Joy As an Act of Resistance

Because Misery is NOT the Move

From Ashley

The Current Political Climate

If you've been online at all in the last two weeks, then you already know-things are bad. Like, we-are-on-roller-coaster-ride-to-hell-and-back-bad. As much as I’d love to sit here and (virtually) scream about every single horrific thing that’s happened, that's not what this post is about. In fact, I want this post to be the exact opposite.

Being a therapist in this political climate is about as fun as it sounds. However, I am incredibly privileged and genuinely honored to have many amazing clients that share similar political views to mine (I’m sure you’d be shocked to hear that I don’t attract many right-wingers *heavy sarcasm*). While many of my clients and I can commiserate over the insanity that is American politics right now, those same clients are also looking to me to give them guidance on how the hell to get through this shit show.

It is completely normal and valid for any and all of us to be experiencing severe hopelessness, overwhelm, depression, grief, fear, sadness, and anything else in-between right now. While all of these emotions are beyond valid, the one consistent thing I have been sharing with clients for the last 2 weeks is that we cannot let ourselves sink so deep into the wallows of misery that we are no longer able to fight back against this system in the small ways that we can. We have to practice joy as an act of resistance. Because you know what? The people in power thrive off our exhaustion. They want us overwhelmed, hopeless, and too burned out to fight back. We cannot let them have that.

As we dive more into the concept of practicing joy as resistance, let me be very clear: I don’t mean to be joyful and happy in a toxic positivity way. I mean practice joy, and find happy moments in a self-care, self-preservation, and survival way.

The Origins of Joy as Resistance

Let’s talk a little bit about where the concept of practicing joy as resistance comes from. From the research I have done, this concept is heavily rooted in African American culture and history, which makes an unbelievable amount of sense. Most of the specific sources that I have found are written by black women and I want to share them with you.

First, we have a poem by Toi Derricotte, called “The Telly Cycle”:

Second, Audre Lorde, in her 1978 essay "The Uses of the Erotic," emphasized that joy can serve as a powerful source of energy for change, countering oppressive structures in a non-violent way. You can listen to Audre read this essay here.

Third, The National Museum of African American History and Culture highlights that Black joy has historically been an essential act of survival and development, allowing individuals and groups to shift the impact of negative narratives and events in their favor.

While I am sure there are many other sources, those are the main ones that I found in my research and wanted to share with you, especially as the majority of these sources are written by Black women. The wisdom, resilience, and leadership of Black women have shaped so many movements for justice, yet they continue to be some of the most marginalized and overlooked voices in this country. We owe so much to their work, and it's long past time we listen, uplift, and support them in return.

How Joy is a Form of Resistance

When the world feels like it’s unraveling, when oppressive systems are designed to exhaust and demoralize us, choosing joy can feel almost defiant, and that’s exactly what makes it powerful. The systems that thrive on fear, burnout, and despair don’t want us to access joy-because joy sustains us, fuels us, and reminds us what we’re fighting for. When we embrace joy, we reject the idea that suffering is the only response to injustice. We refuse to let oppression steal our humanity.

Joy has always been a crucial part of resistance. We see it in Black liberation movements, where music, dance, and celebration have been woven into the fight for freedom. We see it in LGBTQIA+ activism, where Pride parades turn struggle into radical celebration. And we see it in mutual aid communities, where people create pockets of laughter and love, even in the face of hardship. Throughout history, oppressed groups have not only fought back with anger and grief, but also with moments of levity, connection, and play because joy reminds us that we are still alive, still worthy, and still here.

Even in the most unimaginable circumstances, people find ways to hold onto joy. In Palestine, despite the devastation of war, displacement, and daily violence, people continue to celebrate life. Videos and images have surfaced of Palestinians dancing at weddings, children playing soccer in the streets, families gathering for Eid celebrations-all while airstrikes loom in the background. These moments are not acts of denial, but defiance. Choosing to dance, to sing, to love in the midst of oppression is a way of saying, “We are still here. You have not erased us.” Their joy is a testament to human resilience, a refusal to let suffering be the only narrative.

I know some of you may be thinking that I’m suggesting practicing joy instead of staying informed. That is not what I am suggesting or wanting you to do at all. Choosing joy doesn’t mean disengaging. It doesn’t mean ignoring the realities of injustice or pretending things aren’t hard. It means refusing to let those realities consume us entirely. Oppressors want people to feel defeated and hopeless. Probably-unfortunately-because they take some satisfaction in our hopelessness. But more importantly, because we are easier to control, influence, and exploit when we feel defeated. Joy is replenishing, and I truly believe it is the antidote to despair. Joy gives us the energy to keep going, to stay in the fight, and to imagine something better.

Practicing Joy as Resistance is NOT Toxic Positivity

Again, I want to be clear: this is not about ignoring reality, bypassing difficult emotions, or pretending everything is fine. Practicing joy as an act of resistance is not the same as toxic positivity-the kind that tells you to "just think positive" or "look on the bright side" while dismissing very real pain and injustice. That’s absolutely not what practicing joy as an act of resistance is.

Toxic positivity (something I know all too well, given my Mormon/LDS upbringing) demands that we suppress our grief, anger, and fear. It tells us to plaster on a smile and push through, no matter what’s happening around us. True joy-the kind that is an act of resistance-allows for complexity. It makes space for the full range of human emotions. You can be heartbroken and still find moments of laughter. You can be furious and still let yourself experience love and connection. You can be grieving and still enjoy a moment of warmth with a friend.

Choosing joy does not mean disengaging from what’s happening in the world. In fact, it’s the opposite. It means recognizing that we cannot stay in the fight if we are emotionally depleted. It means acknowledging that we are not built to carry only rage and sorrow-we are also built for joy, for pleasure, for lightness. Holding both grief and joy at the same time is not a contradiction; it is a survival strategy.

So yes, stay informed. Please do! Stay engaged. Feel the anger, the sadness, the exhaustion. But also, make room for joy-not as a way to ignore the world, but as a way to keep showing up for it.

How to Practice Joy (Even in Small Ways)

It can be tough to think of how to practice joy intentionally, especially when there is a new tragedy or terrifying executive order announced every hour. Here are some examples to give you ideas of accessible ways in which you can try to practice joy more intentionally:

• Micro-joys: Small pleasures like listening to your favorite song, drinking tea, lighting a candle, wrapping yourself in a soft blanket, putting on a cozy sweater or cozy socks, watching the sunrise or sunset, watching your comfort show over and over and over.
  

• Community joy: Laughing with friends, sharing a meal, engaging in acts of kindness, sending a voice memo to your friend just to say hi and check-in, watch a movie or show with your long-distance friend, visit a coffee shop or bookstore, engage in some lighthearted, meaningless pop culture gossip that has nothing to do with politics (and-subtle flex-my bestie Makenzie is one of the best people to do this one with).
  

• Creative joy: Writing, painting, dancing, coloring, doodling, learning a new skill, playing an instrument, rearranging a small area of your home, writing poetry, taking pictures of things just for fun.
  

• Movement joy: Walking (even just for 5-10 minutes), stretching, dancing, yoga, playing with your pet(s), jumping on your bed (no I am not kidding).
  

• Rest as resistance: Prioritizing sleep, taking breaks to avoid burnout, setting a “phone-free” hour, saying no to plans, letting yourself go to bed early.
  

• Nature joy: Getting outside, standing in the sunlight for a few minutes, watching the trees in the wind, listening to birds, going up into the mountains or another secluded place in nature and turning off your phone.
  

• Ritual joy: Finding small, grounding rituals (even if it's just making your morning coffee with intention), playing the same song to get you hyped before a difficult or stressful task, creating-and sticking to-a nighttime ritual.

Practicing joy as an act of resistance does not have to be some grandiose event, nor does it have to be expensive. You have everything you need right now to begin more intentionally practicing joy.

Also, here’s a picture of my never-ending source of joy for some added inspiration:

The Power of Joyful Resistance

The world is heavy right now, and it’s easy to feel like joy is frivolous-or even irresponsible-in the face of so much suffering. However, joy is not a distraction from the work and-in fact-it’s what allows us to keep showing up for it. Joy is a refusal to let oppression steal our humanity, a way to replenish ourselves so we don’t burn out, and a quiet but powerful act of defiance against the systems that often benefit from our hopelessness.

For the next day, week, month, and (hopefully only) 4 years, I challenge and encourage you to let yourself feel joy. Not as a way to ignore reality, but as a way to sustain yourself in it. Find it in the small moments, the ordinary pleasures, the things that remind you what makes life worth fighting for.

No matter how dark things get, joy is still yours to claim. It is not a privilege reserved for when things get better-it is the fuel that will help us get there.

What is one small way you can practice joy today? Tell me in the comments below so that we can all be inspired by your joy. ♥️

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