Joy on Purpose: Practicing Emotional Liberation This July

July is loud with joy.

Music bumps at the family cookout. Laughter spills from backyard spades tables. Children run through sprinklers while grown folks sip cold drinks and catch up under the shade tree. Black joy in July is not accidental. It’s sacred. It’s practiced. And it’s necessary.

But let’s be real—joy doesn’t always come naturally, even in summer.

Sometimes we’re too distracted by what’s not done. Too emotionally tired to laugh. Too burdened by grief, comparison, or perfectionism to let our shoulders drop and actually enjoy the moment.

And that’s why this month, we’re choosing joy—on purpose.

Joy Is a Discipline, Not a Distraction

Many of us were conditioned to associate joy with irresponsibility. If you grew up in spaces where too much fun was served up with extra chores, then joy may feel suspicious, even dangerous.

But biblical joy isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about recognizing the good even when things aren’t.

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” — Proverbs 17:22

Joy builds emotional resilience. It gives us the strength to heal, to hope, and to keep showing up with tenderness in a world that tries to harden us.

Reflection Prompt:
When was the last time you felt joy and didn’t feel guilty about it?
What made that moment feel safe and whole?

Joy as Resistance: A Black Legacy

To choose joy is to push back against everything that says we don’t deserve to feel free.

From ring shouts during enslavement to the Electric Slide at repasts, Black people have always used joy as a way to remember who we are. Joy connects us to our people, our faith, and our purpose. In that way, joy isn’t just personal—it’s communal.

And in July—when freedom is plastered across every barbecue flyer—it’s worth asking:
Are you emotionally free enough to feel joy?

If not, let’s work on that.

Practicing Joy This Month (Even When Life Is Heavy)

You don’t have to feel joyful to start practicing joy.

Here are three gentle ways to cultivate joy intentionally this month:

1. Do One Childlike Thing a Week

Jump in the pool. Eat a popsicle on the porch. Play spades, barefoot while trash-talking. Give your nervous system permission to play.

2. Create a “Joy Playlist”

Music shifts mood and memory. Curate a playlist that stirs joy—songs you clean to, songs your mama loved, or tracks that remind you of your younger, freer self.

3. Build In “Joy Breaks”

Schedule joy like you would a work meeting. Even if it’s just 15 minutes to dance, breathe, or watch a funny video. Joy is holy, too.

Reflection Prompt:

What are your joy cues? Think about sights, sounds, people, or spaces that consistently bring joy into your body. How can you make more space for them this week?

Joy and God’s Presence

You were never meant to grind your way through life and call that holiness.
God is not just found in your work or your weeping—He’s found in your laughter, your rest, and your face-full smiles of joy, too.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy…” —Psalm 16:11

So this month, make room for joy. Not just as a feeling, but as a form of faith.
Because joy doesn’t mean everything is perfect—it means God is still with you, and that’s worth celebrating.

Final Reflection Prompt:

What would it look like for you to experience joy without needing to earn it first?
Name one way you can practice that kind of joy—on purpose—this week.

At Sage Counseling CLT, we believe joy is part of your healing journey. If emotional heaviness has been crowding out your joy, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a session with us, or share this post with someone you care about.

Joy is meant to be shared.