Have you ever felt like your joy is on mute? 

Like someone slowly turned down the volume until all you hear is… meh?

You’re not alone.

So many of us, especially women at midlife and beyond, find ourselves wondering: Where did my joy go? One day, you’re cruising along, checking the boxes, doing all the “right” things. The next, you realize you haven’t laughed, really laughed, in weeks. 

Joy didn’t leave you. It just got drowned out by the noise of routine, responsibility, and, well… life.

The good news? Joy is never gone. It’s just waiting for a louder signal.

That’s where the magic of increasing your inputs comes in.

I recently stumbled across a reel that lit me up. The idea was simple and powerful: If you’re not sure what brings you joy, you need more data. In other words, more experiences. More moments. More play. More variety. More inputs. 

Because joy loves to mix things up. It thrives in curiosity. It keeps life sassy, refreshing, and colorful rather than dull, boring, and safe. It shows up when we try new things. When we say yes, especially in the moments we’re tempted to say “maybe later.”

When we shrink our world, we shrink our chances of finding more joy. But when we expand our inputs? We open up a world of possibility, inviting joy back in.

Here’s how to begin:

1. Say yes to the spark.

Take the class. Join the workshop. Sign up for that salsa night you’ve been secretly stalking online. If something sparks even the tiniest flicker of interest, follow it. That flicker is joy knocking.

2. Break the pattern.

Joy doesn’t live on autopilot. Take a different route to the grocery store. Order something new at your favorite café. Break one small routine this week just to see what happens. (Spoiler: Your brain will thank you.)

3. Start a joy experiment.

Each week, try something new. No pressure, no expectations. Think of this as a joy scavenger hunt. A nature walk, a cooking class, a spontaneous chat with the stranger in line behind you. Then notice how you feel afterward.

4. Spend time with joyful people.

Energy is contagious. Surround yourself with people who radiate joy rather than drain it. These are the ones who bring new ideas, experiences, and laughter into your world. Translation: more inputs.

5. Let nature reboot you.

There’s a reason we feel clearer, lighter, more alive outdoors. Nature reminds us how expansive joy can be if we allow it.

The point is this: joy isn’t always something you find by looking inward. Sometimes the fastest way back is shaking things up out in the world. 

So this week, open up your inbox, the one where the Universe drops hints, sparks, nudges, and yes, joy. Increase your inputs. Expand your edges.

Because joy is all around. 

And she’s looking for you too.