Why Noticing Small Good Things Changes Everything in Hard Times

For most of my life in medicine, I believed joy would arrive when circumstances improved. What I learned instead is far more important: joy doesn’t wait for life to cooperate.

In this episode, I share what decades of working with patients, especially those who had lost the most, taught me about joy. Not the loud, performative kind. The quiet kind that shows up in grief, uncertainty, and ordinary days.

Joy isn’t denial.

It isn’t pretending everything is fine.

It’s a daily decision to stay open rather than hardened by life.

If you’re navigating loss, stress, or a season that feels heavy, this conversation is for you. One small choice can change how you experience the day you’re already living.

Watch the full episode below.