How Releasing Small Frustrations Protects Your Joy

 

Good morning, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people. It’s a beautiful day today, and I’m so excited to be here on MaryamsJoyfulLife.

Today, I want to talk about letting go.

Before I get into the lesson, let me share a simple but powerful story.

A Small Moment, A Big Lesson

On New Year’s Day, my sweet man, our kids, and I went grocery shopping. We picked up a few items and headed home, thinking we had everything. Once we started putting the groceries away, my sweet man noticed one item was missing.

Immediately, thoughts ran through my mind:

Did we forget it at the store? Should we go back? The store is far…

But instead of spiraling, I paused. I knew we weren’t going back, and I decided not to let it bother me. Sometimes things happen. Sometimes things go missing. And sometimes the best thing you can do is declare, “It’s all working out in our favor.”

So I let it go.

The next day, when I went into the cabinet to get some plantains I had stored there, I noticed something unexpected. Inside the same bag of plantains—because we had bought them at the same shop—was the item we thought we had lost.

There it was, waiting to be used.

I joyfully took it out and, at my sweet man’s suggestion, placed it in the fridge. Later, he cooked it for himself and the kids, and it was absolutely delicious.

What This Taught Me About Energy

In the past, this situation would have frustrated me. I would have asked, “Why does this always happen?” That one thought would have led to a chain reaction—remembering other times things went wrong, draining my energy, and ruining my mood for the day.

But this time was different.

I realized something powerful: energy is everything.

When you focus on what’s missing, what didn’t go as planned, or what you should have done differently, it steals your joy. It pulls you out of the present moment—which is often neutral—and it affects your peace, your relationships, and your entire day.

Negative energy doesn’t stay contained. It spills over and contaminates everything.

Choosing Peace Over Perfection

So today, I want to encourage you to do something simple but life-changing:

When things don’t go your way, say,

“It’s all working out in my favor.”

Smile.

Breathe.

Move forward.

Do not allow small inconveniences, mistakes, or unexpected moments to ruin your day. The Word reminds us that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord—and I know you do.

Even when something doesn’t seem to work out, it’s often a seed being planted for something greater than you could imagine.

A Question for You

What is that thing today that has been stealing your joy?

Can you reframe it and say,

“You know what—this is working out in my favor.”

Focus on the good.

Start giving thanks.

And don’t allow anyone or anything to steal your joy.

You Don’t Have to Do Life Alone

Thank you so much for stopping by. If you desire more support, personalized guidance, or one-on-one coaching, I’ve got you.

Visit www.maryamsjoyfullife.com

Have a blessed, joy-filled day 💛

Why Readiness Is a Lie

 

Hello friends, and thank you for being here today. I want to talk about something that quietly holds so many people back without them even realizing it: the idea of readiness.

Here’s the truth—there will never be a perfect time to start moving toward your goal. The belief that you must wait until you feel ready, prepared, or perfectly aligned is one of the biggest lies we’ve accepted for far too long. Waiting feels responsible, but more often than not, it’s just procrastination dressed up as planning.

I’ve discovered through lived experience that the only real time to start is today. Not tomorrow. Not when conditions improve. Not when confidence magically appears. Now.

If there’s a dream pulling at your heart, begin right where you are. Quit planning the plan and get going. There is always something you can do right now that will move you forward.

Is it getting up 30 minutes earlier to meditate and then exercise? Do it.

Is it studying for 10 minutes a day? Do it.

Is it saying thank you when someone does something kind for you? Do it.

Is it making your bed when you wake up? Do it.

Don’t wait to think about it. Action creates clarity—not the other way around.

When you stay ready instead of waiting to get ready, you train your nervous system to respond with action. You break the habit of wasting time and reinforce the identity of someone who moves, even when it feels uncomfortable. That discomfort isn’t a sign to stop—it’s a sign you’re growing.

This is how I live my life. If something needs to be done and I truly want it, I don’t wait. I act, even when it feels inconvenient or uncomfortable. And every single time I take action, I feel better, stronger, and more aligned.

Momentum builds confidence. Action builds belief.

If you’re ready to elevate your approach, stop overthinking, and actually get things done—with support, structure, and accountability—I’m here to help.

Sign up today at www.maryamsjoyfullife.com and let’s move forward together.

Start With What I Had

 

Hello friends,

Thank you for being here again. It’s a beautiful day, and I truly hope you’re having a blast. And if today hasn’t felt so great yet, I hope by the end of this post you feel lighter, more hopeful, and encouraged.

Have you ever wanted to start something—anything—but felt stuck because you didn’t have all the tools, resources, or confidence you thought you needed? It can feel easier to wait. Easier to tell yourself, “I’ll start when I lose the weight,” or “I’ll begin when I have more money,” or “Once my life looks more put together, then I’ll go for it.” I’ve been there.

The mind can play tricks on us. Our emotions can lie. They can convince us that we’re inadequate or not enough simply because we’re not at our ideal weight, don’t have the money yet, or aren’t where we thought we’d be by now. But here’s what I’ve learned along the way: accept where you are, but refuse to stay there.

Start with what you have.

A couple of months ago, my sweet man suggested that I create samples of my red sauce recipe and turn it into my own marinara line. At the time, I didn’t have a lot of extra money to invest in the project. It would have been so easy to reject the idea, talk myself out of it, or list all the reasons it wouldn’t work.

Instead, I decided to take action.

I bought about two pounds of tomatoes, made a small batch of sauce, and gave samples away to get honest feedback. That simple decision—using what I had and doing what I could—led to something I never expected. People didn’t just like it. They placed orders. They bought Maryam’s Marinara.

I’m still in awe. I’m still grateful. And all of it happened because I moved instead of waiting.

What you have right now is enough to get you to your next level. It may not feel like much, but it’s the seed for your breakthrough. Action creates clarity. Movement creates momentum. Waiting only feeds doubt.

So take action right where you are. Use what’s already in your hands. Trust that God can multiply small beginnings when you show up with faith and courage.

And one more thing—don’t let anyone steal your joy. Your journey is yours. Your timing is divine. Your beginning doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be powerful.

Start with what you have. That’s all you need.

Decisions Create Momentum

 

Hello wonderful friends,

It’s a beautiful day today, and I felt led to share something simple yet powerful with you.

If you don’t decide and get moving in your life, time will pass anyway—and with it can come unnecessary regret. Decisions are not just about choosing a path; they are about choosing movement. When you don’t decide, you’re still making a decision—the decision to stay stuck, to drift backward, or to pause your own growth.

You may be in a difficult season right now. A season where it feels easier to quit than to keep going. A season where dreams feel distant or unclear. But moving backward is not where God intended for you to remain. Every single day presents an opportunity to decide differently, to shift direction, and to leave a positive mark on your own life and the lives of others.

What you’re going through is real. It may hurt deeply. But don’t let the weight of emotions or mental fatigue keep you frozen. Emotions can lie. Mental fatigue can be eased—through movement, fresh air, quiet moments by a lake, or a simple walk in nature. Peace often meets us after we move, not before.

When you make a simple decision to get up, everything begins to shift. I know that when you’re deep in the heaviness of an issue, taking action can feel pointless or even foolish. You may feel powerless—but you are not. You are powerful. One small step in a new direction can immediately boost your confidence.

Start small.

Take a short walk around your neighborhood.

Sit outside and breathe deeply.

Write down one thing you will do today—and do it.

Make the decision to get back up and allow yourself to feel excited again. Follow through on that decision. That one step can change everything.

Here’s the beautiful thing about decisions: when you make one small decision and follow through, it creates momentum. That momentum builds confidence. Confidence leads to another decision, then another—and before you realize it, big changes are taking place. You feel stronger. Clearer. More hopeful. More aligned with who you truly are.

Momentum doesn’t come from waiting.

It comes from deciding.

Get up and make a decision today. Your future self will thank you.

If you feel like you need guidance, clarity, or accountability, I’m here to help you.

Join my one-on-one mentorship program

Space is limited.

Visit www.maryamsjoyfullife.com

Small Wins That Build Self-Trust

 

There are moments in life when things don’t work the way we planned. Plans fall apart. Progress feels slow. Results don’t show up when we expect them to. In those moments, it’s easy to feel discouraged, overwhelmed, and tempted to shut down. It can feel like stopping altogether would hurt less than continuing to try.

But that is the worst thing we can do.

When things aren’t working, that is not the time to quit on yourself. That is not the moment to stop believing, hoping, praying, or moving forward. That moment is an invitation to respond differently.

Giving up feels like relief in the short term, but it slowly erodes self-trust. Every time we quit on ourselves, we teach our nervous system that we cannot be relied on when things get hard. Over time, that creates fear, hesitation, and self-doubt.

Small wins do the opposite.

Small wins rebuild trust with yourself.

A small win doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be as simple as choosing to get up when you want to stay down. It can be adjusting your approach instead of abandoning the goal. It can be going for a walk, praying through the frustration, affirming what you desire even when the evidence hasn’t caught up yet.

A few months ago, I experienced setbacks that were hard, discouraging, and deeply disappointing. There were days it felt heavy. There were moments when stopping would have been easier. But I didn’t quit.

I chose to keep going.

I changed my approach instead of giving up. I prayed even when I felt tired. I exercised when my emotions felt low. I went on long walks and affirmed my desires in the present tense, even when my circumstances hadn’t shifted yet. I kept believing while moving.

And because I didn’t quit, I came out of it.

That’s the power of small wins. Every time you choose to keep going—even imperfectly—you send yourself a message: I can trust myself. That trust compounds. It builds resilience. It builds emotional strength. It builds faith in your own ability to navigate life.

Acceptance does not mean surrendering your vision. You can accept where you are without giving up on where you’re going. Accept the situation, but don’t stop praying. Don’t stop planning. Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop moving.

You always have a choice.

You may not control every circumstance, but you do control how you respond. And how you respond shapes your future far more than the setback itself.

My advice is simple and honest:

Don’t let things not going as you desire cause you to quit trying.

Don’t let disappointment steal your hope.

Don’t let delays convince you that it’s over.

Keep choosing small actions that align with the life you want. Those actions build momentum. Momentum builds confidence. Confidence restores joy.

And most of all—don’t let anyone steal your joy. Protect it. Your joy is fuel. It is strength. It is evidence that you are still choosing yourself.

Keep going. Even slowly. Even imperfectly.

That choice alone is a powerful win.