The Unfiltered Human on the Fringe - Episode 15 - Joy After the Storm - Rediscovering Play

The Unfiltered Human on the Fringe - Episode 15 - Joy After the Storm: Rediscovering Play, Pleasure & Purpose

For many trauma survivors, joy can feel unsafe, like a betrayal of pain, or an emotion reserved for those who haven’t lived through the darker sides of life. But joy isn’t the opposite of healing. It’s part of it.

In this episode, we explore what it means to reconnect with joy after struggle. We look at why joy can trigger fear or shutdown, how to approach play and pleasure without guilt, the science behind nervous system readiness, and how to rediscover purpose without pressure.

We explore: ✨

✨ Why joy can feel unsafe after trauma and how to create safety before joy.

✨ The healing role of play and how to reclaim lightness without shame.

✨ How guilt can shadow our good moments and how to rewire worthiness.

✨ Pleasure as an embodied pathway back into the body, not a luxury.

✨ Redefining purpose beyond productivity or perfection.

✨ Letting go of comparison and measuring your joy against others.

✨ Integrating joy with complexity, allowing lightness to coexist with depth.

This conversation blends personal reflection, psychological insight, somatic awareness, and practical integration tools to help you welcome joy back into your body and life.

🧠 Psychological Tools: Window of Tolerance, Play Theory, Polyvagal Theory, Positive Psychology, Dual Awareness.

🛠️ Integration Practices: Micro-doses of joy, unstructured play, sensory rituals, joy inventories, and daily joy anchors.

🎧 Listen now

#RediscoverJoy #shadowwork #healingjourney #unfilteredhuman #podcast #thefringe #traumahealing #selfworthjourney #authenticity #somatichealing #selfawareness #innerchildhealing #podcastepisode15