Why your joy is not the villain — it’s the key to collective change
Lately, the weight of the world has felt especially heavy. The fear. The uncertainty. The constant stream of bad news. If you’ve been feeling it too—you’re not alone.
As a deeply feeling, empathic person, I know how overwhelming it can be to care so much, whether it’s people, the planet, justice, healing. You want to make a difference, big or small. But sometimes that very care turns into pressure, self-sacrifice, and ultimately burn out.
And yet, here’s the truth I keep returning to: Your joy is not a distraction. It’s not selfish. It’s not frivolous.
Your joy is a form of resistance.
It’s how we stay hopeful. How we keep going. How we create collective change that’s rooted in wholeness—not depletion.
So today, I want to explore something many of us wrestle with—especially those of us who feel everything so deeply:
How do we hold on to hope when it feels like the world is falling apart?
Why does self-sacrifice sneak in disguised as “care”—and how can we recognize it?
What does it really look like to reclaim hope and joy, without bypassing reality or spending a dime?
If you’ve been feeling the heaviness of it all… if you’ve been wondering how to keep showing up without losing yourself in the process—this conversation is for you.
Let’s dive in.
Scroll down to read the post or
Watch the video on YouTube and subscribe to my channel here
Listen to this episode on the Heal and Grow with Creativity Podcast
Listen on Apple Podcasts / Listen on Spotify
The Sneaky Way Martyrdom Hides Under the Guise of Caring
First off, let’s talk about the sneaky way martyrdom hides under the guise of caring.
We’ve been conditioned to think that the more we sacrifice, the more we care. At work, it’s the person pulling the all-nighter who’s seen as the most committed. In activism or community work, it’s the person always “on,” never resting, always doing more.
We bring that same mindset into our lives—believing that care only counts when it looks like…
Going to every protest
Volunteering nonstop
Staying informed 24/7
Never taking a break
And then we feel guilty for laughing, resting, and playing. Because how can we enjoy ourselves when other people are suffering? It starts to feel selfish to step back.
And for those of us who feel deeply and care a lot, it can feel like the responsibility falls fully on us, and ONLY US.
I remember one week when I was glued to my phone, reading post after post on my Instagram, feeling like I had to do something—but then realizing I was already doing a lot and I was starting to run on empty. I had to rest.
So here’s the truth: this belief that we have to suffer to prove we care, only adds more shame and burnout. It disconnects us from the joy and imagination we need to sustain our efforts long term.
And let me be clear, this is not our fault—after all, we’ve been raised in a culture that glorifies overwork & self-denial.
Why Hope and Joy Matter When You Want to Make a Difference
So once we recognize that martyrdom isn’t helping us, the next question is: what does help?
This is where hope and joy come in.
Hope is what helps us get up in the morning.It’s what allows us to imagine something better, to keep moving forward even when things feel bleak.
Joy helps us to remember that there is life outside of the struggle, and that we’re allowed to experience it. It offers energy, perspective, and balance—even in small doses. It reminds us that there is more to our existence than pain.
Joy fills our cup so that we can pour back into our communities, our causes, and our loved ones.
Both hope and joy are not luxuries. They’re necessities.They are forms of resistance—especially when the world tells us to be afraid, exhausted, and cynical.
5 Ways to Invite Hope and Joy Without Spending Money
By this point you might be wondering:
How do I actually do this? Where do I even start?
Here are five gentle ways to invite hope and joy into your life—no money required (think of these as little rituals you can return to when the world feels too heavy):
Read or listen to something inspiring.
I’ve been returning to poetry lately. It reconnects me to beauty and possibility.Spend time with people who love you.
Share how you’re feeling. Let yourself be supported and offer support in return.Create something.
Whether it’s cooking, drawing, painting, dancing, knitting—creation is a powerful way of reclaiming joy.Connect to something greater.
That could be spirit, source, the creator, your ancestors—whatever grounds you. Let it hold you.Step outside.
Go into nature or simply pause & observe. Look at the sky. Breathe deeply. Notice what’s around you.
As you can see, these rituals don’t mean you have to deny pain or suffering, but they do create room for intentionality, beauty, and renewal (which we really need).
These might not be revolutionary ideas—but they’re powerful reminders that hope and joy are already within your reach.
The Recap
To recap, today we talked about:
How self-sacrifice and martyrdom often hide as “care”
Why hope and joy are essential, not optional!
And simple way to reconnect with both that don’t require spending money
Key Takeaway
I hope that after listening to this episode you walk away remembering this:
Your joy is not the villain.
You don’t have to punish yourself to prove you care.
And you deserve to prioritize what brings you hope, energy, and happiness.
Because when you’re well and resourced, your impact becomes sustainable for the long term.
And your joy becomes a ripple—fueling the collective change we all need.
Until next time, stay creative!
Renata is a creativity coach empowering neurodivergent and multi-passionate women of color, to use creativity as a tool for self-discovery and healing, so they can let go of feeling inadequate and insecure and start experiencing more confidence and self-acceptance. She’s currently offering a free copy of her therapeutic art making workbook when you sign up for her email list. Sign up here to get your free copy.
