Your Story Matters.

Publishing a book is deeply personal and vulnerable because you are trusting someone with more than your words on the page. You are entrusting them with an inner piece of yourself. 

Publishing Joy believed in my book from the moment I said yes, and helped me find the courage to claim my voice and my place as an author. 

Becoming a published author meant that something I had lived, learned, and felt deeply was no longer mine alone; it could now reach someone I may never meet and perhaps help them feel less alone in their own lives. Holding that book in my hands was the moment I understood that my voice had a place in the world—and I was finally ready to claim it.

–Cathy J. Yuhas, RN, CEOLD

I had the privilege of participating in two book collaborations: “Becoming Happy” and “Discover the Gift of Joy.” I think the greatest benefit for me is that I began thinking outside the box. I had felt so oppressed and trapped in my nursing career for so long, and now many new opportunities have opened for me.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this visual says so much about where my story has taken me. I have successfully used it to sell out my retreats. It gives me a credibility I did not possess before. People see it and think, “Oh, she’s an author,” and that brings a whole new level of respect for my work and what I have to offer.

Beyond that, Shajen has been incredibly generous in sharing her life’s work and brilliance through the Discover the Gift movement. Her wisdom is packed into a journal that makes it possible for others to lead meaningful workshops and retreats. You simply hand out the journals, open them up, and the prompts begin the conversations. The framework is already there for you, and it is incredible. Not only have I started living in alignment with my gifts which has brought magical growth but now that I “get it” I am eager to spread the joy. 

On a deeper and more personal level, participating in the writing process and book launches helped me face and overcome crippling anxiety. I have always known that I am a good writer and that I have a lot of light to share. But knowing something, acting on it, and finally bringing it to fruition are very different phases of existence.

My experiences, hardships, and life lessons have all come together to form a wisdom that I can now share with others who are looking to me for mentorship. I feel more confident, more capable, and finally free to blossom………like a passionflower.

–Larissa Pollica