Happiness Without the Self-Guilt Penalty

I consume the news every day.

And every day, it sets my nervous system on fire.

In this episode of The Self-Made Happyaire, I explore something many of us feel but rarely say out loud: the guilt that creeps in when we experience happiness during times of crisis or grief.

From the pasture, alongside a resting herd of horses, I talk about why happiness is not denial, not disrespect, and not a moral failure even in a crisis. It’s a regulatory state. A stabilizer. A form of nervous system maintenance.

Drawing on neuroscience, nature, and the quiet wisdom of horses, we explore how joy and grief are not opposites, how rest makes compassion possible, and why you are allowed to soften even when the world feels heavy.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “How can I be happy when so much is wrong?”

This episode is for you.

Stay in the pasture as long as you’d like.