Apr 02 2025 31 mins
What if your childhood dreams held the key to your life's purpose? For Michelle Joy, founder of the Global Joy Institute, a third-grade assignment revealed her destiny—she wrote that she wanted to "grow long legs and walk to Africa to help people." Decades later, that innocent wish has manifested as a philanthropic initiative bringing clean water, business opportunities, and educational support to communities in Uganda.
Michelle takes us on a fascinating journey from her introspective days growing up on a Midwest farm to traveling solo around the world and eventually creating an organization that brings joy to people across the globe. Her approach is refreshingly focused—rather than trying to solve every problem, she follows her specific calling and encourages others to do the same.
As both a therapist and coach, Michelle shares powerful insights about relationship communication that will transform how you handle conflict. Her simple yet profound advice about responding with curiosity rather than defensiveness provides an immediately applicable tool for deeper connection. "Can I disagree with you and try to understand you at the same time?" she asks, cutting straight to the heart of what makes relationships work.
For those feeling burned out or disconnected from their passions, Michelle offers a structured approach to rediscovering joy. Through practical exercises like journaling and addressing fears head-on, she guides clients back to what truly matters. Her message resonates deeply in today's high-pressure world: we're all born with unique purposes, and reconnecting with what brought us joy as children can illuminate our path forward.
Whether you're struggling with relationship challenges, feeling stuck in your career, or simply searching for more meaning, this episode delivers actionable wisdom wrapped in heartwarming stories of global impact. Listen now to discover how kindness and purpose can transform not just your life, but ripple outward to change the world.
#global #joy #givingback
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It's one thing to highlight the kindness that we see in the world, but it's another to, as I put in many of my social media posts, #bethechange. I am donating all of my royalties from the sale of my book, Change A World; In Order to Change The World to local and national non-profits. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!