Growth with joyful intention.
Overcoming Struggles with Daily Rituals: Dr Meena Julapalli’s Journey to Joy.
Dr. Meena Julapalli, known for her infectious positivity and innovative approach to dermatology, openly shares on the Brave New Girls podcast that maintaining joy isn't about being positive all the time. Instead, it's about creating practices that establish joy as a baseline foundation, allowing space for all emotions while maintaining resilience through life's challenges.
As both a pediatric dermatologist and self-proclaimed "Chief Joyologist," Dr. Meena has developed practical strategies for wellbeing that she implements daily. Her approach begins the moment she wakes up - she doesn't leave her bed until she feels genuine gratitude for existence. This intentional practice sets the tone for her entire day.
Her philosophy extends to how she views her work. Rather than saying she's "going to work," she frames it as "coming to play." This simple reframing shifts her entire perspective and energy. She believes that when we set positive intentions, our hearts, minds, and bodies naturally seek experiences that validate those intentions.
Dr. Meena emphasises the importance of continuous learning and exploration. Each year, she commits to learning something new - from Lindy Hop swing dancing to taiko drumming. Recently, she even joined a group of retired women for weekly knitting sessions after a chance encounter at a coffee shop. These experiences keep her connected to the childlike sense of wonder she encourages in her patients.
Her approach to wellbeing isn't just about personal joy - it's deeply connected to service and community. She lives by Rabindranath Tagore's wisdom: "I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." This perspective reminds us that true wellbeing comes from both self-care and caring for others.
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Ten Actionable Steps for Building Wellbeing
1. Start With Intention - Begin each day by consciously choosing your emotional baseline
2. Reframe Your Language - Transform how you talk about daily activities to reflect joy and possibility
3. Embrace Continuous Learning - Commit to trying something new regularly
4. Cultivate Wonder - Maintain curiosity about the world and people around you
5. Build Community Connections - Seek out unexpected opportunities for human connection
6. Practice Active Gratitude - Make thankfulness a daily conscious choice
7. Balance Service and Self-Care - Find joy in helping others while maintaining your own wellbeing
8. Move With Purpose - Include regular physical activity that brings you joy
9. Collect Stories - Learn from others' experiences and share your own
10. Create Play Opportunities - Find ways to incorporate playfulness into your daily routine
Dr. Meena's approach teaches us that wellbeing isn't about eliminating struggles but about building a strong foundation that helps us navigate them. Her strategies show that joy isn't just an emotion - it's a practice that can be cultivated through intentional daily choices.
True wellbeing comes from creating daily practices that establish joy as our baseline, while allowing space for all of life's experiences.
If you have worries around life’s juggles & health challenges, and want to grow a healthier, happier life, work with your Wellbeing Coach Lou Hamilton who will guide you through the steps you need to take, to get to where you want to be- living well on a well planet.
See which bespoke coaching programme works for you & we can tailor them further to your growth needs.
