How to live with hope and more happiness with Nicole Zasowski

What if hope only leads to disappointment? If this question has ever crossed your mind, today’s episode is for you, friend! My new friend, Nicole Zasowski, is on the show today and, let me tell you, she is a breath of fresh air. She shares her perspective with us on toxic positivity, celebration, and hope. And she’s a therapist, so her perspective is particularly welcome today! Nicole and I take a deep dive into why we are afraid to feel joy and what we can do about it.  For so many of us, we skip our celebrations as a way to avoid touching someone else's pain. We also talk about her latest book, What If It’s Wonderful?, and the importance of everyday celebrations.  I’m so inspired by Nicole’s insights and honesty about our hesitations and the way she illuminates a path to less fear and more happiness. Our conversation reminds us how God wants us to be joyful and happy.  Nicole is a mom, wife, licensed marriage therapist, and From Lost to Found author. She enjoys writing and speaking on topics that merge her professional knowledge, faith, and personal experience. Listen in to learn more about:  Toxic positivity and how it impacts us Foreboding joy and how joy can be vulnerable Practical ways we can celebrate in our everyday lives and why we should.    Favorite quotes: Joy is not off limits to us in pain and what it does is that it trusts what’s possible with God in the midst of pain. Joy and celebration have to be avenues of not only experiencing God’s presence, but learning and growing too, even in the midst of pain. Savoring celebrates the ordinary.  Thanksgiving is the expression of that gratitude and the way of sharing it and is a way of celebrating the gift with the Giver. A celebratory life is making a beautiful life with God right where you are not the perfect circumstances. We have somehow made happiness the hedonist version of joy.   Great things we discussed:  Fear - Ben Rector song Yellowstone TV show 1883 TV show The Way of the Heart - Book The Personal Librarian - Book Eucalyptus shower steamers Tezza app NYT cooking app Nicole Zasowski's website The Chosen - TV show Speak to the Mountains song - Chris McClarney Enjoy Life foods Confident Motherhood Facebook Group Join the Confident Motherhood Community here. Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli