What if the goal isn’t happiness at all, but joy?

In this episode, Emily Paulsen speaks with M. Shannon Hernandez, founder of Joyful Business Revolution and author of Practical Joy. Shannon shares her belief that joy is an “inside job”, a state rooted in values, not circumstances, and opens up about how this perspective has guided her through some of life’s most unexpected transitions.

Their conversation explores what it means to live in alignment with lifestyle values, navigate identity shifts, and choose joy even when happiness feels out of reach. From building a childfree life to redefining boundaries in work and relationships, Shannon offers a deeply personal yet practical perspective on what it takes to live authentically and joyfully.

This episode is for anyone curious about how to move beyond fleeting happiness and step into a deeper, more grounded sense of joy in everyday life.

Key Takeaways

• Joy is an inside job: Unlike happiness, joy isn’t dependent on circumstances, it’s about choosing alignment with your values in any moment.

• Lifestyle values guide choices: Identifying and honoring your top lifestyle values helps filter decisions and boundaries with clarity.

• Micro-joys matter: Small, daily sources of joy, like savoring a coffee, can sustain us during life’s hardest seasons.

• Boundaries create freedom: Saying no to obligations and people-pleasing opens space for joy to flourish.

• Identity beyond roles: True self-expression requires separating who we are at our core from the roles and expectations placed on us.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are. She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way.

Learn more about Emily at: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com

Connect on Instagram: @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman

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The guest on this episode, M. Shannon Hernandez, is the founder of Joyful Business Revolution®, creator of the Content Personality® Wheel, and author of Practical Joy. With her signature approach to aligning business, messaging, and values, Shannon helps entrepreneurs and organizations build joy-fueled success while redefining what it means to live authentically.

Connect with Shannon:Website: www.joyfulbusinessrevolution.com

Practical Joy Book: www.practicaljoybook.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mshannonhernandez