Joy Is My Superpower: Finding Light in Unexpected Places
In my newest blog, I'm sharing how joy became my superpower—through art, healing, and everyday moments.
Read now and discover how joy can be your superpower, too.
There's a quiet kind of strength in joy.
Not the loud, performative kind. Not the "everything's perfect", or "everything's fine" kind. I'm talking about the joy that rises from the ashes—steady, glowing, even when the world feels heavy.
Joy has carried me through storms I didn't think I'd survive. It showed up in the smallest ways: a message from a friend, a smile from a stranger, new handmade yellow encaustic paint in my studio, the warmth of heat as wax melted and formed into something new on the canvas, a customer telling me my painting reminded them of their childhood. Over time, I realized this wasn't just a feeling, it was a force, a lifeline, a superpower.
What Makes Joy a Superpower?
Joy doesn't wait for everything to be perfect. It dares to exist amid uncertainty, pain, and healing, which is what makes it powerful.
For me, joy is a conscious choice—a practice, even. It's embedded into my art. Every encaustic piece I create starts with fire and wax, but joy gives it soul. I reach for bold colors, radiant textures, and subjects that speak to hope: sunflowers, sunsets, the gentle signs of spring. not because life is always easy—but because joy insists on shining through it.
Healing Through Joy
I didn't set out to become an artist. I turned to art during a time when my world felt unfamiliar and fragile—after being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, and later, lupus. I had to relearn how to find stillness, how to feel safe in my body, how to process grief that didn't have easy answers.
In those moments, joy wasn't loud or flashy. It was quiet and stubborn. It was the rhythm of melting wax, the texture beneath my fingers, and the first layer of color blooming on a blank panel. It reminded me I was still here, still capable of creating beauty, still worthy of love and grace.
Bringing Joy into Everyday Life
Joy lives in the little things—an early morning cup of coffee, a deep breath and stretch, the scent of beeswax, the way purple and gold come alive in a painting. I choose colors based on how they feel, not just how they look. I create art and designs that reflect this spirit—pieces that carry light and happiness into everyday moments.
Even when working through pain, I hold onto joy like a thread. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it. When you choose joy, especially when it feels out of reach, you remind yourself (and others) that something beautiful can still grow from the hardest places.
An Invitation
So if you're reading this and life feels heavy, here's my invitation:
Choose one joyful thing today. A color. A song. A deep breath. A smile. Let it be small, but let it be yours.
Let joy be your act of defiance.
Let it be your healing.
Let it be your superpower, too.
Thank you for reading.
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With Love and Creativity,
Alisa Marie