Finding Joy in the Hard
Finding Joy in the Hard is a weekly podcast about how we meet life when it stretches us — in grief and growth, in ordinary struggles and unexpected turns.
In short minisodes, I share honest reflections, gentle nervous system awareness, and simple embodied practices to help you steady yourself when things feel uncertain.
From time to time, I sit down with guests who have walked through difficulty and found light in the dark and joy in the hard.
I’m your host, Suzanne Andora Barron — yoga and meditation teacher, Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, and writer. Through breath, awareness, and simple practices, I help people ease tension and reconnect to their inner steadiness.
Episodes
156 episodes
#155 Would you ever talk that way to a friend?
Would You Talk That Way To A Friend?You know that voice in your head — the one that says "that was so dumb" or "you said too much." But would you ever say that to a friend?In this episode, Suzanne walks you through a simple...
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5:42
#154 What If Those Emotions Aren't Even Yours?
Do you ever wake up feeling agitated, heavy, or triggered — and can't figure out why? In this episode, Suzanne shares what she discovered after waking up unsettled one morning: the culprit wasn't stress or worry. It was a TV series she'd been w...
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7:52
#153 What if Beauty is in the In-Between?
I recorded this episode literally from my car right after an all-day Feng Shui Art Workshop — still in the energy of it.Here's what I discovered: judgment isn't something to shame yourself for. It's a signal. A clue that your nervous sys...
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5:18
Something to remember as you go about your day
Some days are harder than others. They can start to seem all of the same. But this simple message is a reminder that today will be amazing because you are in it. Be well. And remember you are so much stronger than you th...
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1:31
#151 When you give yourself 2 choices
In this episode, I share a real-life moment from a cold winter morning — a missed phone call, unexpected traffic, and the familiar urge to spiral. Instead of bracing, I practiced something different: breathing, noticing, and staying in the mome...
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8:03
#150 Do you complain a lot?
Most of us don’t think we complain very much — until we actually pay attention.In today’s episode, I share what I discovered when I started noticing my own complaints, and why these seemingly small moments matter more than we realize. Co...
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4:40
#149 A Beautiful Ending
In October, I said goodbye to a very special part of my life—the foundation I created in honor of my little boy, Christopher.This episode is different. I recorded our closing celebration on my phone that night, not knowing exactly why—on...
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42:58
#148 "What do you want?"
Our habits often consume us more than our wants do. We stay up late, scroll, tell ourselves "just a few more minutes"—even when we'd rather go to bed. It sounds simple to just stop, but our habits feel like they have a mind of their own....
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5:06
#147 Christmas Message
Whatever you might be feeling this Christmas - it’s okay. And it might be different than what your mind is telling you. I wish you a blessed day.
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3:42
#146 - Have you ever gotten so lost you can't think clearly?
That was me this morning. I was driving to meet family for a holiday breakfast about an hour away. The roads were covered in snow – from last night’s storm – and the visibility wasn’t great. I missed a few turns, and it ...
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4:45
#145 My Dad & The Wisdom of the Body
Today is the anniversary of my dad's death - December 4th. And I have felt off all day long - only I didn't make the connection until about 20 minutes ago. I may feel fine mentally, but physically my body feels the loss. It's really quiet incre...
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6:35
On days when everything feels like an effort, meet yourself here.
Some days even coming up with what you’re grateful for feels like too much effort. If that’s you today - listen to this.
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4:11
#143 A Thanksgiving Gift
Thanksgiving holds so many feelings — missing and love, joy and sadness, longing and gratitude. I created this Thanksgiving meditation to help you feel supported, grounded, and held in whatever rises for you. Inside, you'll be guide...
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14:53
#142 Do you ever get tired of being with yourself?
Have you ever thought about it? It's okay to admit. It's actually very freeing and we give ourselves a break. We don't have to figure everything out. Admitting we sometimes get tired of being with ourselves is a form of disassociation - in a go...
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5:20
Why are you judging yourself?
So much of the judgement we receive comes from our own head. In this episode, I recorded while driving—because I just had to share it—I explain how when we're in the present moment - fully in the present, we can be mindful and kinder to ourselv...
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6:18
#140 What if you don't fill up all your space?
Not the space in your home but the space in your mind, in your schedule. Do you give yourself a chance to ponder, explore or dream? Do you allow yourself to sit and do nothing and simply receive the gifts from God. Or do you l...
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3:17
#139 What if you don't have to understand?
What if you don't have to understand? Our minds want to make sense of everything - that's what minds do. But sometimes we don't have to understand. In this episode, I share how my not needing to understand hel...
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Season 2
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Episode 139
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13:00
#138 You are Stronger Than Your Worst Fear
Whatever loss or unexpected life change you might be going through right now - remember you are stronger than your worst fear. Often we tell ourselves, we won't survive. We can't do it. We won't make it. But if you're listening to t...
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5:47
#137 Might that Fear Be Scarier in Your Head?
A lot of us worry or fret about what might happen in the future. We try to figure out in our heads how we'll get through it. Here's the thing we can't think our way through a future fear. We have no idea where we'll be, what o...
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6:01
#136 What are you worrying about that won't matter tonight?
What are you fretting about that won't matter tonight or even later today? In the moment. it's so hard to decipher. It feels like it will matter always. Some things naturally work themselves out, e.g. worrying about being...
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11:14
#135 Embracing Every Part of You - A Guided Meditation
Can you accept that parts of you that you shy away from? The parts that you feel are weak or shameful or have too much anger? The parts that you don't wanna shine the light on? How do you embrace these parts?
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21:34
#134 Are you stuck in All or Nothing Thinking?
Do you find yourself labeling things as either all good or all bad? Have you ever noticed?Is it habit? A way of motivating yourself? Or lack of awareness?For me, it’s a bit of all of it?Without realizing it, I g...
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4:41
#133 What If Others Didn't Have to Understand?
So often we want others to get how we're feeling, what we're thinking or what we're believing. Yet sometimes they just won't get it. When this happens, can we step back and ask ourselves, why do we need them to get it? <...
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10:27