Leading with Joy: Stop Waiting for Happiness to Find You

A while back, I found myself in a place I never expected to be—exhausted, drained, and barely making it through the day.

Not tired in the I just need a nap way. But the kind of tired that doesn’t go away—no matter how much sleep you get, no matter how much you push through.

I had been saying yes to everything. More responsibilities. More projects. More meetings. I was showing up for my business, my work, my community—everyone but me.

I thought I was doing what leaders do: keep going, push through, don’t stop. I convinced myself I’d rest later—once I crossed the next thing off my list, once I hit the next milestone.

Then one day, my body called my bluff.

The Moment My Body Forced Me to Slow Down

I woke up and I felt… nothing.

No motivation. No energy. No excitement for the things I once loved.

And it wasn’t just a bad day—this feeling lingered. It followed me from morning to night, weighing me down like an invisible force. But I ignored it. I kept working, kept saying “I’m fine”—until I couldn’t anymore.

Then came the headaches. The brain fog. The fatigue so deep I could barely focus.

Then came the doctor’s appointments. The medical bills. The reality check that I had been so busy building my life, I was neglecting to actually live it.

Let me say this plainly: Ignoring your wellness in the name of success is a debt you will eventually have to pay.

And I was paying for it—in real time.

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s the moment when your body, mind, and spirit stage a full-on protest against the way you’ve been living.

I had been treating joy like a luxury, something I’d get around to later. But I realized that later never comes unless you make space for it now.

That’s when I knew something had to change.

Rediscovering Joy in the Smallest, Simplest Ways

When I started thinking about what I needed to feel like myself again, the answer wasn’t complicated.

It was music.

One day, I randomly put on a playlist I used to love—songs that made me feel good, songs that reminded me of who I was before I became a leader, an entrepreneur, a go-to person for everyone else.

And something shifted.

I let the music play as I got ready for the day. I started having dance breaks in between meetings. I blasted my favorite songs as I cooked dinner.

And, of course, I started holding full-blown concerts, singing at the top of my lungs like I was on tour. 🎤✨ (Sorry to my neighbors… but also, not really. 😆)

And suddenly, I felt lighter. More present. More like me.

That’s when I realized: I hadn’t just been overworked—I had been actively avoiding joy.

In the name of “busyness,” I had cut myself off from the small things that made life enjoyable.

I don’t think we talk about this enough: the way we slowly drift away from ourselves in the name of being “productive.”

We stop listening to music. We stop doing the things we once loved. We tell ourselves there’s no time for the things that used to bring us peace.

And before we know it, we’re just existing, moving through life on autopilot, doing all the “right” things—but feeling empty.

That’s why I started being intentional about joy.

Now, music is non-negotiable. I wake up and turn on a playlist. I dance when I need a reset. I use music to remind myself that joy is always within reach—I just have to make space for it.

And I promise you: It makes all the difference.

Joy Isn’t Extra—It’s Essential

We are so conditioned to believe that joy is a reward for working hard.

That we’ll “deserve” rest after we hit the next milestone. That we’ll enjoy life once we get through the busy season. That we can’t slow down because there’s just too much to do.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

There will always be more work. There will always be another goal. There will never be a “perfect” time to prioritize yourself.

So if you don’t make space for joy now, when will you?

What This Means for You

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, stuck in survival mode, or like you’re running on fumes, I need you to hear this:

You don’t have to overhaul your life to get back to yourself. You don’t have to plan a vacation or take weeks off. You just need to start paying attention to what brings you back to life.

And then—protect it.

If you’re not sure where to start, ask yourself:

✨What’s one thing that has always made me happy? ✨When was the last time I let myself enjoy it—without guilt? ✨What’s one small way I can bring more of that into my life today?

For me, it’s music and movement. What is it for you?

Let me know—I want to hear.

Because the truth is, joy isn’t waiting for you at the finish line. It’s what’s going to get you there.

— Taylor