Let me ask you something. Have you ever had a moment of pure joy, like something delicious happened, and out of nowhere, you felt nervous?

Like the other shoe's about to drop?

You suddenly get weirdly quiet, or feel like shrinking, or maybe you downplay it?

• "Oh, it's not that big a deal."
• "Oh, I just got lucky."
• "Oh, don't make a fuss."

Can we talk about that?

Because here's the surprising truth: Sometimes, the reason you don't feel safe being happy isn't because you're broken, it's because at some point in your life, happiness wasn't safe.

I can hear you protest right now, "Wait, what? Joy is dangerous?"

Yep. Let me share something from my own experience.

I came into a resonance repatterning session thinking, "I don't really have anything to work on." I only had this passing thought: "Why can't I remember anything good from my childhood?"

And what came up was huge.

I realized I had been hiding my happiness, not because I didn't want to feel joy, but because somewhere deep in my nervous system, joy had been linked to danger.

Growing up, whenever I was happy, it got squashed. Mocked, or met with silence. So I learned it was better to stay neutral. Better to play it safe.

And even now, as an adult, I was still doing it. Still tucking joy away the moment it tried to surface.

That session changed everything. Not because someone told me a new idea, but because my body remembered the truth. And when that truth clicked? I felt something I hadn't in a long time: permission to feel good again.

Your experience might be similar or different. Maybe little-you ran into the room, face beaming, heart bursting, wanting to show your drawing, your toy, your sparkle and someone said:

• "Not now."
• "Stop being so loud."
• "Don't make a mess."
• "Who do you think you are?"

Ouch. They didn't mean anything mean by it, but you received it as something dangerous. And your nervous system, like the smart little protector it is, made a decision: "Joy is risky. Better tuck that away."

So here you are. All grown up. Trying to manifest and trying to speak your truth. Trying to let life feel good, but the moment you get close to something that actually feels joyful, radiant, alive, your inner alarm system starts screaming: "Nope nope nope! Shut it down! Too bright! Too exposed! Danger!"

Now, why does this even matter?

Because joy is your fuel. Your clarity. Your life-force.

Suppressing joy is like putting sugar in the gas tank of your soul. You might still move forward, but oof. It's gonna be messy, slow, and eventually break something down.

The fundamental shift happens when you realize that most people aren't stuck because they're afraid of failure. They're stuck because they're scared of feeling good and then losing it.

So instead of letting themselves rise, they flatten. They dim the light before anyone can shut it off.

Here are sneaky signs you might be doing this:

• You downplay compliments.
• You brace yourself during good news.
• You don't celebrate wins; instead, you move the goalpost.
• You avoid being too excited because "what if it doesn't last?"
• You get more comfortable in discomfort than in delight.

Are you feeling gently called out yet? You might be asking, "What can I do?" If so, glad you asked.

Step 1: Name It

Say it out loud: "I learned joy wasn't safe. But I don't live there anymore."

Just saying that creates separation between the pattern and your personhood.

Step 2: Meet It with Compassion

When you notice yourself shrinking after good news, pause. Place a hand on your heart, and whisper: "It's okay. We get to feel good now."

That's rewiring in real time.

Step 3: Practice Receiving Joy in Small Doses

Literally. Set a timer.

• Feel the sunlight on your skin.
• Laugh at your own joke.
• Eat a strawberry slowly.
• Dance in your kitchen like no one's judging.

Let joy re-enter your nervous system without an exit strategy.

When you do that, you're telling your body: "This is allowed. We're safe here. We can stay."

So, remember, joy isn't extra. It's not optional. It's not fluff. It's medicine.

And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is let yourself enjoy being alive again.

So if you've been wondering why you're doing all the work, all the affirmations, all the journaling, but still feel blocked? Maybe the breakthrough isn't in another push. Perhaps it's in a giggle, a dance, a bold YES to a part of you that's been locked in a closet with a note that said: "Too much. Be quiet."

You're not too much.

You're a miracle.

And your joy is holy.

Much love,
Marie-Josee
Live. Love. Laugh. It matters because YOU matter!

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash