Finding joy in a world on fire

In a world that often feels like it’s falling apart - from climate crises to social injustices to poverty and famine - it can seem almost reckless to talk about joy. How can we possibly feel lightness when we’re surrounded by so much pain? How can we justify prioritising joy when there is so much urgent work to be done?

These are questions we sit with often during our community events and workshops at The Joyful Activists. We know the weight of responsibility, the drive to do more, to be more, to fix what’s broken. And yet, we also know this: burnout doesn’t build movements, and despair doesn’t sustain change.

The radical act of choosing joy

Choosing joy in these times isn’t about ignoring reality or bypassing grief. It’s not about grinning through it or pretending that everything is fine. Real joy is deeper than that - it’s rooted in resilience, in community, in moments of beauty that ground us amid the chaos.

Joy is resistance. It’s a way to reclaim our humanity when systems would rather have us drained, defeated, and demoralised. Capitalism and patriarchy thrive on us being disconnected and exhausted. When we choose to prioritise joy, we’re not dismissing the pain - we’re reminding ourselves that we are more than just our struggles. We’re celebrating our capacity to feel, connect, and dream.

Why joy feels so complicated

There’s a guilt that comes with feeling joy while others are suffering. We can feel selfish for laughing, for resting, for taking up space with our own needs. But we can hold both: compassion for the world and compassion for ourselves. Joy and grief can coexist. Activism and rest can walk hand in hand.

There’s also the myth that to be an effective changemaker, you must be endlessly driven and perpetually exhausted. We see so many burnt-out activists who feel guilty for stepping back, even when their bodies and minds are screaming for rest.

We need to challenge this narrative. Sustainable activism isn’t about being constantly “on”. It’s about knowing when to pause, nourish yourself, and come back with more strength and clarity.

Joy as collective care

Prioritising joy isn’t a solo pursuit. It’s something we do in community, reminding each other that our wellbeing is interconnected. At The Joyful Activists, we hold space for joy because we know that caring for ourselves helps us care for each other. Through our workshops, community calls, and gatherings, we weave joy into the fabric of how we resist and rebuild.

When we root ourselves in joy, we find new ways to sustain the fight. We remind each other that joy is not frivolous - it’s foundational. It keeps us showing up, dreaming big, and daring to imagine a world where justice and love coexist.

You are allowed to feel joy

If you’re reading this and feeling torn between your desire to rest and your sense of duty to act, know this: You are allowed to feel joy. You are allowed to take breaks, to laugh, to dance, to breathe deeply and fully. You are allowed to hold hope in one hand and heartbreak in the other.

We are not machines built solely for productivity. We are complex, feeling beings who need space to recharge, to heal, and to celebrate the beauty that persists even when the world is on fire. Together, we can build movements rooted in love, care, and joy.

So let’s choose joy as an act of rebellion. Let’s honour it as part of our commitment to change. Let’s nurture it as part of our collective healing.

Get involved

1. Look after yourself with us by joining our wellbeing workshops here

2. Book us to talk about mental health, wellbeing and joy in your organisation here

3. Share this blog with anyone who may need a little reminder to look after themselves

4. Talk to us, our inbox is open! katy@thejoyfulactivists.com