Forcing Joy, Claiming Space, and Feeling Liberated | Dr. Alicia Justice

What can feather boas, therapy, and TikTok teach us about joy, boundaries, and belonging? In this edition of Work is Third, Dr. Alicia Justice talks about what it means to force joy when life feels heavy, the liberating power of therapy, and how self-expression through color and fashion becomes an act of resistance and self-love. Alicia shares stories of her journey: claiming space as a first generation scholar, navigating church and cultural messages about humility, and embracing joy as both practice and survival.We also laugh about childhood boas, mismatched accessories, and playing dress up in our closets as adults. Along the way, Alicia reminds us: we don’t have to earn our worth, we don’t have to do all the things, and we’re still amazing even on the hard days.✨ Subscribe to Work is Third and join the movement at workisthird.com. Keywordsliberation, joy, human experience, authenticity, societal norms, currency, resources, self-expression, color, childhood stories📂 Section Markers01:41 Section 1: From Giddy to Green: Joy, Color, and Childhood Stories33:36 Section 2: Breaking Through and Belonging 📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Giddy Anticipation03:36 Rebooking the Japan Trip06:10 The Joy of Color and Personal Style14:10 Childhood Memories and Fashion Choices19:46 Therapy and the Journey to Joy24:43 The Importance of Self-Awareness26:47 Therapy: A Path to Self-Discovery32:42 Embracing Age and Self-Acceptance37:40 The Power of Affirmation and Support38:35 Cultural Influences on Self-Perception41:26 Breaking Free from Guilt and Responsibility42:44 Curating a Positive Online Experience50:35 Curating Happiness Beyond Work 💬 Quotes to hold on to: “I don’t play about my mentals. Your mind can take you places a plane and a rocket can’t.”“You don’t have to do all the things.”“I’m still who I said I am, even in this pain.”“I’m not responsible for your distraction—let me be fly.”“Care has to be in alignment with my identity and how I want to show up in the world.”Resources Mentioned:Joyful by Ingrid Fetell LeeThe Artist’s Way by Julia CameronPoem “Let Them” (author often attributed to Keishorne Scott)Let’s Stay Connected🎧 Follow the show on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app📬 Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife