THE STORY BEHIND BIJOU PODCAST

On a mission to find joy in the chaos

Part 1: Something was Missing

Ever since I was a child, I remember always wishing to "Just Be Happy," regardless of whatever my situation in life would be. I felt it difficult to sustain happiness. Sure, I told everyone I was happy, because I would make the best of things, but deep down I felt empty — something was missing. Maybe the promised fairy tales weren't coming true. Maybe I hadn't identified a purpose in life, other than to accept a formula for a life plan. So I started reading books. At a young age I loved books; the smell in a library or bookstore, the feel of a book in my hands, and the escape they offered into other worlds. Fiction or nonfiction, I learned (and continue learning) a lot from books. But at this point I was 34-ish, and hadn't read a book since college. I chose self-help and books that were analytical of life and its purpose. Getting perspectives from the books' authors provided a variety of ideas on how I could possibly find joy in life, and not have to wish for it.

Part 2: What is “Being Happy”?

Over time, I began to realize some things about being happy.  For one, there is a difference between acting happy and being it. Sometimes our egos, whose job it is to protect us above others, have us in a Superiority Complex, where we actually think we've got life all figured out.  We might act as though we don't need anyone else, because we believe we have all the answers. But upon examining our pasts, childhood up through adulthood, we may realize we've been trying to cover up insecurity, and just want to be accepted. Or maybe we need to come to terms with what has hurt us. Time spent pondering these things with a growth mindset, continued reading, as well as conversing with others helped me develop. But also, big changes in the past few years, since 2018, in my life and in the world ended up humbling me, seriously. I started to realize that being happy would be an intentional work in progress.  

Part 3: Time to Rebuild

It was time to rebuild. I needed to use my voice to communicate better with others, and not assume what their thoughts were, with my expectations of what they should be doing. I had to realize that there were so many things I would never be able to control. I needed to let go of perfectionism, because it prevented me from taking chances. I needed to be present in the moments, and not allow my brain to run rampant with "what ifs." After all, life's journey is more of a rollercoaster ride, where you can't always see the track ahead, not a smooth car ride on a straight desert highway. As they say in Dodgeball, you’ve got to "Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge" life's challenges when and if they actually occur. You can't keep your mind where you aren't at the moment. 

Part 4: Daily Practice

Being happy is a daily practice which involves multiple approaches. There are endless ways to find Jewels of Joy, but intrinsic motivations are better at bringing real joy than extrinsic ones. In other words, things you buy for yourself bring joy for a short while, but feeling good, free from worries and stress, provides lasting joy. You can decide to do things like meditate, exercise, eat well, smile in acknowledgment of other people, do activities you love, and be expressive in your creativity to help bring fulfillment, even if it bothers you that someone dangerously cut you off while driving that day.

Part 5: Enter Bijou Podcast!

The purpose of Bijou Podcast is to shine light in the darkness that many are experiencing and others will experience in the journey of our lives. Like lighthouses, rising from the Sea of Uncertainty, we can replace negative thoughts, Find our Shine, and Unite by sharing what treasures we've found by Looking Within for Jewels of Joy!!

You may ask: Umm, have YOU found happiness?? Well, not one hundred percent of the time, and I don't have all the buried treasure. But we may have a jewel to share with you, and I hope you'll share some of yours with us on social media.

Looking forward to finding Jewels of Joy with you,
Julie Elizabeth