Episode 12: The Joy Dip™: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Rise From It
Aug 13, 2025“You haven’t done enough.”
“You’re not enough.”
“Your story doesn’t measure up.”
Here’s the thing — I coach women through this exact spiral every day. But that doesn’t make me immune. Because when you’re wired for achievement, it’s all too easy to let someone else’s highlight reel eclipse the truth of your own story.
In that moment, my joy wasn’t gone… but it had gone quiet.
Muffled under layers of comparison and self-doubt.
That’s when I realized I was in what I now call The Joy Dip™.
In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what The Joy Dip is, why it happens (even to the most accomplished leaders), and the tools you can use to pull yourself out of it — without chasing another gold star.
You’ll learn:
- What The Joy Dip™ really is (and why it’s not burnout or failure).
- Why high-achievers are especially vulnerable to it.
- 5 tools to help you navigate the dip without spiraling into “not-enoughness.”
- How to turn this temporary low into fuel for your next breakthrough.
Whether you’re a CEO, a team leader, or a high-performing professional, this episode will help you stop comparing, start remembering, and reconnect with the truth of your own story.
Key Moments:
- 00:50 – The workshop that left me questioning 25 years of achievements.
- 02:28 – What The Joy Dip™ is — and why it’s different from burnout.
- 04:15 – The brain science behind why we compare and question our worth.
- 05:40 – Why leaders often lose sight of their own wins.
- 07:10 – Tool #1: Naming the dip to break the spiral.
- 08:00 – Tool #2: Taking inventory of the truth with pen and paper.
- 09:35 – Tool #3: Calling in support when you can’t see your own value.
- 10:50 – Tool #4: Serving or shifting to get out of your own head.
- 11:40 – Tool #5: Remembering it’s a dip, not a defect — and why dips often come before breakthroughs.
- 13:20 – Reflection prompts to reconnect with your joy.
Quote to Rembember
“Joy isn’t the reward you get after you’ve achieved everything on your list. Joy is the fuel that powers you to lead, to rise, and to inspire others.” – Lori Pine
Reflection Prompts
- Where have I been spiraling into “not enough” thinking?
- What’s the truth of my story that I need to write down today?
- Who can I reach out to — not to fix me, but to witness me?
- What’s one action I can take right now to reconnect with my joy?
