with cosmetic fixes and why new “flaws” always seem to appear.   Gratitude, Not Goalposts: How deep appreciation for what you already have resets your happiness baseline—and why it’s the daily antidote to the “never enough” mindset.   Power Moves:   Notice Your “When/Then” Thoughts: Where are you telling yourself you’ll be happier “when…”? Write them down—even the sneaky ones! Reframe Your Goals: Set goals for FUN and fulfillment, not as happiness lifelines. Let go of “I’ll only be happy if I achieve x.” Practice Daily Appreciation: Find awe in your current surroundings—big house or small, old car or new. Train your brain to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Experiment With Letting Go: Skip the extreme dieting, the relentless upgrades. Ask yourself: “Am I chasing happiness—or running from discomfort?” Tune in Next Time: Get ready for actionable “happiness habits” to start boosting your baseline joy—no matter your circumstances.   Mic-Drop Quotes:   “We play this what-if game with happiness all the time... but the finish line always moves.” “Once you hit a certain threshold, there really isn’t a correlation between money and happiness.” “Every time I pull in my driveway, I have deep appreciation for this home… but I don’t know that I’m any happier than I was in my 986-square-foot house.” “Our brain will always move the goalpost, and we’ll always want to change what that goal is in order to make us happier.”   Listener Challenge:   👉 Pause & Reflect: Where have you bought into the “when/then” myth of happiness?   👉 Take Inventory: Jot down three things you’re grateful for right now—yes, right now.   👉 Share Your Shift: Screenshot this episode, tag @KimStrobelJoy on Instagram with your biggest happiness “aha.”   Share & Connect:   Love these truth bombs? Rate, review, and subscribe at kimstrobel.com/review. Send this episode to a friend stuck in the “what if” loop—you could change a life.   Big dreams are beautiful—but real joy is available, here and now. Let’s break the cycle and claim our happiness, one appreciation at a time.   With so much joy,   Kim   Listen, love your life (as it is!), and join us next week for the happiness habits that really work!