Finding Your Joy Spot - Episode: When Finding Your Voice Requires a Shovel

Episode Summary

In this episode, Leona explores why women often silence themselves, play small, or soften their edges in both personal and professional settings. Drawing from evolutionary psychology and her own Lioness Project research, she discusses how our ancient brain wiring still impacts how we show up today—and what we can do about it.

Leona shares practical reflection exercises to help listeners excavate old patterns, heal childhood wounds, and step into their full power with courage and compassion.

Key Topics Discussed

• Why women experience safety differently and how it impacts our behaviour
• The evolutionary wiring that keeps us playing small
• The difference between "pushing through" and doing the deeper excavating work
• How childhood experiences shape our adult patterns
• Practical exercises for healing and integration using Internal Family Systems principles
• Finding joy in courageous acts and making courage contagious

Reflection Exercises

Take these at your own pace—one a day, one a week, or all at once with strong coffee:

1. Stream of consciousness writing: How did a difficult childhood situation impact you? Write for 2-5 minutes without stopping.
2. Pattern recognition: What has that situation imprinted on you? How does it impact you now?
3. Inner child work: Go back to that situation and comfort your younger self. Write from their voice—let them express their fear, sadness, or devastation.
4. Compassionate acknowledgment: How has that moment shaped you? Write a compassionate note to that part of yourself.
5. Strategy awareness: What did you learn from that pattern? What strategies did you develop to avoid feeling that way again?
6. Integration: Welcome your younger self in. Remind them they don't need to keep you small anymore.
7. Honouring: Ask how that younger part wants to be honoured—through play, creativity, or simple pleasures.

Resources Mentioned

Internal Family Systems Research:
IFS Institute

The Lioness Project:
www.thelionessproject.com

Connect with Leona

Website: www.leonadevinne.com

Email: leona@leonadevinne.com

Instagram: @thejoyspot

Facebook: @thejoyspot

Subscribe & Share

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe to Finding Your Joy Spot wherever you listen to podcasts. Share it with someone who might need to hear this message—remember, courage is contagious, and joy shared is always joy squared!

Quote of the Episode

"The digging is about cultivating the soil of our hearts and lives to make room for our truth to grow. And when one has the courage to do that, there's often a spot of joy in those courageous acts."

Description:
What started as a staycation quickly turned into something deeper—a Soul Spa-a sweet slice of homemade goodness.

In this episode, I share what happened when I gave myself two weeks of intentional nurturing: daily meditation, quiet contemplation, healing sessions, writing, painting, and simple moments of presence. I talk about reconnecting with what matters most, letting my inner five-year-old play, and why tending to ourselves isn’t a luxury—it’s how we live well and find our spots of joy.

If you’re feeling scattered, worn down, or like you’ve forgotten parts of yourself, this is your reminder: you don’t have to wait until you’re empty to take care of yourself.

Tune in for a grounded, soulful reflection—and an invitation to create your own version of a Soul Spa. (You can call it what you like :))

🌀 Plus: Details on the August 10 recorded session of The Womb (focused on nurturing) and the upcoming Just Own You retreat on October 18 in Bragg Creek, AB. More details on the retreat here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/just-own-youwomens-retreat-a-time-to-reflect-reconect-and-be-restored-tickets-1507997403829?aff=oddtdtcreator

Something to consider journaling about:

• What part of you is quietly asking to be nurtured right now?
• When was the last time you did something just for you—no outcome, no expectation, just because it felt good?
• What would your version of a Soul Spa look like this week, even in a small way?
• Have some extra fun-ask your five-year-old self what they would love to do to feel nurtured?

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Finding Your Joy Spot On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwuQCZ4ydBQTFM9JN7nOOFQ

Looking for some summer reading? Grab your copy of my book, Finding Your Joy Spot, Just Own You: How Joy guides you back to what matters most and the truth of who you are. ​https://www.amazon.ca/Finding-Your-Joy-Spot-Unexpected/dp/0991707583

Joy in the Dark: How Small Moments Saved Me

In this episode, I reflect on what it means to find joy, not in the obvious places, but in the challenging ones.

This week marks 10 years since my son’s brain surgery, and it’s stirred something deep in me. I didn’t find joy the way many people talk about it. For me, it came in little spots—tiny moments that gave me just enough grace to get through the day.

I write about it more in my book-Finding Your Joy Spot. https://leonadevinne.com/findingyourjoyspot/

I also share the powerful H.E.A.L. method—a neuroscience-based tool that helped me let joy alleviate chronic pain.

If you’re in a tough place, this episode is a reminder that joy can still find you… even in the dark.

✨ Mentioned in this episode:

H.E.A.L. Method by Dr. Rick Hanson: https://www.rickhanson.net/take-in-the-good/

📬 Want more like this in your inbox? Sign up here https://leonadevinne.com/subscribe

🎙️ Subscribe for more episodes on joy, healing, and finding your voice.

Prompts to find your own Joy Spots:

Listen to a joyful song daily

Take a photo of something joyful each day

Write down 3 joyful moments before bed

Do a random act of kindness

Compliment someone sincerely

Donate something meaningful

Text someone just to say you appreciate them

Want some journaling prompts to find or create more joy? https://leonadevinne.kit.com/1f2b09daa8