
← The Cult I Left Behind22 dec 2025 · 31 min
94 - Creating Joy When Life Has Been Heavy
94 - Creating Joy When Life Has Been Heavy
The holidays come with an expectation of joy. For many people, that expectation can feel impossible. In this quiet, honest conversation, Amanda shares a truth she’s been sitting with for a long time: healing doesn’t automatically make you receptive to happiness or joy. When your nervous system formed in trauma, joy doesn’t arrive on command, and it often can’t depend on other people or outcomes you can’t control. Together, Amanda and Kyle talk about trauma and the weight of holding other pe...