How Intentional Joy Heals the Body, Strengthens the Mind, and Honors God
In Stephenville and Eastland, joy isn’t always loud—it’s often quiet, honest, and hard-won. It’s the sound of grandkids on a back porch. The first bite of peach cobbler after Sunday service. Or just a deep breath after a long week. This kind of joy is more than happiness—it’s a discipline; and it’s called The Joy Practice.
Dr. LaDuque calls this intentional cultivation of joy a “wellness superpower.” Because when joy is practiced daily, it becomes protective: physically, mentally, and spiritually.
The Physiology of Joy
- Boosts immune response: Joyful experiences increase natural killer cell activity and antibodies (Cohen & Pressman, 2006).
- Reduces stress hormones: Cortisol levels drop when we laugh, play, or recall positive memories.
- Improves cardiovascular function: Joyful people have lower resting heart rates and better blood pressure regulation.
- Protects brain health: Joyful practices support dopamine regulation and long-term memory (Fredrickson, 2001).
Why Joy Is Hard to Come By
Modern life in small towns isn’t immune to burnout. Between farm demands, office jobs, raising kids, and surviving pandemics or inflation—it’s easy to push joy to the margins. Many adults in rural Texas have never been taught to seek joy. Instead, we’re taught to endure.
But endurance without joy dries out the soul. Hebrews 12:2 says that “for the joy set before him, [Jesus] endured the cross.” Even suffering made room for joy.
How to Practice Joy (Intentionally)
- Schedule joy: Put something fun—no purpose attached—on your calendar each week.
- Curate joy triggers: Make a playlist, keep a joke book, or collect notes from your kids.
- Reconnect with childlike play: Ride a bike, swing, draw, dance barefoot in the kitchen.
- Serve others: Joy multiplies when shared. Surprise someone with a meal or gift.
- Use all five senses: Smell fresh rosemary, sip iced tea, watch the sunrise, hug long.
“Joy is an act of resistance. It says: my body, my mind, and my spirit are still here—and still thankful.” — Dr. LaDuque
Local Voices: Joy in Real Life
A Stephenville mom told Dr. LaDuque that she stopped feeling guilty for laughing with her kids during her cancer treatment. “It wasn’t pretending everything was fine,” she said. “It was the only way to survive.”
Another patient started a weekly “joy breakfast” with her 80-year-old father—coffee, sausage, and old family stories. It changed their relationship. “It gave us back time we didn’t know we lost,” she said.
Don’t Confuse Joy with Escape
Joy isn’t distraction. It’s presence. It keeps us from going numb. Social media scrolling and retail therapy offer momentary pleasure—but practicing joy is about deep satisfaction, not surface-level hits.
Joy and the Gospel
Galatians 5:22 lists joy as a fruit of the Spirit—right alongside peace, patience, and love. That means it’s not optional. It’s essential. Practicing joy is part of your spiritual health, not an accessory to it.
Joy Journal Prompt
- What made you laugh this week?
- What’s a memory that fills your chest with warmth?
- When did you last feel truly alive?
- How can you make someone else smile today?
Citations
- Fredrickson, Barbara L. “The role of positive emotions in positive psychology.” American Psychologist, vol. 56, no. 3, 2001, pp. 218–226.
- Cohen, Sheldon, and Sarah D. Pressman. “Positive affect and health.” Current Directions in Psychological Science, vol. 15, no. 3, 2006, pp. 122–125.
- Dunn, Elizabeth W., et al. “Spending money on others promotes happiness.” Science, vol. 319, no. 5870, 2008, pp. 1687–1688.
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Author: Dr. LaDuque, Dental Excellence
Location: Stephenville & Eastland, TX