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EP.36: The Shortcut To Joy

Do you ever feel like joy is just out of reach? Like, no matter how much you do, how hard you try, or how many goals you check off, there’s always something missing. What if I told you that joy isn’t something you have to chase—it’s something you can choose?

In this short but powerful episode, I’m sharing the simplest and most overlooked path to joy—the one that’s available to you right now. No waiting. No striving. Just a sh ift in perspective that changes everything.

If you’ve been feeling restless, discouraged, or caught in the comparison trap, I hope this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air in the middle of all the noise and pressure of life.

Let’s take a deep breath together and step into joy—right here, right now.

The Be Still With Bobbi Podcast – Episode 36: The Shortcut to Joy

Introduction:

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to the Be Still With Bobbi podcast.

Today’s episode is a short one. I wanted to offer you something simple to take into your weekend—something that I hope feels like a breath of fresh air in the middle of all the noise and pressure of life.

Because let’s be honest—there’s always something pulling at us. A goal we’re working toward, a problem we’re trying to solve, a vision we’re chasing. And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting more for your life, sometimes we get so caught up in what’s missing that we forget to notice what’s already in front of us.

So today, we’re talking about gratitude—not as a cliché, but as the bridge between where you are and where you’re hoping to go.

I believe gratitude is one of the most powerful mindset shifts we can make—something that has the ability to completely change the way we see our lives, our future, and even our daily challenges.

And I know what you’re thinking—I already know about gratitude.

And I get it. Gratitude is one of those things that we hear about all the time. It’s on coffee mugs, on social media, and in every self-help book out there. But today, I want to take this conversation a little deeper than just keeping a gratitude list or remembering to say “thank you” at the dinner table.

True gratitude shifts your focus from what’s missing to what’s already right in front of you. It reminds you that, no matter how uncertain things feel, God has already given you so many gifts. And when we anchor ourselves in that truth, we stop living in a state of when I get there, then I’ll be happy—and start embracing the goodness that exists in our lives right now.

And let me tell you, I have needed this reminder just as much as anyone else this week.

In our Be Still Collective call earlier this week, we had the most honest and heartfelt conversation about the gap between where we are and where we want to be. And how that gap sometimes feels wider and way more daunting because we’re already buried in so much.

Whether it’s financial goals, business goals, finally getting our homes decluttered, or just figuring out a system that keeps the laundry from swallowing us whole, we all feel it. That sense that we’re behind. That longing for life to feel just a little more put together.

But here’s what I reminded them, and in the process, what I reminded myself … and what I want to remind you today: If you can’t be grateful here, you won’t be grateful there.

Because joy doesn’t exist somewhere out there in the future, it exists in the way we choose to see our lives today.

We hit “pause” in the middle of our Zoom call to grab our journals and ask ourselves what God has already done for us. To write down specific things we’ve noticed that could only have been from God.

And it is amazing to me how that one activity – bringing specific gratitude to the forefront, shifted the entire vibe of the rest of the call. It started with feelings of anxious anticipation and fear-based decision-making and turned into something far more peaceful and thought-provoking.

So let’s talk about this. Let’s talk about how gratitude keeps us from spiraling into comparison, how it shifts our perspective on what’s actually enough, and how we can use it to strengthen our trust in God’s timing and provision.

If you’ve been feeling restless, anxious, or like you’re always reaching for what’s next without ever really feeling satisfied with where you are—this episode is for you.

So, take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s get started.

Part 1: The Comparison Trap & The Myth of “Not Enough”

Let’s start with something we all struggle with: comparison. It’s a big one.

We live in a world that makes it so easy to see what everyone else is doing, buying, building, and achieving. And the danger in that is that, before we even realize it, we stop looking at our own lives through a lens of gratitude and start looking at them through a lens of lack.

We think:

I should be further along by now – look what she’s doing! How am I not where she is? Am I doing it wrong?
If I only had what she has, I’d feel more secure.
Why does it seem like everyone else is thriving and I’m just stuck here?

And the worst part. Most of the time, we don’t even realize we’re doing it. It’s subtle. It sneaks in when we’re scrolling, when we’re catching up with a friend, when we’re reflecting on what we want but don’t yet have.

But here’s the truth: Comparison kills gratitude. And when gratitude dies, so does our joy.

One of the things I’ve been reminding myself lately is this: I can either focus on what I think I lack, or I can focus on what God has already given me. When I make that internal shift – and it only takes a quick second to recognize it and then refocus – the mental change is instant.

Both perspectives exist at the same time, but only one leads to peace.

So, let’s take this to our journals. I want you to reflect on this:

Where in your life have you been focusing more on what’s missing than what’s already present?
What are some of the ways God has already provided for you in ways you didn’t even know to ask for?
If you could see your life through the eyes of someone who truly loves you (like God, or even your kids), what would you notice that you’ve been overlooking?

Part 2: The Power of Gratitude to Shift Your Reality

Gratitude isn’t just about feeling thankful—it’s about seeing your life differently.

It’s about changing the way you interpret your circumstances.

I think of gratitude like a pair of glasses. The world doesn’t actually change when you put on a new prescription, but suddenly, everything comes into focus. The details you were missing? Now you can see them clearly.

And when you shift your perspective to gratitude, you start to notice things you were blind to before:

You see the progress you’ve already made instead of how far you have left to go.
You see how much love surrounds you instead of where you feel lonely.
You see the small wins in your day instead of focusing on what didn’t get done.

One thing I’ve been practicing lately is catching myself in the moment when I’m feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or discouraged—and immediately looking for something to be grateful for.

Because here’s what I know: gratitude and worry cannot exist in the same breath.

So, let’s put this into practice:

Where in your life can you choose gratitude over frustration right now?
What are three things that feel uncertain, and how can you trust that God is already working on them?
What small, beautiful things are you grateful for today that you might not have noticed last week?

Part 3: Gratitude as an Act of Faith

Gratitude isn’t just about feeling good—it’s an act of faith.

It’s saying: God, I trust that what I have today is enough. And I trust that You are leading me toward what I need for tomorrow.

It’s one thing to be grateful for what’s already here. But what about being grateful for what hasn’t happened yet?

What if, instead of worrying about when our breakthrough will come, we started thanking God in advance for what we know He’s already working on?

I remember doing this in a season of my life when everything felt uncertain. I was newly divorced, navigating single motherhood, and building my business all at the same time. I had no idea what the next year would look like. And I remember one night, instead of spiraling into fear, I wrote this in my journal:

“God, thank You for the peace that I know is coming. Thank You for the financial provision that I know will arrive in your perfect timing. Thank You for the joy I will feel when I look back on this season and see how beautifully You worked it all together for good.”

Technically, I didn’t feel any of those things yet. But gratitude isn’t about waiting until everything is perfect—it’s about believing that goodness is already on its way.

So let’s take this into stillness and journaling:

What is one thing you can thank God for in advance?
What if you believed that everything you need is already being prepared for you? How would that change your perspective?
Where do you need to replace worry with trust?

Closing Thoughts

My friends, as we move into this next week, I want you to remember this:

Gratitude is the bridge. It connects where you are today to the future you’re longing for.

And the more you practice gratitude, the more you will see that what you have right now is already enough.

So take a deep breath, thank God for what’s right in front of you, and trust that everything you need is on its way.

Until next time, may you find peace in the stillness, joy in the present, and unwavering trust in what’s to come. ❤️

Bye for now …