Have you ever thought, I’ll feel more joy when life finally calms down? What if joy isn’t something you have to wait for?

In today’s episode of Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast, Bonnie explores the science of joy—and how choosing joy can actually lift your own well-being too. Bonnie shares a personal story about following a gentle prompting she really resisted initially — and the surprising joy she experienced in her own life after taking action.

You’ll also discover how knowing you are deeply seen and known by God can become a source of joy—and how the joy and love you’ve received from Him can overflow into someone else’s life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why joy doesn’t have to wait until your stressful circumstances change
- How knowing you are seen, known, and heard by God can lift your heart
- What Hannah’s story teaches us about joy in times of suffering
- What research says about helping positive emotions multiply 
- Two simple ways to choose joy to reap the wellness benefits and grow closer to God

Scripture
“In your presence there is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11
“You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

Breath Prayer
Inhale: In Your presence…
Exhale: There is fullness of joy.

Resources & Studies Mentioned
"Acts of Kindness & Well-Being" https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103117303451

"Sharing Positive Experiences & Well-Being"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15301629
Henri Nouwen on Choosing Joy: “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” by Henri Nouwen in his book "Here and Now: Living in the Spirit"
https://link.amazon/B07FPEBYr

 

 → Read Whispers of Rest: 40 Days to Revitalize Your Soul with God's Love, by Bonnie:
https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd

→ Join Bonnie on Instagram @thebonniegray

 →  Eucalyptus Shower Steamers for instant calm at Bonnie's Soul Care Store

  Watch YouTube Devotionals:
https://youtube.com/thebonniegray

Have you ever thought, I&rsquo;ll feel more joy when life finally calms down? What if joy isn&rsquo;t something you have to wait for? In today&rsquo;s episode of Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast, Bonnie explores the science of joy&mdash;and how choosing joy can actually lift your own well-being too. Bonnie shares a personal story about following a gentle prompting she really resisted initially &mdash; and the surprising joy she experienced in her own life after taking action. You&rsquo;ll also discover how knowing you are deeply seen and known by God can become a source of joy&mdash;and how the joy and love you&rsquo;ve received from Him can overflow into someone else&rsquo;s life. In this episode, you&rsquo;ll learn: - Why joy doesn&rsquo;t have to wait until your stressful circumstances change - How knowing you are seen, known, and heard by God can lift your heart - What Hannah&rsquo;s story teaches us about joy in times of suffering - What research says about helping positive emotions multiply&nbsp; - Two simple ways to choose joy to reap the wellness benefits and grow closer to God Scripture &ldquo;In your presence there is fullness of joy.&rdquo; Psalm 16:11 &ldquo;You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother&rsquo;s womb.&rdquo; Psalm 139:13 Breath Prayer Inhale: In Your presence&hellip; Exhale: There is fullness of joy. Resources &amp; Studies Mentioned "Acts of Kindness &amp; Well-Being"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103117303451" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103117303451&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790470515394000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3AZZwllfI86FO8wMvo9MTP">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103117303451</a> "Sharing Positive Experiences &amp; Well-Being" <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15301629" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15301629&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790470515394000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3KY65r1DduZQJ-vxyQy7Jb">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15301629</a> Henri Nouwen on Choosing Joy: &ldquo;Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.&rdquo; by Henri Nouwen in his book "Here and Now: Living in the Spirit" <a href="https://link.amazon/B07FPEBYr" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.amazon/B07FPEBYr&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790470515394000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1VN89m2q6pTXcqwiO3f8Us">https://link.amazon/B07FPEBYr</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;&rarr;&nbsp;Read Whispers of Rest: 40 Days to Revitalize Your Soul with God's Love,&nbsp;by Bonnie: <a href="https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790470515394000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2iG_PIHnVfBRaJ-vdoqDRc">https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd</a>
&rarr;&nbsp;Join Bonnie on Instagram&nbsp;<a>@thebonniegray</a>
&nbsp;&rarr;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eucalyptus Shower Steamers for instant calm at&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/488VVBI" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/488VVBI&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790470515394000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1q8tIWthOAm0Se56Dwc6FE">Bonnie's Soul Care Store</a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;Watch YouTube Devotionals: <a href="https://youtube.com/thebonniegray" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtube.com/thebonniegray&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790470515394000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3CXh5Dw5ABEqExRxAORMRH">https://youtube.com/thebonniegray</a>

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.

Here are some topics covered in this podcast: 

🌸 Feeling Anxious? Cast Your Cares on God Because He Cares For You
🌸 3 Ways to Break Free from Stress, Worry & Anxiety
🌸 How to Say No to Fear & Yes to God PLUS What's the Difference Between Secular & Biblical Meditation?
🌸 Is It Burnout Or Is God Stretching You? 4 Signs to Know the Difference PLUS 4 Mental Health Benefits of Stories
🌸 3 Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking, Improve Your Mood During the Day, & Get the Sleep Your Body Needs
🌸 The Antidote to Stress & Fatigue + The Surprising Causes – Plus Raising Stress-Resilient Kids

FOLLOW BONNIE:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebonniegray
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebonniegray
Her site: http://www.thebonniegray.com

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.
Here are some topics covered in this podcast: 
🌸 Feeling Anxious? Cast Your Cares on God Because He Cares For You 🌸 3 Ways to Break Free from Stress, Worry &amp; Anxiety 🌸 How to Say No to Fear &amp; Yes to God PLUS What's the Difference Between Secular &amp; Biblical Meditation? 🌸 Is It Burnout Or Is God Stretching You? 4 Signs to Know the Difference PLUS 4 Mental Health Benefits of Stories 🌸 3 Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking, Improve Your Mood During the Day, &amp; Get the Sleep Your Body Needs 🌸 The Antidote to Stress &amp; Fatigue + The Surprising Causes – Plus Raising Stress-Resilient Kids
FOLLOW BONNIE: Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/thebonniegray">https://instagram.com/thebonniegray</a> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/thebonniegray">https://facebook.com/thebonniegray</a> Her site: <a href="http://www.thebonniegray.com/">http://www.thebonniegray.com</a>

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less,...

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.

Here are some topics covered in this podcast: 
Ways to Eliminate Anxiety & Cast Your Cares on God 
Tips to Break Free from Stress, Worry & Anxiety
Recommendations on How to Say No to Fear & Yes to God
Ways to Raise Stress-Resilient Kids
Mental Health Benefits of Stories of Stories & Activities 
Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking
Tips to Improve Your Mood During the Day & Get the Sleep Your Body Needs
The Difference Between Secular & Biblical Meditation
The Difference Between Burnout & God Stretching You
The Antidote to Stress & Fatigue + The Surprising Causes 

FOLLOW BONNIE:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebonniegray
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebonniegray
Her site: http://www.thebonniegray.com 

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.
Here are some topics covered in this podcast: 
<ul>
<li>Ways to Eliminate Anxiety &amp; Cast Your Cares on God </li>
<li>Tips to Break Free from Stress, Worry &amp; Anxiety</li>
<li>Recommendations on How to Say No to Fear &amp; Yes to God</li>
<li>Ways to Raise Stress-Resilient Kids</li>
<li>Mental Health Benefits of Stories of Stories &amp; Activities </li>
<li>Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking</li>
<li>Tips to Improve Your Mood During the Day &amp; Get the Sleep Your Body Needs</li>
<li>The Difference Between Secular &amp; Biblical Meditation</li>
<li>The Difference Between Burnout &amp; God Stretching You</li>
<li>The Antidote to Stress &amp; Fatigue + The Surprising Causes </li>
</ul>
FOLLOW BONNIE: Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/thebonniegray">https://instagram.com/thebonniegray</a> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/thebonniegray">https://facebook.com/thebonniegray</a> Her site: <a href="http://www.thebonniegray.com/">http://www.thebonniegray.com </a>

The Science of Joy: This One Simple Practice Helps You Recover from Stress #229

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/bf0c6372-4131-40ba-8f30-b4d2013abe70/transcript