It is easy to feel powerless with everything going on in the world, to feel like nothing matters, and that we are just expected to show up, send our little emails, and keep it moving, and after a while that starts to feel a bit hollow.

My personal ethos is that everything is interwoven, and yes, to survive in this system we work to sustain ourselves, but what do we do to be part of this collective here on earth, to add meaning when there is so much pain happening, especially when those of us that LOOK like us are being devalued, when people in our communities are being destroyed.

And if you are reading this post, you are likely someone with a lot of privilege.

I write this as I am overlooking the Hudson River in New York, comfortable, as a US citizen, away from the headlines, even though probably not too far from here there is someone living in fear that their entire life could shatter, and people who look like me, with the same skin tone, unable to exist freely.

AND, the only thing we can do is focus on our next step, and often that is unclear, what can we even do, or we take on the pressure of an entire people who never asked that of us, so how do we start to move forward?

I believe it starts small, it starts with shifting our inner landscape, finding peace within our internal wars so that peace can radiate outward, so we have more energy and capacity to impact the people right around us, and externally it starts with one small step. So that brings me to my small steps to share….

The pause I need

Personally, I am taking some time to hold space for myself, to replenish, to find stillness, to find my footing and pause, and in that pause I realize I can gently show up, I can share my story, I can create, and I can be present in ways that feel nourishing for me first.

And for me this is the most powerful thing I can do right now, because in the past I have continued to go and go, to figure it out as the chaos was all around me, to try harder, to distract myself from holding space for myself by helping others, by chasing the next adventure, throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what would stick, and yet that pause let me see more clearly where I was expending my energy, what the next small step that would have the biggest impact actually was, to be more strategic, and to be most aligned.

And it was sitting in that stillness that brought me back to something I had almost forgotten, the power of community, of being truly witnessed, of what happens when we stop performing okay and just let ourselves be held.

Which reminds me of my time at the monastery…

On sangha and being witnessed

During my time at a Buddhist monastery I was introduced to the concept of a sangha- which literally means community- and a couple of times we would meet with our sangha in a circle led by a monk to share what we were learning, what was on our minds, to just be witnessed, to share without asking for advice, just to be heard, to release it off our chest, to hold space for that part of us.

I was uncomfortable at first to be honest, I was part of the BIPOC circle in France, learning of others’ experiences being “different” in even more homogenous communities than I had been, and yet it was freeing being with strangers who despite being from literally different countries, ethnicities, and backgrounds had lived through remarkably similar experiences, we were moving through similar states, and it reminded me this is part of the human experience, that there are others in the world who feel deeply, care deeply, love deeply, that identity was key but also heartbreak, also pain, also belonging, also wanting to make an impact and feeling powerless.

So in that pause I am only moving forward when the opportunity and experience feels aligned and at peace with who I am becoming, what feels right, what feels like a step forward, and when this opportunity showed up it felt like the universe handing me exactly what I had just been sitting with, a reminder that the antidote to feeling powerless is almost always finding your people and showing up together.

Come step forward with me

So when my friend and breathwork coach asked me if I wanted to be part of her panel it felt right, and given that it was called Step Forward Now, it felt even more right.

Free virtual event April 23rd

RSVP Here

Step Forward Now

Register at stepforwardnow.org

Until next time

And as always, this is what Build With Joy has always been about at its core, not the hustle, not the highlight reel, but the real and messy and beautiful work of building a life that actually feels like yours, one small aligned step at a time, together.

Con amor, Joy Valerie Carrera 🌿

What do you do when you feel stuck and overwhelmed?

I have learned to breathe, to pause, to surrender and slow down before my next move…

If you’re anything like me, and I’m assuming you get me if you’re still here, it’s easy to look at the world right now and feel defeated.

To feel like... wtf is even the point.

You probably feel things so deeply.You want justice.Your soul hurts at what people are capable of doing to each other.

I’ve been sitting with that too.

TLDR

Mercury is in reggaeton and my tech glitched, so I’m hosting another workshop to help you pause and decide your next steps.

To walk away with a system for yourself to incorporate more JOY as you build in the chaos of it all.

Reserve your Spot Free

Now back to the story...

JOY IS STILL THE KEY.

Not as a distraction.Not to ignore the pain.

But as fuel.Fuel for the resistance.

Fuel for this rebellion against the status quo.

Because we cannot continue as is.

There is a shift happening in the world.

We can’t control what happens out there.

We can only decide how we navigate it.

Not perfectly. But with intention.

I learned this in a real way standing in the Roman ruins of Cordoba, Spain the morning after the 2024 election results came in.

Hours before anyone I knew was awake, it set in.

I wandered and contemplated.

I turned through the old Jewish quarter.

Visited the Mezquita.

Crossed the Roman bridge.

This city had been a hub where Sephardic Jews, Arabs, and Christians had coexisted and built something extraordinary together - flourishing of arts, science, and knowledge.

And then came the rise of extremism, wrapping itself in the language of faith, turning neighbors into enemies to be erased.

As someone who grew up Christian, I see it happening again in the USA, the country I was born in.

And I know on a spiritual level: this is not it.

Fascism wearing a mask of faith is not any faith at all.

No true divinity calls us to turn against one another.

The sun was setting as I crossed that Roman bridge.

A bridge that has held for centuries and what came to me was this…

Life continues.

People are resilient.

And all we can do is come back to here, come back to now,

and decide what we do next. Together.

That’s what I want to give you this week.

In the uncertainty.In the chaos. In the unknown.

We take a moment for ourselves, gather some tools,

and decide how we want to move forward.

I’m hosting a free workshop and it’s hands on.

You’ll leave with actual tools, not just inspiration.

And I promise you’ll feel lighter walking out than you did walking in.

I offer this with so much love, because I know you have extraordinary things you want to build.

For yourself.For your family.For your community.

And I hope this moment creates a ripple effect.

Come as you are.

Bring the overwhelm.

We’ll work through it together.

Reserve your Spot Free

with so much love,

Joy Valerie Carrera

I’m going to be honest with you, my whole brand is built on JOY, and it would feel disingenuous, frankly toxic, to tell you to “stay positive” right now.

The world is chaotic. There’s no denying that.

And if you’re feeling deep pain and sorrow, I want you to hear this: that’s not weakness. That’s empathy. That’s a vast, beautiful capacity to feel what others brush past.

You feel the injustice because you know it’s wrong.

AND you know a better, more just world is possible.

And yet we’re expected to keep going. Keep working.

Keep performing normalcy while being inundated with despair.

Here’s what I want to challenge you on:

**You get to decide how you move through this moment.**

That anger? That grief? That frustration? It doesn’t have to swallow you. It can become fuel.

Joy isn’t the absence of pain, it’s the decision to build something meaningful *in spite of it.* It’s resistance. It’s how you generate the energy to keep showing up for what actually matters to you.

Designing a life that’s full, aligned, and intentional isn’t selfish. It’s how you redistribute your time, energy, and impact toward the causes and people you care about.

So I’m inviting you, come build with me.

Take a moment with me to pause in this free workshop.

✨ BUILD WITH JOY: Joy in the Chaos

Creating Momentum Without Burning Out in Uncertain Times

A free, live 1-hour workshop for high-capacity folks who want clarity, structure, and support without pushing into exhaustion.

This isn’t a vision board party or a surface-level pep talk. It’s a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-friendly, science-backed, soul-led experience rooted in mindfulness and coaching psychology.

We’ll explore:

Why burnout is not a discipline problem

✨ How to create real momentum without overwhelming yourself

✨ A simple framework for clarity and follow-through

✨ Honest conversation about moving forward in uncertain times

✨ Gentle structure that actually works in real life

This is for you if:

You feel stuck or disconnected from your why. You’ve been in survival mode and want to come back to yourself. You’re successful on paper but scattered internally. You’re carrying a lot — and you want structure without pressure.

You’ll walk away with a clear focus for your next season, grounded direction, and renewed momentum that doesn’t require self-abandonment.

Come as you are. Come tired, if you need to. Just come.

👉 Save your seat, it’s free

RSVP for March 3rd

RSVP for March 10th

With so much love,

Joy Valerie Carrera ✨

I’m doing a content challenge to build up Build with Joy this year and get more comfortable creating and sharing consistently.

Today’s challenge was to curate news that pertains to our “niche.”
Well… my niche is JOY and coaching, and I like a lot of things in between that too. Neuroscience. Immigration. Climate change.

So I realized my “theme” would be news that brings us joy, because the reality is…

We know there is horrible sht that happens in the world.
AND as someone who has traveled the world and met so many amazing people, I know for a FACT there are wonderful humans doing really cool sht.

At the end of the day, we are people.

And as a neuroscience nerd and enthusiast, I know our brains need evidence.
Our brains are wired to filter and scan for danger. So if we keep telling our brains, “the world sucks, people are bad, everything is sh*t,” it will look for evidence to confirm that.

I choose to say: Yes, that is true at times AND…
There are people who care when they are informed.
People who decide to activate.

A tiny personal example of turning an IDEA into ACTION

Personal news:

• We had 409K views on our Defund ICE post, thanks to Evie who designed the logo.

• We had 30 amazing mujeres join our live calls, which meant over 60 calls completed in less than 30-minute sessions.

• We had over 1023 reshares.

This all started because I committed to this content challenge and was angry about the news I was seeing and hate towards immigrants. So after a DM with an idea I had to organize some Zoom calls, because I knew I needed that extra human push. I sent the idea to a few friends with large audiences.

One hour of planning with Evie. One hour of mobilizing. One hour of Zoom hosting.

This is just a drop in the bucket of what people did to mobilize, and the work is not over. Keep calling. Keep voting.

Yes, I coach people to improve their lives and build businesses and products that are values-aligned.
AND this is important, because without that inner and external support, we cannot build.

So as you read through these headlines, know this:

It took a seed of an idea, shared with someone, that turned into action.
That seed was nourished. Others came together.
It grew, blossomed, and created impact.

I hope this inspires you to take that idea you’ve been sitting with and start nourishing it. You never know how it could impact your community.

So let’s dive into some news articles that brought me joy as I searched for content for this challenge.

Neuroscience

“Scientists released the first detailed map of the developing brain, helping us better understand how mental disorders arise and opening doors to new interventions. This deep insight into brain cells could spark future treatments for neurodevelopmental conditions.” Source

Climate Change

“Multiple U.S. states like New York, Nevada, Maine, Nebraska, and Illinois passed laws boosting clean energy, modernizing grids, cutting pollution, and making energy more affordable for everyday families.” Source

Immigration (in the U.S. and abroad)

There were over 1,000 planned peaceful events nationwide as part of the ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action, honoring victims of enforcement abuses and pushing for humane alternatives and accountability. This kind of nationwide civic energy really shows people-powered organizing across cities and states. Source

Spain announced a major new policy that will allow over 500,000 undocumented residents who have lived there for at least five months to apply for legal residency and work permits starting this spring. This policy gives hope and dignity to families contributing to Spanish society. Source

A recent Pew Research Center survey showed around 8 in 10 U.S. adults now say immigration is something good for the country, with strong backing for creating pathways to citizenship for longstanding undocumented residents. Source

Here is the thing…

As someone who worked in advertising tech, I can tell you the data: scandal and outrage sell.

As a neuroscience and chemistry nerd, I can tell you it rattles your nervous system and spikes your hormones to get you to react from fear.

As a certified coach, I can tell you that YOU have the power to rewire your brain from this societal conditioning of despair & hopelessness to decide to make a shift.

That exhaustion is the point.
That is what the orange one and his little buddies want. To exhaust you into apathy and thinking there is nothing you can do.

Yet, all of these changes are nothing without people.
Everyday people like you.
People who mobilize.
People who envision a better future and take the first step.

To believe a better world is possible and take a tiny step toward it.

To Build with Joy 😉

PS: I have some exciting workshops and programs building behind the scenes, so stay tuned. If you’re not already, follow along as I build in public on Instagram at @buildwithjoy.co

Let me know if this made you smile and if you’d like more of this - I’ll be experimenting with content this month so with that sending you so much love and so much joy,

Joy Valerie Carrera

If you are subscribed here - I’m going to assume we want the same things. A better future where we are all safe to exist. You may be an immigrant, a child an immigrants, or someone who cares about an immigrant. Or like many of us besides the indigenous people of the US… you are a descendant of immigrants .

And we live in a nation who sold us the American “dream”, yet we are seeing that currently unfold into a nightmare.

TLDR: You have the power to literally call your senators before the next house vote to literally call to DEFUND ICE - what does that mean, literally our representatives vote to give money to these orgs to keep them operating. Urge them NOT TO!

Use 5 Calls here is the link https://5calls.org/issue/dhs-budget-ice-defund/

Scared to make a call? Join our zoom call tonight at 5 PM PST / 8PM PST and tomorrow morning 7AM PST / 10AM EST to be in community and get it done before the vote !

I promise it’s less scary that it seems! I was terrified tbh But we got you! Join us!

Zoom Cafecito Sin Ice Call : https://bit.ly/cafecitosinICE

Need instructions or want to share the to your digital community here is the canva link thanks to Evie of @lamalamujerblog or share the post on your stories + DMs

Canva Graphic to Share

Long version:

A nightmare that unfortunately has been a living reality for indegenous people, black people, and now latinos. The reality is we are seeing a system show how dysfunctional it truly is. It is being exposed.

And sadly many lives have been lost because of this - and many shyed away because it didn’t impact them. until it does.

That is what history has shown us over and over again - when the most marginalized in our society are at risk - we are all at risk. When a nation’s dreams are dependant on the harm and exploitation of those with less privilleged it is not sustainable.

And now - ICE has unalived white people and shaken americans to their core. They were everyday white people who were being good neighters. They served their community. They were the all American ideal examples. And now - there is no hiding of what this administration this organization is capable of.

BUT WE ARE NOT HELPLESS! And a big way to impact using your voice as a concerned constitutent and have these policy makers WORK FOR YOU, actually represent you now that they still can.

AND your tax dollars are funding this. YOUR representatives are voting on your behalf and YOU CAN CALL them and let them know how you feel!

Each call gets counted as a TALLY of how the constituents feel and brought to your senators attention!!! AND you can call once a day!!! (once you start it gets easier! )

It takes 5 minutes I promise! I did it myself and being on the zoom with folks felt invigorating. We anchored in and did a little grounding meditation to remind us

We are not alone.

We literally have resilience in our DNA. We are the decendants of people with big dreams who wanted a better future.

And if you are latino like me - you carry dreams in your bones, you carry resistance, your ancestors have been traveling throughout the world from Africa, Europe, Arab, Jewish, and Indigenous - who are now here in this Nation .

Our history is complex and nuanced but right now its asking you to stand up to release the oppression of and from our lineage to choose justice not just for ourselves, our futures, but for all.

so with that yes - this is personal ASF .

JOY is our birthright, for all.

So make the call. and after that, you keep speaking up. You keep moving forward, one tiny sep at at a time for a better future for all.

with mucho love and joy,

Joy Valerie Carrera

And if this post somehow offended you - i urge you to question why? What part of you feels okay to justify what is happening now. Sit with it . Question it. Why does your freedom and happiness mean the oppression of someone else… genuinely ask yourself why do i believe that needs to be true?

I am fresh from a meditation retreat that my soul desperately needed and OOoMph the insights, the knowing, the tears shed… so much to cover in just one newsletter but one BIG moment I want to share with you all was this epiphany I had as we did a walking meditation

(If you would prefer to listen to this here is the podcast episode & YouTube)

for a TLDR; synopsis I was in Plum Village founded by Thích Nhất Hạnh, zen master buddhist monk, poet, and peace activist. He founded this retreat center to be a place of refuege for Vietnamese refugees after he himself was exiled for calling for peace for Vietnam across the US.

And there he met with people like Martin Luther King JR, this is relevant because I remembered this detail as we did this waking meditation.

Now what is this walking meditation…

We walked, with intention, with presence focusing on each step being in the here and now.

I joined in that morning and after eating out breakfast in silence. As I ate my breakfast being present - I had been contemplating the immense gratitude I felt getting to be there enjoying my toast in the French countryside when I had a thought:

“my people are being held in cages”

thinking of the suffering that my people, Guatemalans, fellow latinos, and immigrants are facing back in the US for just seeking refuge.

I thought of my time serving through americorps at a legal aid firm with undocumented minors, interviewing them hearing their stories.

Reminding me of the conditions they had faced before 18 years old being held in detention centers.

Conditions that were horrid… in 2014

and here we were in 2025 - ten year later building alligator alcatraz. Where in NY there are ICE agents waiting at church parking lots - a place that had served for faith and community for new immigrants . My own family having had to cancel retreats that served much like Thích Nhất Hạnh’s vision as a moment of respite for folks in refuge in the USA, reminding them of a piece of Guatemala yet having to close this summer due to ICE raids targeting our people.

I had tears running down my face feeling the sorrow. Yes, I was also in the drop of luteal phase (lol brain chemistry) but embraced the deep feelings that come of it and release of the big feelings & guilt of being a US citizen that I had been burying deep down, feeling the suffering of my people. And I was livid at everyone that let it happen, white people that were complacent, even myself that had left during the last election…

And the gong rang a call to be in the present moment and start to the next activity- the walking meditation.

I was towards the front of the group.

And we start walking, and I realized yes movement.

Movement is what I need right now to be back in my body to know - that everyone’s suffering is not just mind to hold but it is human to feel so deeply to care especially when you see your roots in every face targeted.

And as we walked in presence, I thought just one step

Just one step…

one step to create movement

and it hit me …

movement

A MOVEMENT starts with one tiny step, followed by the next , often done in silence but adding up over time.

and I remembered the connection to MLK, and I wondered who had inspired who…

I remebered being young memorizing the “I Have a Dream Speech” of MLK.

learning about the non violent peaceful marches during the civil rights movements.

and I heard something inside me say,

“keep dreaming. take that small step. now is the time. shine and be a beacon in the darkness”

at this point tears are streaming down my face and I start thinking “like wtf can I even do - I’ve tried, I worked in nonprofit, I volunteered in politics, I had donated money, I had spoken up in conversations - I tried so hard in my 20s to be involved in change - and look where we are now! And MLK isn’t even around he became a target !”

and all of a sudden the person walking next to me taps my shoulder and smiles then extends his hand towards mine. In full silence.

I held his hand and broke down even more, feeling my body shake and release…

realizing in that moment,

“this suffering this pain is not my burden to hold, it is meant to be shared, to be seen. It is meant to be carried through together with others hand in hand”.

and I felt lighter holding this strangers hand, this stranger I never saw again who was just there when I needed some more support and extend his hand.

then we all reached the top of the hill

and I looked back and there were hundreds of people still walking behind us. Over 800 people. 800 people. which were walking in silence, with intention, in mindfulness

how thousands of people can come together

and I thought of even the online community I’ve curated over the years. On this newsletter there are over 2000 people are here, about 1000 of you open this newsletter and it’s hard to see what that actually looks like …

but in that moment I saw it , and was like wow…

so here I am planting a seed to take that first step.

That day all those tiny intentional steps done in silence, in mindfulness added up to 3 miles (~6.6 km)

and this newsletter that I hope stirred up something in you and inspired you.

When we finished that day for some reason, I connected with mainly white Americans - and I felt myself on the defense but I just listened queiting the judgement I had and just being present and I shared unapologetically what the walking meditation had stirred up in me - scared to hear their views.

Yet one by one- each told me a deep and personal story how immigration policy had affected people they loved and their own community.

One who could see the fear in his cousin’s eyes who is half Mexican in Wisconsin and scared of what it could mean. Another who’s partner had been deported back to Colombia and I could see the pain in his eyes for a love taken away.

And the reality is - one community’s pain will impact all of us eventually.

And It reminded me we need allies, we need people willing to speak up and be a safe space for others especially when it becomes too painful for us to bear alone.

and it brings me to this final thought …

one of the monastics did a talk and said - the seeds you plant you might never see the long term impact but it is worth planting.

And I see how Martin Luther King Jr’s & Thích Nhất Hạnh’s impact has gone further than they have ever known.

How it even led to me being there in that moment and now writing this hopefully giving you some inspiration in a time that feels so dark .

that even this moment of you reading can serve as a light- a beacon in the darkness calling you back to your own dreams and intentions for a better future, to create more joy in your corner of the world and around you.

and reminded me of why I even wanted to have this workshop I had thought of a couple weeks ago

to DARE TO DREAM

and hold space for those dream seeds to take the steps forward because it could have a way bigger impact than you can even imagine, even if it seems so small.

I hope this gave you some words of inspiration and

If you want to dream in community and have a space to hold your fears, release, and expand join the workshop, if you cannot make it it will be recorded and workbook will be sent to you within 24 hours but I highly encourage to join live if you can!

See you there

RSVP here

and please feel free to reply to this email or DM me on instagram with your insights .

Until next week,

Joy Valerie Carrera

We’re back on a roll, and this week’s pondering is simple but hopefully get you thinking bigger:

What if you’re not behind, but exactly where you need to be?

I know—sounds optimistic, right? But let’s be real: the feeling of “being behind” is universal. That creeping sense that *everyone else* is hitting life milestones while you're… floating, floundering, or forging your own weird, beautiful, unconventional path.

But here’s the truth: you are creating your own path

And that takes time, intention, and so much courage.

🌱 Your Timeline Isn’t Broken

Maybe you’re the one breaking generational cycles, redefining what stability means, or choosing healing over hustle.

Maybe you’ve chosen a career over kids for now or forever.

Maybe you’ve gone full nomad (hi, let’s be friends) instead of planting roots in a house with a picket fence.

Or maybe you have followed the expected timeline… but it doesn’t feel aligned.

That’s valid, too.

The point is: different doesn’t mean wrong.

🧠 Shifting Out of “WTF Am I Doing?

This episode is for anyone who’s felt the existential

“What the fuck am I doing?” moment.

If you've been spiraling in comparison watching people get engaged, buy homes, build families or six-figure careers while you're just trying to figure out what to eat for dinner… this is for you.

We’re moving from:

Woe is me ➡️ Bold Next Steps Forward

We’re talking:

- Perspective shifts that actually help

- How to embrace your timeline not the one Instagram and society feeds you

- Stepping into that ✨delulu energy✨ but grounded with purpose

- Asking yourself: What do I truly want vs. what I’ve been taught to want?

So tune in on youtube and anywhere you listen to podcasts!

---

PS: If you’re ready to try and want someone on your team—a certified coach to help you break things down, move through uncomfortable feelings, get aligned with your brain and body, and build a life that feels joyful and impactful for you and those around you—

Here are three ways I can support you.

1. Dare to Dream Workshop!

Join me for Build with Joy: Dare to Dream Again, a 60-minute guided visualization workshop to help you dream with intention and align with your next chapter. It’s $25 to join — save your spot here.

2. One-on-One Coaching

I have four coaching spots open for this fall. We’ll work together to navigate your blocks, add new tools to your toolbox, and break down your big goals. Whether you’re looking for clarity, going through a career transition, or finally launching that dream project, I’m here to partner with you. Book a No Strings Attached Call

3. Group Coaching – 3rd Cohort Launching in September

Looking for community and support? This six-month group coaching program is designed to help you stay accountable to a project you bring in. We’ll have coaching sessions, Q&A, monthly challenges, and a space to evolve together. If you’re curious, learn more about it here!

Until Next Week,

Joy Valerie Carrera

Remember when we were kids and dreamed of all the things we could be?

How that motivated us to try, to aim big, somewhere along the line we stopped dreaming. We went to offices and became complacent.

That part of us got quiet, and we stopped believing in our own capacity to make things happen.

I was reminded of this when I called up my bestie crying being like

“WTF AM I DOING? WHO DO I THINK I AM? WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH AMBITION AND TAKE THE MOST RISKS?”

and she laughed, and said “well in your defense cause it kind of does always work out for you, you make it happen… “

And I realized that part of me that dreams big, that is bold, that is the part of me that refused to conform and be a “adult” in the sense of what society expects.

And yes, it means I take big risks BUT it also means… it’s pushed me beyond my wildest dreams, it’s led to experiences that I cannot even begin to explain..

and even when it hasn’t happened YET, I know it will so here is my reflection for you…

Can we return to that childlike curiosity —
but with the wisdom we now carry?

Yes, life is hard.

Yes, life is not always fair and horrible things happen to good people.

Yes, it can feel hard in these times to dream

But maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly why the world needs more people like YOU to dream again.

and now we have our older wiser self to let that part of us know

it’s safe to dream again.

✨ An Invitation: Build with Joy – Dare to Dream Again

I created this workshop because I know how easy it is to lose sight of our desires in the noise of everyday life.
We’ve been surviving. Managing. Holding it all down.
But I want to help us remember: you’re still allowed to want.
To dream. To create a life that feels like you.

That’s why I’m inviting you to join me for a 60-minute guided visualization workshop — a space to reconnect with your inner wisdom, realign with your vision, and begin creating with intention.

What to expect:

🌀 A grounding meditation to come back to yourself
🔮 A guided visualization to meet your future self
📓 Journaling prompts to clarify your next season
🧭 Mindful integration to take aligned action
🌈 And of course… to Build with Joy

💸 Your Investment $25

🗓️ August 18th & 26th
📍Live 60 minute Interactive Workshop on Zoom (Replay Included)

🎁 Bonus: Downloadable Workbook!

👉🏽 RSVP HERE

If you’ve been craving clarity, softness, or simply a reminder that you’re allowed to want more — this is for you.

Let’s take one small step toward the life that’s calling you.

You don’t have to figure it all out right now.
You just have to show up.

Join the workshop

With love and joy,
Joy Valerie Carrera

Before anything else—thank you!!!!!

In just one week since relaunching the podcast, over 200 of you have tuned in and more than 1,000 of you have read this little newsletter. That means the world to me more than you can imagine!

In a world overflowing with content and distractions, your attention is one of the most generous things you can give. So thank you for listening, for reading, for joining me on this little corner of the internet.

I think about every single click, every listen, every moment we connect however brief and hope you get a moment of joy from that and I feel so deeply grateful.

Now, I want to expand on a key thought from last week’s episode...

🌟 WHAT ELSE IS POSSIBLE?

We so often stop ourselves before we even get to start.

We spiral through the worst-case scenarios:

What if it doesn’t work out? What will people think? What if I fail?

But the real truth is…

We don’t actually know how the future will unfold…

And that’s not a threat—that’s a portal to possibilities

It starts with one simple question:

What else is possible?

Because why not think of a better case scenario and stay open to possibilities

In this episode, we explore how to shift:

- From chaos ➡️ to neutral ➡️ empowering outcomes

- From survival ➡️ to possibility

- From fear ➡️ to *empowered curiosity*

When we’re young, the world feels open. Limitless. Full of “why nots.” But as we grow up, life happens. Disappointment, trauma, rejection… and little by little, we stop dreaming.

But here's the invitation:

Can we return to that childlike curiosity with the wisdom we now carry?

Yes, life is hard. Yes, la lucha está dura.”

But maybe, just maybe, it’s safe to dream again.

✨ An Invitation: Build with Joy

I want to help us dream again.

That’s why I’m so excited to announce (first to you, my community) that I’ll be hosting a FREE guided visualization workshop soon. It’ll be centered around helping you:

• Reconnect to your vision

• Connect to your curiousty and wonder

• Create with intention

• and of course Build with joy

We’ll tap back into that spark and give ourselves permission to imagine a life we actually want to live.

Because the world needs more people like you—dreaming big and planting pockets of joy in their communities.

Join the Workshop Here

Start today by listening to the episode 🎧 and signing up for the FREE WORKSHOP!

Let’s remind ourselves:

Everything starts with just a tiny action.

Why not let it be one toward the life that’s waiting for you?

Con amor,

Joy Valerie Carrera

PS: If you’re ready to try and want someone on your team—a certified coach to help you break things down, move through uncomfortable feelings, get aligned with your brain and body, and build a life that feels joyful and impactful for you and those around you—

Here are two ways I can support you.

1. One-on-One Coaching

I have four coaching spots open for this fall. We’ll work together to navigate your blocks, add new tools to your toolbox, and break down your big goals. Whether you’re looking for clarity, going through a career transition, or finally launching that dream project, I’m here to partner with you. Book a No Strings Attached Call

2. Group Coaching – 3rd Cohort Launching in September

Looking for community and support? This six-month group coaching program is designed to help you stay accountable to a project you bring in. We’ll have coaching sessions, Q&A, monthly challenges, and a space to evolve together. If you’re curious, learn more about it here!

I’m writing to you from Paris, France, a city oozing with inspiration. I’m fully in my artist era, sitting in this space where I’m reassessing my next move. I feel caught between who I’ve been and the dreams that lie ahead.

It feels like I’m in a season of expansion and possibility. With that has come so much overwhelm, so many what-ifs, and waves of panic asking what the actual f*ck am I doing. Yet I feel it. I don’t understand it, but I feel it in my being that something is about to shift for the better. It’s right at the edge of my grasp.

As I write this and look out onto the terrace and the beautiful architecture, I finally understand why writers have always been inspired here. And here’s the thing.

They tried.

And when I look back on my own life, I realize I had been focusing on everything I had failed at. I was deep in my “woe is me” era. But now I see I get to shape my own narrative. I get to decide how we move forward.

What is it I want next. And can I be compassionate to the part of me that is still scared and uncertain.

When I was a kid, I promised myself I would never wonder "what if" because I didn’t try. I didn’t want to be a cliché on my deathbed telling everyone about the things I wish I had done but didn’t. I didn’t want to be the adult who looked back with nostalgia thinking if only I had tried.

And if I’m being honest, the areas where I hadn’t truly tried by the time I turned 30 were relationships and my business.

In relationships, yes I did try. And things didn’t work out. But I’m proud of myself for showing up. I now know I have the capacity to love and be loved. And I’m okay letting fate take it from there.

With my business, I have tried. I’ve been working behind the scenes. But if I’m being completely honest, I haven’t been as vocal as I could be. I hadn’t fully stepped into my creative side. I hadn’t gone all in on my podcast.

I kept dipping back and forth. I even published an episode in 2023 called “What to Expect” and then never published again. (Qué vergüenza.)

So I made a promise.

I was going to try. Really try.

I asked myself the question I ask all my coaching clients. The one they probably hear in their heads at this point.

What’s the first step.

And I realized I just needed to commit to creating four short episodes and see where that takes me. I decided to let go of perfectionism and just get it done.

When I opened the app, I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.

Over 50,000 all-time downloads.

And in the last 30 days alone, 429 people had listened.

This little podcast I launched almost eight years ago.

That I had neglected.

That I hadn’t touched in two years.

Still had listeners.

And that happened without me even trying.

So what if I actually did try. What if I fully bet on myself.

In this first episode back, I go deeper into all of it.

I share real coaching tools and practices that help you navigate your thoughts so you can finally take action.

I walk through how to handle worst-case scenarios.

And how to meet yourself with compassion as you take that first, messy step.

Plus, of course, a little life chisme.

So if you want to listen and let me know what you think,

Here it is. I’m back. And this is the first episode it’s scrappy AF but it’s out there and ready to keep improving . baby steps and living my philosophy.

---

PS: If you’re ready to try and want someone on your team—a certified coach to help you break things down, move through uncomfortable feelings, get aligned with your brain and body, and build a life that feels joyful and impactful for you and those around you—

Here are two ways I can support you.

1. One-on-One Coaching

I have four coaching spots open for this fall. We’ll work together to navigate your blocks, add new tools to your toolbox, and break down your big goals. Whether you’re looking for clarity, going through a career transition, or finally launching that dream project, I’m here to partner with you.

Book a 30 min Coaching Call

2. Group Coaching – 3rd Cohort Launching in September

Looking for community and support? This six-month group coaching program is designed to help you stay accountable to a project you bring in. We’ll have coaching sessions, Q&A, monthly challenges, and a space to evolve together. If you’re curious, check it out.

Group Coaching Program

Want to chat? Book a no-pressure one-on-one coaching clarity call with me and let’s build with joy.

Book a 30 min Coaching Call

Until Next Epsiode,

Joy Valerie Carrera

and send me all your Paris reccs outside of the typical tourist destinations. Mil gracias

We’re halfway through January 2025, five days past “Quitter’s Day”—the day most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions.

But for me, two years ago, January 15th wasn’t about giving up. It was the day I made a resolution, an intention that profoundly changed my life:

I decided I was done with alcohol. So - I Quit Alcohol.

Letting Go of the Pressure of January 1st

Every year, we put so much pressure on January 1st to be the day we transform everything. “New year, new me” that energy is everywhere, urging us to set goals and make changes.

But here’s the thing:

• January 1st is just a day.

• Many cultures mark their “new year” differently—it’s all about perspective.

• You can choose your reset day whenever it feels right for you.

For me, this rhythm works best:

• December: Reflect, purge what no longer serves me, and clear out the old.

• Early January: Transition, ponder what I want my life to look like, and plan my first steps.

• Mid-January: Begin when I feel ready to make a life change.

That’s how January 15th, 2023, became my reset day.

The Morning Everything Changed

That morning, I woke up:

• Hungover, rushing to hug the toilet.

• Regretting knowingly having drinks and foods that triggered my histamine intolerance. which meant I was breaking out in hives

• Feeling awful—and realizing I was done.

But that decision wasn’t sudden. It had been building for years:

year

• During the pandemic, I moved back into my mother’s dry household. Without alcohol (or my other vice, men), I replaced those distractions with obsessive work.

• A live talk with my friend Jessica, who shared her sobriety journey, planted a seed. Her story sounded so familiar and made me question my own relationship with alcohol. (PS: Her memoir, "First in the Family," launched in fall 2024—find it here.)

• When the world reopened, I returned to alcohol as my “liquid courage.” It gave me:

  • Funny stories, like pretending to be a duck in a Beverly Hills fountain or skinny-dipping under a full moon in Mexico.

  • But also, mornings of regret, realizing how lucky I was to still be here. How easily that story could have not been funny

In 2022, while living in Mexico, I decided to experiment. I asked myself:

• What would drunk me do?

• Then, I did those things sober—dancing, letting go of inhibitions, and rediscovering the version of me who didn’t need alcohol to feel alive.

• Finding that college version of me, that early college version of me.

  I used to go to parties completely sober. And people would ask me “what I was on”. And I would respond, “life”.

Two Years Later

Year 1: Detox

• Letting go of the reasons I thought I needed alcohol.

• Embracing the parts of myself I had suppressed.

• Prioritizing my health and mental well-being.

• Adopting new habits like mindfulness, nutrition, and exercise.

Year 2: Exploration
This past year has been about possibilities:

• Completing my advanced-level ICF life coaching training.

• Spending a month with my mom in Guatemala and three months in Spain.

• Creating core memories through tiny adventures with people I love.

• Advocating for my health and addressing the root causes of my pain.

• Launching the Build with Joy Group Coaching Program, guiding five women to clarify their goals and infuse more joy into their lives.

• Exploring intentional dating, my sexuality, and the types of relationships I want.

Year 3: Connection

My 33rd year on this earth This year, my word is connection:

• Connecting with myself, others, and my dreams.

• Challenging old patterns while building healthier ones.

• Allowing myself to fully embrace joy and build transformative relationships.

What Worked for Me

I didn’t just stop drinking; I worked on my relationship with alcohol.

Here’s what helped me:

1. Getting real about the WHY.

   • Why was I drinking? What was I trying to numb or avoid? And be compassionate with the answer.

2. Taking tiny steps.

   • Learning to pause, breathe through discomfort, and ask myself:

     • What support do I need right now?

3. Trusting myself.

   • Believing I could make better choices and not caring what others thought.

4. Being kind to myself.

   • When I slipped up or felt uncomfortable, I reminded myself: You’re trying. Just keep going.

These same steps have helped me tackle other destructive habits, from negative self-talk to messy rooms to unhealthy relationships.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about progress.

a

Your Journey Can Start Today

Why am I sharing this? To remind you:

• Change doesn’t have to start on January 1st.

• Your transformation can begin on any day you choose.

• Every “overnight” decision is often years in the making.

Sometimes, you try and stop. That’s okay—it’s part of the process. What matters is deciding to keep going, day by day.

Reflection for You

I’d love to hear from you:

• What resonated with you in this newsletter?

• What version of yourself are you ready to let go of?

• What version of you are you excited to call in?

Here’s How I Can Support You

✨ Group Coaching: The next phase of the Build with Joy Group Coaching Program is opening in March , and I’m ready to welcome new members.
✨ 1-on-1 Coaching: I’m taking only two new clients each month in 2025 for personalized, intentional support.

💌 Let’s start your journey together:
Book a free, no-strings-attached 30-minute exploratory call today.

Book your call here!

As always with love and intention,

Joy Valerie

Until Next time Let’s Connect on Instagram

So… I’ve got some exciting news as we enter Libra Season, aka MY SEASON (yes, your girl is a Libra)! 🎉 And to celebrate, I’m offering one-off life coaching sessions for just $150 as I finish up my International Coaching Federation accreditation. These sessions are LIMITED, so grab your spot before they’re gone!

Here’s the truth I believe:

I don’t think coaching is something you need to achieve your dreams.

But… do believe a knowledgable coach can make the journey SO much smoother.

Imagine having someone by your side helping you navigate your brain, giving you tools to thrive, and holding space for you to dream bigger.

If any of this resonates with you:

• You’ve got that BIG, almost scary goal on your heart but feel stuck…

• You’re in a transition phase of life, feeling the shift, knowing you’re ready to live differently and pave your own path…

I’m here to help you gain clarity, find your joy, and take actionable steps toward your goals— all while keeping things beautifully balanced in true Libra fashion. 😉

Now, I say this because I GET IT- I know what it’s like to just wait for the “perfect” moment to start but sometimes, you have to take the first step.

Sure sometimes opportunity shows up - but if we’re so scared we might not even notice when it comes….

That’s why it’s about CREATING the opportunity, taking action that is aligned with your dreams to actually make it happen, will it be scary - f*ck yes.

BUT I promise you, it’s scarier to sit on that dream and watch it pass by..year after year knowing you could if only you just tried

And I’ll be honest (moment of vulnerability)…

Am I terrified sending this email, scared everyone is going to judge me and be like wtf is she just promoting herself and services - who tf does she think she is… ABSOLUTLY. It’s TERRIFYING putting yourself out there.

But do I know, it’s worth the risk if even one person responds . Do i know it’s worth it to see that I am getting to make a living helping others reach their potential AND actually seeing them build amazing lives that impact those around them and their community

That I am living that and creating that opportunity to have a ripple effect….

YES. So …

Do you resonate with this? Then let’s do this!

🌟 How to Book: Reply back to this email me with the word "READY," and I will send you my private booking link, let’s make magic happen together!

P.S. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to start living your dream life… let’s begin creating that life you dream of NOW!

Sending you all the love and balance this season,

Joy Valerie Carrera

PPS: Let’s Connect on Instagram and TikTok

One of my dreams has come true, though it didn’t unfold exactly as I imagined. I’ve been drafting this post for a while, but part of me didn’t want to share until it felt real. So here we go...

Storytime: How I ended up Spain.

I’m writing this from a cozy little attic apartment with an incredible view of landscapes designed centuries ago in southern Spain, where I’ll be spending the next few months.

As of today, September 13th, I’m exactly one month away from turning 33, and life isn’t what I expected—but somehow, it’s even better.

That’s what I want to share with you today: how to pursue your dreams while staying open to change, and how what you end up with might be even better than what you’d imagined.

This story starts back in 2013 when I graduated from RIT. Instead of the chemical engineering degree I initially pursued, I graduated with a degree in International Studies focused on Latin America, Migration, and Genocide/Post-War Conflict. After spending a summer in the Balkans, I yearned to return to Europe. I applied to be an au pair in Spain, did a few interviews, but quickly got talked out of it—this "wild dream." Instead, I took a job in New York City working in microfinance through AmeriCorps. It was still a big risk and aligned with my goals, but it wasn’t the big dream.

Life took so many twists and turns, leading me to backpack through 26 countries, change careers multiple times, and experience many romances and heartbreaks. But I grew, and now I work for myself. Being a digital nomad is no longer some far-off "maybe"; it’s my actual life.

In the fall of 2023, I found myself at a crossroads. I was dating someone who had many of the qualities I wanted, but they didn’t want a nomadic life- something I yearned for. They wanted children—something very different from my own hopes. I tried to make the best of living in rural New York with my family, growing closer to them and nurturing childhood friendships. Yet, I still felt uneasy, like I was forcing myself into a mold that wasn’t mine.

That got me thinking about flamingos, and I realized they migrate. They set off, soar, and find their way back home. I’ve often felt like the odd one out. I’ve wished for a suburban life with a husband, kids, and soccer practice, but whenever I think of it, part of me feels like it’s dying—the part that yearns for walks along centuries-old cobblestones, immersion in rich cultures, and seeing sunrises from different viewpoints all over the world.

One day, sitting on my Tía’s terraza in Guatemala, I realized I had to let go of the relationship I thought I wanted and choose the life I once told myself was out of reach. I craved waking up next to someone who wanted to travel and create memories with me. I realized this meant ending a sweet romance.

It hurt. It felt like yet another relationship had ended because I couldn’t stay put. It seemed like I had only two choices: the suburban housewife or the free-spirited traveler.

But in that moment, I looked at how far I had come. Two years earlier, I hadn’t even gone on a date because I was focused on my goals—seeing the world, building my career, and convinced that all men were terrible. Now, I realized that wasn’t true. I had healed and worked through so many wounds. It wasn’t that I was doomed at relationships but rather it just wasn’t aligned.

I realized I could design the life I wanted, and that someday, someone who wants the same life might cross my path. Even bigger, I realized a relationship wasn’t the ultimate marker of success but rather someone to share life with.

Being honest with myself was hard. I sat with my feelings, envisioning what I wanted. I remembered that rooftop moment, and how I wanted more moments like that, all over the world.

Then I recalled my long-held dream of going to Spain. I had put it on my vision board and shared it with my best friend, saying that one of my goals for 2025 was to acquire a nomad visa and live abroad.

A few weeks later, my friend, whose lease was up, said, "What if we go to Spain for a few months and see how we like it?"

My heart lit up. I hadn’t even thought of that. It made the dream feel real and accessible—no longer this "perfect," unattainable goal. But that realization terrified me. What if Spain wasn’t as romantic as I’d imagined? What if I messed up?

But if I didn’t try, it would remain just a shiny dream—something I could admire from afar. What if I started turning that admiration into inspiration and took the first steps?

So, I agreed. My most level-headed, organized friend—a suburban mom of a toddler—was saying, “Let’s go.” Why not?

As each month passed in 2024, I started appreciating the small joys of rural life—the sunsets, the long walks, the deeper connections with my family. Knowing that my life would change in September made those moments even more meaningful. I could come back, but it would be a different version of me. The flamingo, finally embracing its nature.

And now, here we are.

A year later from that rooftop in Guatemala, and here I am on another terraza, our own, in Spain. I’ve realized that I got exactly what my soul desired, even though it didn’t look like I thought it would. Instead of creating memories with a romantic partner but rather a soul mate.

I believe soulmates aren’t just for romance but in friends - a mate that our souls get to share this life time with. And I’m sharing these moments with my best friend & of 13 years, and I get to be a part of her daughter’s life too. I never imagined this would be my life a year ago, but I’m incredibly grateful it didn’t turn out the way I planned—this is better.

Here’s a little formula for taking those first steps toward your dreams:

1. Be honest with yourself: What do you truly want? Sit with it. Let yourself feel it. It might be uncomfortable, but let that deep desire bubble up. Speak it into existence if you can.

2. Share it: I told my best friend about my dream, and it felt so unreal and silly at first, but I shared it anyway.

3. Try it on: What’s the first step toward that dream? What’s a manageable path you can take?

4. Be open to change: The dream might evolve. Some parts might turn out to be inherited from others, and you may explore a different direction. It might even end up being better than what you imagined.

And that’s how I ended up in the south of Spain.

While I’m here and have your attention, I’ve completed my ICF Coach training courses and I’ll still be working U.S. hours and coaching clients. In fact, I’ve just launched a group coaching program focused on achieving goals in community.

I have capacity for 4 more clients in 2024 and 2 more for the group program. I would love to chat if you’re curious.

So if you’re feeling stuck in life, career, business and know you are that flamingo ready to soar and reach your dreams - let’s jump on a discovery call and see how we can work together.

Let's Explore Together! 📞

Hasta la proxima,

Joy Valerie Carrera

PS: Follow along on my Adventure on Instagram

PPS: Nikki told me to tell you to stay tuned to our travel vloggy insta documenting our adventures of 2 best friends and a baby (featuring dog) (TwoFriendsAndABaby)

I have a big, scary dream to share with you all, but I'm going to hold off until it becomes real in a couple of weeks—because honestly, I can’t even believe it’s happening! 🤯

First, I want to share a lesson I've learned that led me to finally jump in and chase this dream. (And let’s be real, I need to remind myself of this constantly!)

Life often presents us with opportunities to follow our dreams...

But those dreams don’t always come wrapped in a perfect, beautiful bow that grants us eternal happiness. Instead, they come with challenges, unexpected twists, and a lot of uncertainty.

But here's the thing: That’s the beauty of it.

Living your dreams isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment or everything to align just right. It’s about embracing the journey, however chaotic, and finding joy in the process.

(Yes, I know—that’s ROUGH to accept, especially if you’re like me and want everything to be PERFECT. 😅)

It's easy to think that joy and fulfillment only come after we've accomplished everything on our list.

But... what if joy was part of the journey, not just the destination?

What if you allowed yourself to experience pleasure and happiness right now, even as you pursue your goals?

If you're reading this, you probably have big dreams and aspirations. You’re not someone who shies away from challenges—but even the most driven individuals need to pause, reflect, and infuse their lives with joy.

Joy is the antidote to burnout. It’s the spark that keeps you motivated. 🔥

As a life coach, I’ve seen how crucial it is to find that balance...

Between pursuing goals and enjoying the present moment.

Whether you're on the path to a major life change or simply trying to navigate everyday chaos, having someone to walk alongside you—offering tools, encouragement, and accountability—can make all the difference.

And now, here’s something that might be tough to hear…

Your dreams won’t be perfect. 😬

Your dream might end up being something completely different than what you imagined. And guess what? Life will keep "lifing."

After you reach that milestone, after you finally do the thing—life continues. If you've been measuring your happiness solely by reaching your goals, you might feel disappointed. 😔

What will truly help you in the long term is finding joy in the tiny moments, in the process, and in learning more about yourself.

In the coming editions of this newsletter, I want to share more about my personal journey in love, life, and adventures—including letting go of the idea of "perfect."

So, get ready for some chisme… 😏✨

What’s Bringing me Joy :

Books:

The Perfectionists Art of Letting Go find it on BookShop| Audible | Amazon

The Alchemist find it on BookShop| Audible | Amazon

Song on Repeat :

El Velo Se Cayo (just listen to the lyrics, chills) Youtube | Apple

Tiny moments:

Kitchen Sink Cookies from Panera ifkyk & Selfies with Bella the Alpacas (PS: she’s crucial to the upcoming chisme)

Some links may be affiliate links, which means I get a commission for suggesting it to keep this content free for you. I only recommend things I love and know will benefit you.

Let’s Build with Joy Together

If you're ready to take that step and build a life filled with both achievement and joy, let's connect. I have a few spots left for one-on-one coaching and an 7 spots left for my upcoming group coaching program launching September.

Nosy? Click here for more

PS: I also want to let you know that as your fav latina ADHD coach and with Latinx Hertitage Month and ADHD Awareness month coming up I am available to virutal workshops for your organization or business!

Your dreams are waiting, and I'm here to help you make them a reality—messy, beautiful, and entirely your own.

Want to chat more book a no strings call here !

Let's Chat

Last week, I was helping my friend move into her new apartment complex. The apartment had a beautiful public terrace, so every morning I took advantage of the sunshine and ate my breakfast outside. It reminded me of the six months I lived in Mexico, crossing one thing off my bucket list - living abroad.

but first this newsletter is sponsored by …

yes, I am sponsoring my own newsletter cause ya girl’s a business owner onwards to the story

In my home in New York, we have a beautiful deck that overlooks a pond and the woods. Years ago, I used to look at it thinking, "One day, I’m going to enjoy it." When I started planning my trip to Mexico, I realized—why am I waiting for “one day” to enjoy it when that day could be today? Why did I start doing that well..

I began applying that philosophy to my life—enjoying the rooftops. What I’ve noticed is… I’m usually one of the few people enjoying the rooftops. Most of the time, these gorgeous spaces go unused, even though they're featured in marketing to attract and validate higher rent prices. Yet, we wait for the “perfect time,” for when we think we deserve it.

But here’s the thing… it will be there when you’re ready to enjoy it. But who’s to say that day will come? One day you might be moving out and realize—you never used the rooftop. OR… you can enjoy what you have worked hard for NOW. You can enjoy the beautiful sunset that’s going to happen whether or not you want to enjoy it. You can choose to bask in the awe of existing. Today, I can choose a tiny moment of joy.

Living a slow nomad life, I’ve realized that what I crave and look forward to isn’t necessarily exploring new big things and places. It’s those slow moments, the moments of peace—seeing the sun from new angles around the world. Enjoying it in comfortable, cozy places with people who fill my soul with joy.

This story shows how often we think of joy as a reward, only allowing ourselves pleasure as a sign of accomplishment. While that is great sometimes, we need joy and pleasure in our daily lives to remind us that life is beautiful, even amidst chaos.

Let’s be real—if you’re subscribed here, you are probably someone with big dreams and big goals. You aren’t someone who is going to stop pursuing your goals. More likely, you’re probably burnt out or on the road to burning out. The antidote is JOY. It’s play, it’s pleasure, it’s the dopamine rush that replenishes and motivates us.

What I’ve learned as a coach over the past three years working one-on-one with folks is that even the most driven, determined, successful person needs joy in their lives. Sometimes we literally need to pause, see how far we’ve come, and be inspired to keep going.

I invite you to create a tiny list of just three day to day small things that bring you joy. Write this down on a piece of paper somewhere you can see. Why? To remind yourself to take note of these in the day to day, to observe them, to appreciate those moments and start flexing that joy muscle. I’m excited to hear how it goes.

For me, what keeps me going are sunsets, watching people reunite at airports, and seeing people reach their goals over time—seeing them build a life by design. As scared and cringe as I feel saying “I’m a life coach,” I realize that right now, this is my calling and I’m privileged to coach wonderful people.

So, I want to share my Summer Coaching Specials with you!

I’m excited to help you on the next part of your journey.

Summer Coaching Specials:

1. One-on-One Coaching: I have 5 more spots left to work with clients to help you reach your goals and literally BUILD with JOY. Let’s design a life that makes sense for YOU. If you’re interested, let’s get on a call to see if we’re a fit.

2. Beta Group Coaching Program: Launching in September, this bi-weekly group coaching program will help us set our goals and stay accountable over six months. As this is the beta cohort, the first 5 people will receive a discounted price of $333 for the total program.

   

See the Specials Here

Hope to see your beautiful faces soon!

Gracias,

Joy Valerie Carrera

Sustainable Productivity & Life Coach

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Podcast

 Welcome to Take 2 of Tiny Adventures!  You should have gotten a calendar invite to join ! 

First off I want to thank the folks who showed up and for understanding about my power and internet outage. Life be lifing sometimes…

And Yes, I am one of those folks that was like, "Let me just live in a cabin in the woods." The upside: it’s beautiful. The downside: climate change has made the storms stronger, and power/internet gets knocked out.

I get so nervous before public speaking and was hyping myself up quieting the little anxious voices in my head… but this time my anxiety was not lying when imagining the worst case scenarios when presenting and honestly i couldn't help laughing when the internet went out and I couldn’t get back on no matter what I tried…

So shoutout to my wonderful friends and fellow coaches, Eliana and Chris, who jumped in and kept the tiny adventures spirit alive! I love that you all connected with each other. 

My aim is always to create spaces to connect folks. And showing anxiety in my brain - yea and happened and we are completely okay- we can try again, onwards to adventure!!!!

So now, thank you for patiently waiting as I embark back to my nomad life. The LGA airport has WiFi, so I'm shooting out this email for TAKE TWO...

Reflecting at the airport as I usually do I realized what I've learned on my big adventures traveling and backpacking through 27 countries so far is that adventure comes with some unplanned chaos, but you get to decide how you will walk through it. Sure, it sucks sometimes, and there will be life things we cannot control, but we can control what we make of it and try our best to be intentional in creating moments of joy. In the process, we train our brain for those moments.

That's what I hope you walk away from this workshop with—a toolkit that helps us create intentional tiny moments, even when the world is poopy and everything is going wrong, to remind our brains that life is worth living.

As my mami always says, "Son partes de las aventuras" (translation: it's part of the adventure).

So I hope to see you all for Take Two of Tiny Adventures next Monday July 22nd at 5:30 PM EST (a replay will be sent if you can't make it). 

Feel free to RSVP if you didn’t already and invite a friend to join you that we have until monday I've added some more spots !

RSVP for Take Two Here

Hope to see your beautiful faces then! 

Gracias, 

Joy Valerie Carrera 

Intentional Productivity & Life Coach 

Social Impact Digital Business + Operations Consultant

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter  | Tik Tok  | Podcast 

I hope you’re doing well. If you’re anything like me , you're probably realizing OMG F*CK!! we’re half way through 2024.

I bet you are no stranger to the pressures and demands of your ‘sponsibilities (yes said in Angelica from the Rugrats voice) and on top of that you most likely have some big goals you want to achieve.

And yes, the daily grind, endless responsibilities, and constant pursuit of success can sometimes make this whole “adulting” thing feel monotonous and overwhelming.

But what if you could break free from this cycle and reignite the spark of joy and adventure in your daily life?

That’s where I come in and say…

Welcome to the Tiny Adventures Workshop

In this workshop, we'll aim to reach our goals with a twist—by prioritizing joy and fun! Imagine a life where your responsibilities are balanced with small moments of adventure and play, where the mundane becomes exciting, and where you rediscover the thrill of living each day to its fullest.

RSVP Here!

Why Joy and Play Matter

Almost a decade ago, I found myself in a similar position. I was deeply embedded in a startup tech job that didn’t align with my values but offered financial stability. Inside, I felt myself fading away. It wasn’t until I started designing a life filled with small, intentional adventures that I truly began to thrive.

As someone who values high performance, you understand the importance of innovation and creativity. Play is essential for this. It’s not just for children; it’s a critical component for adults to continue building, innovating, and achieving. The dopamine rush from playful activities can help you stay motivated and make your dreams a reality.

Join the Tiny Adventures Workshop

In this fun and interactive workshop, we’ll plan the next half of 2024 together. We’ll integrate your responsibilities with small adventures to look forward to throughout the year. This approach will help you live more intentionally, productively, and joyfully.

OKAY! I'm IN!

Embrace a Life of Joy and Adventure

If you’re feeling stuck, trapped, or simply bored with the routine, this is your invitation to transform your life. The Tiny Adventures Workshop will show you how to create joy in the everyday and navigate life’s challenges with a renewed sense of excitement.

Take the Next Step

Ready to embrace a more joyful, adventurous life? Join the Tiny Adventures Workshop and let’s plan in community. This is the first and possibly the last time I do this workshop for free but there are limited spots so grab your’s before it books up!

Grab your spot!

Or want more individualized attention? I have 5 spots left for this summer to work with folks 1 on 1, book a no-strings attached coaching discovery call .

Book a 1 on 1 Coaching Discovery Call

Together, we’ll craft a path that allows you to achieve your goals while enjoying the journey.

Let’s embark on this adventure together.

Hasta la proxima,

Joy Valerie Carrera

P.S. Life is too short to be stuck in the daily grind. Let’s make it extraordinary! 🚀✨

PPS:Add a bit of joy in your instagram feed and follow here

We're halfway through February, and it seems like OMG I "missed" the mark to set new goals, and well, next year, well, I don't buy it.

Why? Well, sure, January is a new calendar year, but this past weekend we had a New Lunar Year, aka Chinese New Year, and in March we have a new astrological year. So what does this mean for you?

I believe this shows us that, well… We're in this time where we can set goals again but on a more zoomed-out scale…

Time is a construct, and whatever societies have decided makes sense for them. What I believe that means for you is…

there is never a "perfect" or "right" start. Just the key is starting.

And I believe each month gives us that reset, and more importantly, an opportunity to LIVE and ENJOY life. So…

I want to invite you to the TINY ADVENTURES WORKSHOP!

You can find more information about the Tiny Adventures Workshop below:

Saturday, February 17th, 2024, at 1:00 PM EST / 10:00 AM PST

RSVP here!

In my work over the last almost three years as a coach, I realized the biggest common denominator was folks needing more intentional fun and play in their lives!

Yes, we all have big goals and aspirations, but we all need some fuel to get there.

In fact, our brains crave it - we need that dopamine that comes with novelty, newness, and adventure! That gets our brain creating new neural connections, and the benefits ripple throughout different areas of our lives.

So yes, taking steps and doing the work is important to reach our goals, but ENJOYING LIFE, being intentional in the joy we create and the little adventures we take, I would argue, is just as important to live a FULFILLED life.

So... I've created this hands-on workshop where together LIVE we will be intentional about creating JOY in our lives.

I will give you some prompts, and you will leave with a toolkit of little adventures for the year to look forward to - think of it as a little advent calendar of joy but throughout the year.

I hope you join me in this fun 90-minute workshop where we are going to look at 2024 and the year ahead and BE INTENTIONAL, creating a tiny adventure vault of activities to look forward to each month, quarter, and this year to make those dreams a reality and keep fueling you in the important impact-driven work you are doing!

Because yes, the world needs you AND to be able to keep going aligned with your mission and purpose, WHY NOT enjoy the journey? Why not allow some more JOY in your life!

Hope to see your awesomeness soon!

Let’s adventure together!

Hope to see your awesomeness soon! 

Joy Valerie Carrera

Mindful Productivity Coach & Systems Consultant for Social Impact Driven Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Dreamers 

LinkedIn | Instagram| Twitter | TikTok | Blog

PS: Can’t make it but curious about working with me somehow ? Respond back to this email and let’s chat !

PPS: Just want to say hello , feel free to respond I reply to each email myself :)

Happy New Year! I know I'm late, but here we are and I hope you are having a solid start . On my end I’m going to kick off this year’s newsletter updates I am scared, excited, and I'm proud to share this with you all… here it goes

On Monday, Jan 15th, I celebrated one year breaking up with alcohol, one year of sobriety —a big deal for someone like me, who's impulsive and tended to slip on habits.

and what has helped the most is I've embraced "fun drunk me" let me explain...

In 2019, tired of being the party girl and a couple months of working for myself I realized I needed to focus less on happy hours and more on getting sh*t down so , I started cutting back. Then the pandemic hit and I moved to my mom's alcohol-free house. Easy enough, but then the world opened up, and party me was BACK AND READY and maybe a bit messy…

Fast forward to 2022, I moved to Mexico to just be alone on the beach and process stepping into my 30s and truly be with myself .Now as a seasoned a solo backpacker, I'm cautious so I don't drink much abroad for safety.

And I had a thought and realization no one here knows me.

What if I let out Drunk me... sober?

What if I danced like I didn't care in the club while sipping on mocktails?

What if I took risks without the liquid courage?

So, "What would drunk me do?" became my mantra.

Drunk me was fearless, embraced emotions, and didn't care what anyone said. She was a dancer, a lover, she embraced that she felt her feelings so deeply and was unapologetic about it. She was a part of me that I was suppressing sober because I didn’t want to be called “too much” and ready to be unleashed.

So I started cutting back, listening to my body. My body signaled when it was too much—swelling and itching. I realized alcohol hid the real me, and I ignored body cues. Even thouhg others saw me as this conifedent go gettiner who didnt give af , I had relied on my accomplishments to lead the show and forced my body to endure so much ultimelty I had been ignoring myself for so long

Hard truth—my relationship with alcohol wasn't healthy. I cut back to 1-2 drinks every 2 months until a date last January. It was fun but the next day, my body hated me. I realized I needed to honor my body. Was it worth taking antihistamines? Alcohol was a toxic boyfriend I thought would get better. The toxic ex I kept getting back together with thinking, he will change, he will get better. It wont hurt as much but the reality is , I had to change and start making better choices for me.

This echoed in my life—my 2023 goal was healthy relationships in all areas. So I set this intention for myself and knew it wouldn’t be easy with 4 weddings and a Quince planned for the year . Showing up sober felt shameful knowing these people had known my wild party girl days and might quickly realize oh she had a problem, but I had to accept my health and intolerances and my new relationship .

A part of me loves the wild girl, not the shots, but the one who didn't care, talked to strangers, and lived in the moment.

Now, looking at myselt the deep reflection made me not care about being fun, wild, and free—I don't need liquid courage. It was always there.

Some days I think maybe I could again, but I remember the promise to my body to listen and avoid pain but I’m just going to take it one day at a time and listen to my body along the way…

And the key lessons I learned and hope you take away from my story here is

• You can have deeper connections.

• Embrace fun, sober.

• Stop caring so much, No one cares but you.

• Honor your body and its limits.

• You can have adventures big and small

On that note, I feel clearer now and prioritizing my health and listening to my body to tend to my chronic pains and illnesses which can be exhausting but what keeps me going is telling myself “what’s today’s adventure”

and my intention for this year is “Tiny adventures” the adventures that are day to day, and embracing the magic and beauty of this life whether its snorkeling off reefs or going to the grocery store, I realized every day can be a fun adventure for me and I want to share this joy with you all cause some days are hard but looking for the adventures keep us going

and ya know ya girl needs to stay alive and pay her medical bills in this capitalistic society soooo I decided my first workshop for this year will be the Tiny Adventures workshop, so we can plan ahead our adventures and some rewards to keep us motivated throughout the year and have things to look forward to.

I’m excited to have you join me and some amazing folks for this hands-on live experience !

the workshop will be held 3 dates and limited spots available

First one is this Monday January 21st so grab your spot

Grab your spot in the adventure

Thank you for being a part of my community and I am excited for this next year and embracing this next phase of Joy ;)

gracias,

Joy Valerie Carrera

PS: feel free to respond here I read each email or DM me on Instagram :)

Oh, the cry of the anxious among us...

If you're anything like me, you go through a million case scenarios.

You consume and learn as much as you possibly can. Maybe you know a lot and love to learn. And that "what if" turns into tons of creativity. But there is also the other side, sometimes where the WHAT IFs start to consume your mind and spiral…

And the reality is, your brain's job is to KEEP YOU SAFE…

That is it. To keep you ALIVE. Unless we actively team up with our brains to teach it how to best care for ourselves, it's just gonna do whatever it needs…

And that means sometimes let's not do the "Scary thing" to keep us safe…

And that scary thing sometimes is small things.

It's applying for a job because you feel you're not qualified, It's not sending out a newsletter because we're afraid people will judge us and make fun of us (me all the time), It's not dating because we're afraid of getting our heart broken, It's staying in our rooms because the outside world can be scary.

And I experience all this too, very often. But I also realize… I have done tons of scary things that shock people, and frankly, I did it terrified. I did it to prove to myself… I could.

I had this moment… how did I convince myself before that I could do it?

How did I travel to over 26 countries by myself? How did I finesse myself into industries with zero experience and still excel? How did I manage to quit my job and take a bet on myself 5 years ago? How did I manage to not give af about failing?

Trust me, I have failed over and over and over again… and I realized.

It's because I wasn't afraid of failing…

I was afraid of WHAT IF… I never try.

WHAT IF… it turns out better than I could ever imagine, and I never even gave myself the chance.

WHAT IF… I am one day on my deathbed and wondering what if I had just tried? What if I had just believed in myself? What if I had just trusted.

I am comfortable with failure now because I realized I tried my best. And it didn't work out.

I have had my heart broken so many times, but I never look back and think what if - because I've been honest. Because I was true to me. And I realized I am like this in so many areas of life, in my career, in my business.

And yeah, it doesn't work out sometimes… That's life.

BUT I know. I am certain… and what if

It's just the plot twist to take me to the next chapter that can be even more amazing than I can even imagine myself….

SO WHAT IF…

And my next what if?

WHAT IF… I decided to launch a crazy wild sale of everything I have built as I end my 31st year.

WHY NOT? So here it is… kicking of My 32nd Birthday Sale as I count down to October 13th.

Today, $132 off my 5 module Mindful Productivity course

bridging the practical with science-informed understanding of habits and systems to manage your attention, energy, and time to start making moves in your life

GRAB THE SALE!

And if you want someone working one-on-one with you as your coach - book a 30-minute exploratory coaching call. My aim is to help you take those big what-ifs into possibilities and actionable steps. I specialize in working with BIPOC & ADHD folks and take a holistic & integrative approach to walking alongside you and holding you accountable.

book a 30min call

Hasta next week,

Joy Valerie Carrera

PS: See you on instagram!