Yay, 2026! Haha Happy New Year!!! Well, actually, everyone says, “Happy New Year”, but what I want to wish you is a Joyful New Year.

There’s a world of difference between happiness and joy.

We don’t think about it that way.

Happiness is something that comes from the outside. And it isn’t a permanent state. It depends on a trigger.

Joyfulness on the other hand, is something that comes from within. And we don’t have to depend on something else. We can feel a perpetual sense of joy within us, deep inside, even through difficult times.

Want to 🎧 listen to this episode? Scroll down/click here. Or, continue reading...

Talking about difficult times. I don’t know about you. But on December 21st, the winter solstice, I felt this huge shift happening within me. A huge energetic shift.

I telling my best friend about this, “oh my god, it feels so nice after 21st! Something’s changed and somehow I feel a sense of alignment and flow.” And she said she’s come across a bunch of YouTube videos which said that on 21st of December, there was a huge energetic shift all over. It’s a world thing, not just my own personal thing, though I felt it very deeply.

Ugh 2025 was a very, very difficult year for me! But now, after this winter solstice there’s been a change. There’s been a shift in energy and I can feel it. I can really, really feel it.

By the way, if you’re new here, this is The Feel Good Factor Podcast. I’m Susmitha Veganosaurus, and I’m so glad you’re here today. If you enjoy today’s episode, then you’re going to love my free newsletter, The Feel Good Tribe. Go sign up.

Joy is something that can bubble from within. We can reach for it over and over and over again.

In the beginning of December, I went through a bit of…you know, I felt really dull. The weather outside was dull, plus it was kind of like a culmination of a difficult year. I was like, “what’s the point of this all? I mean, what’s the point of it all? I really don’t want to put in any effort. Everything feels meaningless, blah, blah, blah.”

Side note: Despite that, I recorded all the podcast episodes! Haha Because this is my own feel good factor too, you know, recording the episodes every weekend, publishing them.

But yes, I felt a bit of hopelessness and pointlessness. Then I figured, “okay, I can wallow in this for a couple of days.” I allowed myself to feel the feelings. After that, I decided to make myself come out of it in a very gentle way.

This cannot happen with things that trigger happiness. Happiness can come from buying something or eating something…that kind of stuff. Sure, that helps. It’s kind of like a soothing balm when you’re not feeling great, but it can only be so effective.

Then I thought of joyfulness. I was like, “okay, what truly brings me joy?”

I needed to do something that makes me feel that way, and of course, you know me, I’m always talking about flow state. So I tapped into a sense of flow and I started making jewellery again! And that really helped me, being lost in that. And then from there bit by bit, things started to change.

When you’re feeling too down in the dumps, you can’t think of reasons to be grateful for. But a little bit of upliftment, a little bit of nudging yourself upwards is all that’s required. Then the mind starts focussing on the good stuff. Your mindset gets shifted.

We can throw this light…this colouring of joy over anything.

I love my dentist (shoutout to Dr. Heena)! She’s pretty damn awesome! Gentle, sweet, kind – she won’t do any unnecessary procedures.

And I love the place! Sitting in my dentist’s waiting room is so nice. They don’t have those horrible white tube-lights. The lighting is nice and warm. There’s a comfy couch to sit on, and soft music playing in the background.

Her team is so sweet. Those girls, the way they welcome you, there’s warmth in that place. And I don’t mind waiting in that waiting room, and going in for regular check-ups and treatments.

I think of it as a spa for my mouth, a spa for my teeth, rather than a “dental treatment” when I visit to get a filling or a cleaning or whatever it is. And that keeps me going back again and again!

That’s just one example of a mindset shift where you look out for the little joys. You can put that perspective onto any situation.

If you must to go through something anyway, that situation’s not going away, right?

If I have to get a filling, I gotta get the filling. *shrugs* There’s nothing I can do about it. But what I can do is make myself feel excited. If not excited, at least make myself look forward to going to my dentist.

And for that, yes, I focus on the good things, on the nice things.

I don’t mindlessly scroll (or even read, check messages, etc.) on my phone when I’m in my dentist’s waiting room. I just sit there quietly – meditate, watch the light and shadow on the wall, look outside the window, and enjoy the atmosphere for what it is. That deeply relaxes me.

I find the small, simple joys and then I let myself soak up those joyful feelings.

So even something that’s “annoying” for most people…in fact, many people are even afraid to go to the dentist…that thing for me is totally different because I’m leaning into the joyful things in the situation.

This new year, I wish you a LOT of joy. And I wish you the wisdom, the capability to recognise the little joys in everything! So that, whatever you need to experience, whatever you need to go through anyway, you go through it in a lighter way. You go through it within a cushion of joyfulness.

I’m not saying that you have to be toxically positive. LOL No. But look for the good things. Look for the nice small things if you can.

And yes, keep in mind those activities or experiences that’ll uplift you a teeny bit when you’re low, because you can’t simply force yourself to feel joyful and grateful. But once you uplift yourself just a wee bit, then you can start recognising the joyful things, and start feeling grateful for whatever is good in a situation.

So here’s wishing you the wisdom to find your way towards joy again and again.

Let joy be that guiding light for you to keep turning towards throughout 2026. Understand the difference between happiness and joy. It’s good if you’re happy also, but instead of trying to pursue things that bring you happiness, pursue things that bring you joy. The deep personal, fulfilling sense of a flow and ease and slowing down.

All right, thank you so much for being here! I really look forward to talking to you again next week. Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. Take care! Bye.

Listen to the episode on the audio player below 👇🏽 (or on any podcast app you like).

(If you’d like to read the gently edited text version, scroll to the top or click here.)

New here? Find out more about The Feel Good Factor Podcast. If you think this episode can help someone, please share it with them. I’d also really appreciate a rating/review wherever you listen to podcasts. They help the show get discovered by more people like you.

---

Susmitha Veganosaurus

“I read voraciously, find humour in most things, and I’m most in my element when I’m teaching, writing, and playing with clay. I believe authenticity and kindness are the keys to world peace. Sign up for myfree newsletterwhere I share conversational emails with stories about Life and Business Tips, Vegan Hacks, Holistic Guidance, and more.“

---