The Start of Embracing Joys: Exciting Ideas & Crushing Realities
Paige Mathison 
From burnout to breakthrough—how a hammock swing sparked the joyful, messy, heart-led vision behind Embracing Joys. 💛 Let’s grow together!
The following post is the beginning phases of the new online wellness platform I have created called Embracing Joys! The thing is, although you are going to likely assume it is an annoyingly happy-go-lucky story, trust when I say that is not a constant vibe, nor will it ever be…
The Beginning
Take a moment to imagine… It’s November 2024, you’re laying in your indoor hammock after a long stint of burnout. Swinging side to side (because it is soothing AF), you’re contemplating “What is next? How can I sustain my energy while doing what I love?”
The next conclusion rings so clearly in your mind that you cannot help but scream internally with glee! I love helping people find joy.
If you don’t know me, this likely feels incredibly cliché. If you DO know me, you’d likely describe me as an overall happy human who helps people feel lighter, understood and a smidge better than when arrived.
As a clinical counsellor and motivational speaker (with a long stint as a psychiatric nurse and a shorter adventure as a stand-up comedian), I have connected with countless people. I’m a person that folks randomly speak to while just out and about, sharing funny quips and deep traumas. There doesn’t really seem to be an in between with strangers.
I’m often told by people that I spark joy in them, and I absolutely LOVE to make people laugh. Comedy is a flipping hard artform, but comedically speaking on stage and helping people dig into their laughter deeper? Absolute gold.
This revelation felt like I finally had a bright idea to merge my skills into an intentionally crafted online space… EMBRACING JOYS.
What Would It Be?
My mind was spiraling in the best of ways, as it typically does when I feel an idea spring into fruition. What would it include?
1. Courses — A variety of live and recorded workshops for people to learn. Anywhere from laughter to pleasant emotions, from nervous system regulation to play, and other passions contributors would like to share.
2. Digital Downloads — Workbooks and other printables because not everyone likes watching videos to learn.
3. Community — Forums of gratitudes, happy news around the world and joyful resources, and once safely able, have a regularly monitored space for those who have deeper questions related to healing.
4. Podcast — Guest interviews with people who have survived adversity and felt that humour, connection and moments of hope helped them through.
The most important parts to me?
- Affordability
- Trauma-Informed
- Heart-Led
Since that glorious insight, life has been a genuine whirlwind!
What Have Been The Wins?
1. I’ve been accepted as a Cast Member for the documentary series Legacy Makers.
2. I’ve completed filming for the documentary.
3. I’ve gathered a team of individuals with diverse passions to share.
4. The platform is coming together one email and one piece of content at a time!
5. May 1st, 2025 is the official launch date (Yahooooo!)
Not going to lie, friends… I thought I figured it all out. Throughout the majority of December I was riding a high and feeling more optimistic than I ever had felt.
Opportunities were lining up in ways that I never could have imagined and my mind was flooded by goodness. I LITERALLY was pinching myself every few days to check if I was dreaming! Because I was so optimistic with the upcoming outcome, I decided to take February and March off from counselling to dedicate my energy toward the platform with the intent to have it ready for March 1st.
Even though I logically knew that no human could ride the happiness train I was on forever, and took plenty of opportunities to savour how I felt, unexpected stuff popped up and my excited energy started to dwindle… and fast.
The Shift
I crashed faster than a toddler learning to run for the first time.
Life happened.
Momentum got halted.
My spirit was crushed.
It does not matter what career you have, we are all vulnerable to having dark times. My mental health took a nosedive starting at the beginning of January and I am still in recovery.
Remember how I said I was burned out in November? It came back and WAY bigger than a couple of months prior. Not because I didn’t believe in my vision or my desire to help people on a bigger scale, but certain experiences challenged my nervous system in ways I thought I’d learned how to process through.
The difference now? I was exhausted AND some really big past wounds surfaced in ways that felt (and still do feel) devastating.
What To Expect From This Blog?
So, if you believe this blog will be a bunch of light and fluffy stuff, you’d be wrong! First things first, I am pretty raw and real about my life. The good, bad and indifferent.
The thing is, it is essential to still look for the JOYS OF LIFE inside of the chaos. It reminds us that stuff can be pretty crappy, but it isn’t ALL bad. Even if things are rough, there are pockets of presence and moments of deep breaths.
This is the reality of Embracing Joys… It is much different than toxic positivity or gaslighting yourself about the realities of your life. It is the survival mechanism of play and finding the light in darkness.
You can expect me to use:
- Humour: Because I believe it is truly an incredible perspective shift and way to lighten the mood.
- Humanity: Self-compassion and knowing that what I am going through is a shared experience of many.
- Hope: Glimmers and manifestations of “It will work out, but maybe just not the way I expect.”
Conclusion
So welcome to the wild and entertaining realities of my life! Stay tuned to learn how I get myself out of this rut after not practicing what I preach nearly enough and taking on way too many things in an attempt to make my life better. (Whoops)
Let’s learn and grow together, shall we?
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