EvolveC

When Joy Feels Like a Stranger These past few months have been emotionally draining for me. I’ve been walking through a season of grief, loss, and everything in between, and honestly, I feel like I’m running on empty.   As much as I want to appear strong for myself and for those who may be counting on me, I can’t deny how heavy this season feels. It’s not easy to experience joy when you’re carrying emotional burnout. Some days, even smiling feels like work.   Through experience, I’ve learned that pretending to be okay doesn’t heal the pain; it only hides it. And the more I tried to suppress my exhaustion, the further away joy seemed to drift.   But amidst all that I may be experiencing, I know life is beautiful. Things may not go as planned, but we can start again — to relearn joy after emotional burnout.   Here are a few gentle lessons that have helped me find my way back to joy.    1. Acknowledge What Burnout Has Taken From You Before you can relearn joy after emotional burnout, you must first face what you’ve lost. Burnout doesn’t just drain your energy; it empties your sense of self. You start to feel disconnected from the things that once brought you joy.   For me, it was the little things: writing, spending time with people, gisting, and laughing without reason. Somewhere between my pain and grief, I forgot what it felt like just to be.   Acknowledging what you’ve lost and accepting that it may never return the same way is the first act of healing. You can’t pour joy into a heart you’ve convinced yourself doesn’t need refilling.   So pause and ask yourself: What have I stopped doing because I’ve been too tired to feel? Naming it is where healing quietly begins.    You might also like: “Quiet the Noise, Reclaim Your Peace”   2. Redefine What Joy Means in This Season Joy after burnout isn’t going to be automatic: it will take time. Sometimes it comes quietly, while sitting by yourself, or simply in the strength to start your day.   When you’re relearning joy after emotional burnout, your joy evolves with you. What once excited you may not anymore, and that’s okay. You’re growing into a softer, more mindful version of yourself.    Joy doesn’t have to be loud. Sometimes it whispers, “I’m still here.”   3. Slow Down and Let Yourself Feel Again Burnout thrives in constant motion. Joy returns in the pause. Many of us have found ourselves in survival mode for too long, and slowing down can feel uncomfortable but that’s where reconnection begins.   Permit yourself to pause sometimes. I’m learning to slow down through simple acts like taking deep breaths, sitting quietly, and allowing myself to just be.   When you’re healing and relearning joy after emotional burnout, slowing down becomes your superpower. You don’t have to do more; you only need to be.    Read also: “Resting Isn’t Quitting”   4. Let Go of Guilt for Feeling Good When you’re recovering from emotional burnout, joy can feel undeserved. You might think, How can I laugh when I’m still healing? Or is it too soon to feel good again? But here’s the truth: joy is part of the healing process. It doesn’t erase your pain — it helps soften it.   You are allowed to feel light again, even while carrying your scars. You are allowed to heal and still smile.    Joy isn’t a reward for being fixed. It’s the medicine that helps you become whole.   5. Practice Joy as a Way of Life, Not a Destination Relearning joy after emotional burnout is an intentional practice. Some days it feels natural; other days it may take effort; both are valid.   Each time you choose gratitude, rest, or self-compassion, you’re practicing joy. Each time you notice something beautiful instead of something broken, you’re coming back to life.   The goal isn’t to become who you used to be. It’s to become who you’re meant to be now — softer, present, and grounded.    Joy isn’t found. It’s remembered.   Final Thoughts: Your Joy Is Still Yours If you’re in a season where joy feels far away, remember this: You haven’t lost it. You’re simply in the process of relearning joy after emotional burnout, and that takes courage.   Rest. Breathe. Feel. Let small moments matter again. You don’t have to rush this. You’re not broken; you’re rebuilding. And one gentle step at a time, you’ll find your way back to yourself.   You are not empty. You are evolving.   With love  Cheta  Keep evolving, one day at a time.   Pause for a moment: What does joy look like for you in this season? I’d love to hear your reflections in the comments. Your story might be the reminder someone else needs to keep going.   Keep reading: Resting Isn’t Quitting Quiet the Noise, Reclaim Your Peace

One of life’s hardest challenges is losing someone you love. The pain doesn’t go away; it remains tucked in somewhere within us. But even in grief, memories can become a source of comfort, healing, and connection.   Grief doesn’t give you a schedule. It brings with it feelings of pain and overwhelm. Some days, it’s quieter, with silence lingering in the spaces we once shared with someone now gone. Whether it’s the loss of a parent, sibling, partner, or friend, the pain can feel unbearable. Please, remember that you are not alone.   Finding Solace in Remembering When words fail and tears flow freely, memories can be a gentle refuge. Think back to the moments that made you smile: The laughter you shared during jokes The comforting hug when life felt heavy The quiet conversations that filled your heart These memories aren’t just flashes from the past, no! They’re gentle reminders that love never really fades. The people we’ve lost are still with us, through the stories we share, the traditions we keep, and the love we continue to pass on.   Allowing Yourself to Feel Grief isn’t programmed – it doesn’t follow a script. Some days you may feel okay, and other days you may feel like the world is about to stop. Experiencing a mix of emotions-sadness, anger, and confusion while grieving is completely normal.    Allow yourself to feel everything without judgment.  Cry when you need to. Laugh at happy memories. Take time to heal at your own pace.   I found myself trying to numb the feeling of loss at some point, and it felt like I would explode. I became irritable, angry, and exhausted. Every part of my being was experiencing pain. I felt like I was letting everyone down by being vulnerable. It wasn’t until I allowed myself to feel the pain that I began to heal.   Here are a few small practices that help keep memories alive and soothe the heart: Journaling: Write letters or record memories of your loved one Photo Albums: Look at old pictures and remember the good times Sharing Stories: Talk about your loved one with friends or family Finding Comfort in Connection Sometimes, the best way to cope is by reaching out for help. Support groups or friends can offer understanding and companionship during the most difficult times. Sharing memories can create a sense of closeness that grief tries to take away.   Remember: Healing doesn’t mean you will forget. Forgetting is not part of the process. It means learning to carry love differently in a way that brings peace and comfort.   A Message of Hope Grief reminds us of just how deeply we’ve loved. It asks a lot of us, yet love is something it can never take away.    In every smile, every cherished memory, every story, the presence of those we’ve lost lingers — gentle and familiar. Hold onto those moments, even when they bring tears; they are proof of a love that endures.    With time, grief softens, and in its place grows a quiet strength — a love that continues to guide you, gently, through each new day.    You are not alone. You are allowed to grieve, to remember, and to find comfort in the memories that keep your loved one close.   How do you keep your loved one’s memory alive? Share your thoughts or a memory below — your story might bring comfort to someone else who needs it.

Parenthood and life changes can sometimes feel overwhelming, but they also serve as reminders to practice self-love, resilience, and compassion in new ways. I learned this on my journey.   When I became a parent, I didn’t just step into a new role; I found myself almost lost in the process. From the constant changes in who I thought I was, sleepless nights, and the responsibilities I never saw coming. I was running on empty most of the time. I kept telling myself, “I would take care of everyone else first, then I’ll find time to take care of myself.” But that moment never actually came.   I kept pushing until I broke down, and in that moment, I realised the importance of self-love. Parenthood and big life changes aren’t supposed to stop us from loving ourselves. Rather, they’re invitations to love ourselves more.   How Parenthood Teaches Self-Love and Resilience Self-love is more than just saying positive affirmations; it requires intentional practice. Sometimes, just taking a moment to pause, breathe, and permit yourself to rest is self-love.   I’ll never forget a day when I needed to run an errand while home alone with my children. After school runs, homework, and lunch preparation, with my to-do list calling for my attention, I felt completely drained. I sat down for a moment to figure out how I’d get everything done, and I fell asleep. I didn’t even realize how exhausted I was until that moment. That nap was unplanned, but it taught me something important: sometimes self-love is simply allowing yourself to rest, even when the world is pulling you in every direction.   Knowing the world will not stop if I don’t finish my to-do list was a game-changer for me. That knowledge changed how I saw my role.   For a long time, I believed that I had to manage everything on my own. I pushed myself till I almost broke down. In those moments, I realized that true self-love meant asking for help, extending grace to myself, and knowing I didn’t have to do it all alone. It’s not only parenthood that challenges us; any significant change can push us to grow in unexpected ways.   How Change Teaches Us Compassion Change doesn’t just happen when you become a parent. It can manifest in various forms, such as new jobs, different environments, and fresh starts. Every change will always feel uncomfortable at first, but over time, we become accustomed to it.   When we moved to a new city some years ago, I found it difficult to adjust. Everything was unfamiliar: stores, streets, and everyday life. I believed I should have had it together by now, but instead, I felt lost.   Over time, I realized that the only way to cope was to give myself some grace. Change taught me that being uncomfortable doesn’t mean I’m failing; it means I’m growing.   Letting go of what seemed familiar to embrace change was not easy, and it still isn’t. But I’m learning to meet myself where I am right now. Instead of fighting change, I now see it as a teacher nudging me towards acceptance, resilience, and self-compassion.   Why Self-Love Makes You a Better Parent and Partner The saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup” is so true. Self-love strengthens not only you but also your relationships.   Self-love doesn’t necessarily have to be in the big things. For me, self-love is expressed through small but powerful choices, such as… Resting without guilt Celebrating progress, no matter how little Saying “no” when your plate is full These tiny shifts slowly build into a stronger foundation of care and confidence.   The Ongoing Journey of Practicing Self-Love The truth is, learning self-love through parenthood and change requires a daily practice. It’s choosing to show yourself compassion, even when it feels easier to be hard on yourself. Every act of kindness you show yourself is also a lesson to those around you.   Now your turn: What’s one small act of self-love you can choose today: resting, saying “no,” or simply pausing to breathe?    Share it in the comments—I’d love to celebrate your wins with you.