17 - The Chronic Illness Monster: Drawing Your Path to Freedom
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
Release Date: 04/09/2025
21 – Realness Over Toxic Positivity: The Key to Chronic Illness Peace
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
Welcome to today’s episode where I’m tackling the biggest myth in the wellness industry: the idea that you can "just think positive" and bam—instant peace and perfect health! It’s not that simple, and in fact, that kind of toxic positivity is doing more harm than good. I’m starting off by discussing why honesty with yourself is the real secret to inner peace (sorry, but "good vibes only" just doesn’t cut it). And because we all know the wellness world loves a good "quick fix," we’ll also dive into how we can kick the pressure to be "always happy" to the curb, especially when...
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20 – Ambition with Intermissions: Goal-Getting with Chronic Illness
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
https://joymuckclub.com/blog/If you've ever set a goal, then immediately needed a nap, this episode is for you. Today I’m diving into the not-so-glamorous (but totally badass) world of goal-setting while living with chronic illness. Whether you're dealing with fatigue, flares, brain fog, or the occasional existential crisis, I’ve got tips, tricks, and some real talk to help you push through mental blocks without pushing yourself over the edge. In This Episode, I Cover: Why mental blocks hit differently when your body’s already doing the most Journaling prompts to discover and move past...
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19 - Dreams that Fit: How to Imagine More with Chronic Illness
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
If you’ve been living with chronic illness, you know how easy it is to put your dreams on pause — or feel like you don’t have space for them anymore. In this episode, I’m talking about what it means to let yourself dream again — not in spite of your illness, but alongside it. Whether you’re just beginning to wonder what if? again, or you’re deep in the process of rebuilding, this episode is a reminder: your dreams still matter — and they’re allowed to look different than they did before. We’ll explore: Why dreaming and goal-setting can feel so vulnerable when your body...
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18 – Chronic Identity Crisis: Finding Yourself (Again) After Illness Strikes
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
https://joymuckclub.com/blog/In today’s episode, we dive deep into the journey of self-discovery, particularly after experiencing major life changes like illness. How do you regain your footing when life as you knew it is disrupted? It can feel disorienting when we're faced with something that shakes our identity, but there’s an opportunity to rebuild and redefine who we are. In this episode, I explore the need to redefine your sense of self, the importance of understanding your core values, and how to align your life with those values in a meaningful way. Plus, I walk you through a...
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17 - The Chronic Illness Monster: Drawing Your Path to Freedom
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
In this empowering episode, I dive into the crucial practice of separating your chronic illness from your identity. It’s easy to let your illness become who you are, but we discuss why this can limit your potential and prevent you from reaching your full capacity for growth, dreams, and healing. In this episode, I cover: The impact of illness on identity: How chronic illness can sometimes feel like it defines you, and why it’s important to see yourself as more than your diagnosis. The dangers of becoming your illness: Why identifying as your illness can block personal growth and limit...
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16 – Grieve, Grow, Rebuild: Reclaiming Yourself from Chronic Illness
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
In this episode, I dive into an essential yet often overlooked part of healing after a chronic illness diagnosis: grief. Losing the old version of yourself – the person you were before your illness – can be heartbreaking. But allowing yourself to grieve is the first step to embracing joy and rebuilding a life that feels fulfilling and meaningful. We’ll explore why grief is a necessary part of the healing process and how it opens the door to joy. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why grieving your old self is an important step in healing How unprocessed grief can hold you back from...
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15 - Who Needs Hustle? Celebrating Success Spoonie-Style
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
What if success wasn’t about meeting society’s expectations but about honoring what truly matters to you? In this episode, we’re rewriting the rules and creating a personal definition of success—one that reflects your values, your journey, and your unique wins. We’ll dive into why tracking small victories can shift your mindset, how to notice and celebrate the good in your daily life, and journal prompts to help you see just how much you have to be proud of. Because you deserve to celebrate yourself—right now, exactly as you are. Journal Prompts Share in This Episode: ...
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14 – Shifting from Guilt to Glory: Celebrating Yourself with Chronic Illness
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
In today’s episode, I’m diving into the powerful and often overlooked practice of celebration—especially when living with chronic illness. I’ll talk about why it’s so important to celebrate yourself, the wins, the milestones, and even the small moments, despite the feelings of guilt or shame that can creep in. It’s all too easy to feel like celebrating your achievements is bragging, but we’ll explore why celebrating yourself isn’t the same as bragging, and how bragging itself isn’t a bad thing either. Join me as I discuss how to let go of guilt, release shame, and embrace a...
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13 – Cue the Confetti: The Healing Magic of Celebrating
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
In this episode, I explore the transformative power of taking time to pause and celebrate—whether it’s big accomplishments or small everyday moments. I talk about how celebration can be a game-changer in building momentum toward your goals, creating lasting habits, and improving both your physical and mental health. By making celebration a regular habit, you can not only celebrate what you’ve achieved but also honor who you are and the progress you’re making. Plus, I’ll discuss how to turn daily moments into reasons to celebrate and offer ideas for celebrating both on your own and...
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12 - Confetti for One: Celebrating Yourself, Chronic Illness and All
Joy Muck Club: Building A Joyful Life With Illness
In this short but impactful episode, we dive into the power of celebrating yourself—especially when navigating the challenges of chronic illness. I share why it's so important to take a moment to honor yourself, even when things feel tough, and how celebrating can shift your mindset to foster healing and empowerment. We explore: The importance of celebrating yourself and acknowledging your victories, big and small. I share where my passion for celebration comes from. A Request for YOU: I want to hear from you! What do you want to be celebrated for? Whether it’s a small win or a huge...
info_outlineIn this empowering episode, I dive into the crucial practice of separating your chronic illness from your identity. It’s easy to let your illness become who you are, but we discuss why this can limit your potential and prevent you from reaching your full capacity for growth, dreams, and healing.
In this episode, I cover:
- The impact of illness on identity: How chronic illness can sometimes feel like it defines you, and why it’s important to see yourself as more than your diagnosis.
- The dangers of becoming your illness: Why identifying as your illness can block personal growth and limit your future possibilities.
- Creating space for dreams and goals: How separating your illness from your identity can free you to pursue your passions, ambitions, and true self.
- A creative exercise: Learn how to “meet” your chronic illness monster through a fun and therapeutic drawing exercise. By externalizing your illness as a monster, you can start to shift your relationship with it and gain back control over your life.
I hope this episode inspires you to redefine your relationship with your illness and take steps toward living a life full of purpose and possibility.
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